IT WOULD be no surprise if award-winning local bar general manager Padraic Rafter’s favourite traditional Irish song were
Whiskey In the Jar.
It would have been apt too had the local man who has been on the staff of Paris Texas for 18 years celebrated with a half or two of whisky after being crowned Whisky Magazine Icons of Whisky Ireland Bar Manager of the year 2021.
It had to be the icing on the cake which staff enjoyed when our city centre’s fantastic home of eating and drinking was voted Pub of the Year in 2020.
Those who have done justice to the rousing number include Shane MacGowan of The Pogues, The Dubliners, Clancy Brothers and Phil Lynott.
It was the group Grateful Dead that was the first outfit to belt out the whiskey song.
The king of whisky title was fully deserved by Padraic who takes huge pride in the fantastic selection of whiskies, whiskys too, on offer at Paris Texas.
He is an avid believer in the local Kilkenny Whiskey Guild that has been regularly hosted by Paris and has attracted aficionado participants at least 60 male and female tipplers pre-Covid-19.
Chris Hennessy of The Dylan Bar, John Street was voted best barman in the same awards while blogger Brian Hennessy was short listed for Communicator of the Year.
PS Grog distilled in Ireland is spelled whiskey while most other tots drop the ‘e’, hence whisky.
A very pleasant surprise during lockdown was how Padraic described his victory.
