Old Hand’s Voyage to Ireland, Part 2

While A is away, the blog still gets to play. Please enjoy Part 2 of “Old Hand’s Voyage to Ireland,” from A View from the Wheelhouse. (Missed Part 1? Click here.)

The silence was broken by a cacophony of seabirds as the anchor fell with a rattle of chain into the green waters of Dingle Bay. I threw water jugs into the skiff, rowed to an ancient stone building at the head of a rickety wharf and, on rubbery legs,  walked up to the pub.

I pushed open a weathered, oak door. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness I saw men around tables in conversation.  A one-eyed galoot was yelling at a tweedy gent who bore an uncanny resemblance to Nigel Bruce.

“I tell ya, his foul betrayal will forever be a curse upon us all!”

Against the other wall, a lanky guy with glasses recited in…