BAPTY’S OFF THE DRY AFTER A NEAR DECADE

LEINSTER LEADER 16 JANUARY 1992

Bapty’s off the dry after a near decade

By Joan Walsh

One of the oldest and certainly most historic pubs in Athy is back in the drink business after nearly ten years on the dry. Bapty Maher’s pub on Leinster Street had practically ceased trading since the death of its legendary John Baptist Maher in 1984.

The premises, which has been in the Maher family for the best part of a century, has a chequered history and a wealth of stories are still told about the characters who graced Bapty’s high stools to quench their mighty thirst. Last year, Maher’s pub was bought by Richard Malone, an auctioneer originally from Ballylinan and now living in Templemore.

Although renovation work is still not completed, Richard opened the pub just before Christmas and since then hordes of curious drinkers have poured in to see what remains of Bapty’s. Richard expects work to be completely finished by St. Patrick’s Day when he will host an official opening.

A one-time regular in Bapty’s recalled that it was more a club than a pub, frequented mainly by the rugby fraternity. The in-thing among rugby players of the time was, “Are you going up to the club,” which of course was Bapty’s.

The same drinker said Bapty (who was also an undertaker) stored coffins at the back of the pub, a section referred to as the tailoring department. And he vouched for the validity of the rumours that after-hour drinkers use to hide in the coffins to dodge the garda who was taking names in his notebook.

The pub was a constant source of attraction to tourists, and the locals never tired of giving them a truly Irish experience. Once, a very pale-faced Athy man stretched himself out in a coffin and almost scared the wits out of a group of innocent English tourists.

Among the many faces who sank a tipple or two at Bapty’s counter were writer Brendan Behan and horsetrainer Paddy (Darky) Prendergast.

“Bapty would never allow any blackguardism or bad language; he was a legend,” recalled an old friend.

Re-typed by Mary Murphy