This public payphone hung on the wall in the Shamrock Lodge pub in Finglas village for many a year, and as soon as that phone rang, there was a lot of heads turning, and a few shouts to the barman, “If that’s someone looking for me, I’m not here!”. This used to happen in a lot of pubs around the country that had the public payphone, and especially my local The Drake Inn in Finglas. There was always a hush when the phone rang in the Drake, just before the barman answered it, just in case it was for you, and in case whoever was phoning heard your voice in the background, and then you couldn’t deny that you were there. The barman would answer the phone while scanning the place, and if his eyes fixed on you then it was for you, he’d say to the person on the phone “Hold on and I’ll have a look”, and then give you the nod, which meant are you here or not? A shake of the head was good enough, as some people on the other end of that phone used to have supersonic hearing and would swear blind to the barman that they heard you talking. The phone call would end with the barman being called a liar and getting a load of abuse, and you didn’t even open your mouth, only to take a sup of your pint and a drag on your smoke. You knew it was time to go home when the barman gave you that look, and says “Go home, I’m not covering for you again!”. You might get away with upsetting the missus but jaysus don’t upset the barman!
Photo: Public phone in Shamrock Lodge, Finglas.
Story: Shay Burke.