Thousands of miles – to have a pint!
Kilkenny People
04/05/02
What other nationality would jet thousands of miles across the globe to have a pint?

Well, in all fairness, we Irish do enjoy a pint of old Uncle Arthur, whether it is in Ballyragget, or Boston, South Kilkenny, or San Diego.

In recent week a party of Kilkenny men and women did just what most would do if they were to travel to San Diego.
The drank a few pints!

To be fair to them, their trip had a lot more significance than that.
The locals from Tynan’s Bridge Bar, Kilkenny crossed the world to drink a toast to their San Diego friends.
Twin brother is the Dublin Square Irish Pub & Grill in downtown San Diego.

Last September the Publican of Dublin Square came to Kilkenny for the first leg of the twinning ceremony.

Common denominator is that the Dublin Square in San Diego’s Gaslamp is an exact replica of Tynan’s, Kilkenny.

And a certain Michael Keogh, a Kilkennyman now living in Carlow, ensured that twinning went smoothly.

He was the “sort of liaison officer” between the pubs, and word is that he did a magnificent job.

Off to San Diego went Michael and his wife Rita, formerly of Michael Street and Sion Roa, Kilkenny, Tynan’s Bridge Bar owners James and Caith Cody, along with Breda and Mary Coady, Norris, sisters of the proprietor.

They met “almost as many Kilkenny people as you would meet in High Street on a busy Saturday.” And they had a ball.

They spent two weeks in the United States where they attended the anniversary and twinning functions in the Dub Square bar.
They also enjoyed a champagne breakfast with members of the Irish Congress of Southern California and the Mayor of San Diego, Dick Murphy.

Hold it there now, Dick Murphy? The answer is “no,” he is not related to our Murf!

They took part in the St. Patrick’s Day parade where the Kilkenny group had a place of honor in three open top Corvette cars.
They were introduced to San Diego Woman of the Year, Cathy O’Toole, who is from Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, and who is to marry in Carlow, in September.

Big Night
The twinning night brought the respective owners together again. Kilkenny’s James Coady and Samme Ladckie, a smashing businessman who emigrated to San Diego.
Michael Keogh presented Mr. Ladckie with a message of goodwill from Senator Michael Lanigan.

Michael pointed out that while the occasion was the twinning of two pubs, the connections between Kilkenny and San Diego were much broader.

In the last century many Kilkenny clergy ministered in San Diego. These included the late Bishop of San Diego, Leo Maher, Goresbridge, the late Msgr Tom Healy, Coon and the late Msgr Phil Carroll. Three castles.

Still ministering are Msgr Francis Pattison, Kilkenny City Msgr Eamon Lyng, whose father was school teacher in Bennetsbridge for many years; Msgr William Cuddihy from South Kilkenny and Msgr Thomas Prendergast from Thomastown.

It is fitting that Msgr Prendergast is pastor of Mission San Diego, the oldest of the 21 California missions. It was established in 1769, just a few years after Tynan’s Bridge House Bar was opened for business by Kilkenny’s Darcy family.

Wonderful Work
Michael paid tribute to the wonderful work of the Kilkenny priests, in the educational, social, and cultural fields in the area.
In presenting a Twinning Scroll to Samme Ladckie, James Coady spoke of the hard year Americans had experienced because of terrorism.

Mayor Dick Coady, who has Clare roots, said he hoped to arrange a twinning between San Diego and a city in Ireland during his term of office.

We may yet end up on a plane with Mayor Joe Cody, Town Clerk Donal O’Brien and the lads on the way to San Diego.

Wishful thinking!

Terrible twins!...James Coady of Tynan's, Kilkenny, pictured with his San Diego 'twin', Samme Ladckie.



Pictured at the 'Kilkenny People' Corner at Dublin Square were (from left): Michael Keogh, with Noel and Rita McEvoy, Pacific Beach, San Diego and Bagenalstown.



The wearing of the green...at the St. Patrick's day parade in San Diego were (from left): Desmond Morrison, Louth, Parade Officer, with Caith, Breda, and Mary Coady of Tynan's Bridge Bar, Kilkenny.



Kilkenny all the way. Pictured (from left) are Teresa, daughter of Michael and Rita Keogh, who has been in San Diego for 10 years, the bold MKo, and Tony O'Boyle, San Diego, whose grandfather of the same name was a garda in Kilkenny for over 25 years. Garda Boyle lived at Granges Road, Kilkenny.