In spring 1976, I relocated south to Cork City. My mode of transport – a bright yellow, Ford Capri. Located on the picturesque south-eastern coast of Ireland – one hundred and sixty miles from Dublin, Cork is the second city in the Republic of Ireland. But don’t say that to the locals. Whereas Dublin undoubtedly has an Anglo-Irish atmosphere, the inhabitants of Cork are highly committed to their gaelic heritage, especially in terms of architecture, history, cuisine and tradition. ‘Corkonians’, as they call themselves, have an unique dialect. It is often described as being musical, others say it resembles old Elizabethan English. Either way, as a nouveau Corkonian, I struggled for many years to understand the Cork vernacular. Just as in Dublin, Cork also has an established ascendancy – an upper class if you will. The answer in Cork can often be summarized as follows – “It’s not how much money you have, rather, how long you have it.” However, I’m still not certain what the question is.
In the 1970’s, after working several years with Dublin-based Chartered Accountants Craig Gardner, and later with the Industrial Credit Company, a commercial division of Ireland’s Department of Finance, I finally capitulated. Almost bored to death, I once again sought solace in music. This time however, it was not as a professional musician, rather as the Manager of a Night Club – Good Time Charley’s. The owner – Charlie Murphy, a Dublin based entrepreneur, musician and free thinker had become a friend of mine. We shared a mutual interest in playing music and were both attracted to young ladies from the world of modeling. Most importantly though, we shared a ferocious determination to succeed in life. Charley at that time was the owner of three large Night Clubs – in three different countries; Corfu, Greece; Dublin, Ireland and the Republic of Cork!
Charley’s previous Night Club Managers had left a trail of tears behind them, and totally relying on my business acumen, I believed that I could soon rectify his financial troubles. While rummaging through the Club’s inefficient business and marketing practices, I made an outlandish promise. “Within one month I will double the income in the Club. You in return however will double my salary. If I don’t do it, I’ll resign.” We shook hands on the deal. With determination and hard work however, I kept my promise to Charlie, and he also to me. For over two years, we had a highly successful and fruitful business partnership in Dublin’s Good Time Charley’s.
As the Old Testament says – “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven”. As Charlie’s domestic problems mounted and my short-lived marriage to Martine Kelly deteriorated, by 1976, I welcomed the opportunity to leave Dublin. Selling our home in Swords, I unhesitatingly purchased Good Time Charlie’s in Cork. Aiding me in that quest was a renowned Dublin disc-jockey, Steve Bolger, whom I promoted to Director and partner of our newly-acquired premises – “Swingers Night Club”. And so the circus began!
As two Dubliners in Cork, initially, we faced quite a lot of local opposition. Several night clubs were already in existence, and in fairness to the local bars and hotels in Cork City, they did not want more opposition for their sometimes scant business. As was often said to Steve and I – “Cork doesn’t need another sleazy night club”. We agreed with that sentiment of course! With a dance, restaurant, wine and perry license, all having to be renewed annually, our best friends became our solicitor and later State Solicitor – Barry St. J. Galvin, afterwards Gerry McCarthy (RIP), and last but not least, our ever patient accountant and friend Declan O’Brien. To all I am still deeply indebted, especially when they accepted my post-dated checks.
In Cork’s legal courts, Barry Galvin, with his inquiring mind, tested the legal definition of what constitutes a ‘Perry’ license.. I sometimes thought it hilarious. ‘Perry’, a fruit-based drink, we knew has long been revered in England, South Wales and Normandy, France, and was a favorite of Napoleon’s. And that fact alone was good enough for me! As the owners of Swingers Night Club, we took it upon ourselves, to interpret ‘Perry’, under our wine license, as ‘Cider’. Hence the Cider revolution began in Cork, and Swingers Night Club prospered. This occurred, despite the fact that we were the only night club, without a full liquor license.
During the late 1970’s, Steve and I set up a pirate radio station with a brazen title – ABC, Alternative Broadcasting Cork. With the absence of commercial radio in Ireland at that time, several entrepreneurs throughout the country had decided that they would legally test what they interpreted as an unjust law. Hence, the growth of pirate radio stations throughout the land. Steve and I followed suit, and designed that ABC would have lots of pop music of course, however, we also reached into the community and added sports, weather reports, theater and interviews from the world of arts and cinema from the southern capital. The revenue from advertising covered our expenses. ABC may have been short lived, however, several notable Irish disc jockey’s commenced their radio and television careers there. That list includes – Mark Cagney, John Creedon, Vincent Hanley, Tony Fitzpatrick and Steve Bolger, just to name a few.
Following our wedding in 1981 in Cocoa Beach, Florida, our solicitor Barry St. Galvin, introduced Maureen and I to several business opportunities – one of which was the purchase of premises on MacCurtain Street, Cork. The renovations included combining a small men’s barbershop and licenced premises into one large, modern bar. Lying at the crossroads of MacCurtain Street and Patrick’s Hill, we formally christened our new, fully licenced bar – Hill’s. It proved to be an enormous success! Perhaps this was due to an extensive cocktail list, good looking staff, and its popularity amongst the gay community.
Under Irish Law, the act of transferring a full liquor licence to another premises is a lengthy process, it is also very costly and can often be met with abject failure. In the 1980’s, with assistance from our Cork solicitor, I explored many opportunities to purchase such a license for Swingers Night Club. The most obvious options to do so became apparent when licensed premises were being demolished, and the liquor license was up for sale. However, even when such premises were demolished for redevelopment purchases, the application for transfer could only occur if the ‘new’ location was within several hundred feet of the older premises. The applicant must also pass many background tests, and be given a right of passage by the city police force, known as An Garda Síochána. A Judge in the presence of both the public and the police makes the final determination. However, after several months, somehow our united team overcame all the legal difficulties. Following an unusually less than harrowing day in a Cork Courthouse, we were successful. The transfer was complete. Thereby, Swingers was transformed into Zoës Night Club, with a full liquor license.
What followed all these business successes, still haunts me. My business partner Steve Bolger over a very short span of time, lost his wife to cancer. Marion Collins and Steve had recently celebrated the birth of their son Stephen. It seemed inconceivable, that such a tragedy should occur. Marion was a treasure to all of us, and this deep, personal blow left my colleague in a dark place. The nightclub and bar business was of little interest to Steve now. Too many memories of Marion surrounded him. Steve immersed himself into national radio and music and was successful in gaining a permanent position on Irish National Radio – RTÉ.
By the early 1990’s, Steve sold his share of the businesses to me and moved away entirely from day to day operations. Zoës Night Club was a great success. However, I soon realized that three choices lay before me now… One – I could invest further into the business, thereby committing myself for the rest of my life as a nightclub, bar or hotel owner. Did I want to be a sixty year old night club owner? Secondly – I could simply continue to ride out the storm, wave by wave, for as long as I dared. Later, I could sell the properties cheaply, not much stimulation with that option. Thirdly – and this latter option was gathering strength in my mind by the minute… I should sell the businesses while I was ahead, especially before the Irish licensing laws became more liberal. I was confident that I still had enough time in my life to forge a brand new career, a new me so to speak – especially, if I could gain entry to Florida’s space program.
I would be less than honest if I did not admit that writing about my life in Cork has been one of the most difficult chapters that I have put pen to paper to, or finger to keyboard. The whole gambit of life’s experiences – joy, threatened financial disaster, death of loved ones, emotional stress, loss of love, guilt of family, anger, wealth, finding new love, music, travel, financial success, and children – not necessarily in that order, was all waiting for me in Cork. But I survived. I had to.
