Obit: Pete McCarthy

Subject: Obit: Pete McCarthy
From: Flash Company
Date: 10 Oct 04 - 10:15 AM

Sad to read in this week's press of the death from cancer of the travel writer Pete McCarthy. Only in his early 50's.
His quirky of presentation on television always appealed to me, and his pursuit of all places and things called McCarthy as celebrated in his book McCarthy's Bar.
Another good one died young!

FC

Subject: RE: Obit: Pete McCarthy
From: Hamish
Date: 10 Oct 04 - 02:52 PM

Just finished reading McCarthy's Bar the other month: a good read, and he comes across - sorry, came across - as being a lovely guy. He was 52, I believe.

Subject: RE: Obit: Pete McCarthy
From: My guru always said
Date: 10 Oct 04 - 05:22 PM

Oh, am sorry to hear of this! Had read McCarthy's Bar & also the sequel 'The Road to McCarthy' (think it was called that anyway) - excellent writing.

Subject: RE: Obit: Pete McCarthy
From: GUEST,Ard Mhacha.
Date: 11 Oct 04 - 07:34 AM

McCarth`s Bar, funniest book I have ever read, God rest his Soul.

Subject: RE: Obit: Pete McCarthy
From: Micca
Date: 11 Oct 04 - 08:36 AM

Is this the same Pete McCarthy that did the series on Religions for Channel 4 or 5 a few years ago? if so he was Brilliant!1 without being sneery, a bit sceptical but Not a closed mind, and very witty, a sad Loss!

Subject: RE: Obit: Pete McCarthy
From: GUEST,Dáithí Ó Geanainn
Date: 11 Oct 04 - 08:42 AM

That's the fella, Micca.
Programme was called "Desperately Seeking Something" as I recall.

Subject: RE: Obit: Pete McCarthy
From: Micca
Date: 11 Oct 04 - 09:10 AM

Thanks Dáithí, I think I have all the progs on tape somewhere,

Subject: RE: Obit: Pete McCarthy
From: Fliss
Date: 11 Oct 04 - 03:06 PM

Im reading McCarthys Bar for the second time at the min. Poor chap, he was younger than me....

The best bit in the book for me is the description of the ferry crossing with all the kids with ginger wigs and tartan tam o shanters on. I was reading the book on the ferry last year and one similarly attired kid walked past me... must have got left behind.

fliss

Subject: RE: Obit: Pete McCarthy
From: Fliss
Date: 11 Oct 04 - 03:23 PM

Just checked on Google and come up with the BBC obit for him. Seems he died in the Royal Sussex Hospital in Brighton. My two older kids were born there at the RSH.

Subject: RE: Obit: Pete McCarthy
From: Ernest
Date: 11 Oct 04 - 03:29 PM

Sad news: Let`s hope he finds lots of McCarthy`s in heaven...
on second thought, I am sure he will...

Subject: RE: Obit: Pete McCarthy
From: PoppaGator
Date: 11 Oct 04 - 04:45 PM

I just discovered Pete last year, read two of his books and enjoyed them immensely. I'm shocked to hear of his passing; he was younger than me. Too bad there won't be any more books from such a great humorist.

On my trip to Ireland last August, I was able to follow his advice and drink at a bar with my own name on it (on Bridge Street, Westport, County Mayo). Unfortunately, my name is not nearly as common as McCarthy, so I didn't enjoy nearly as many such opportunities as Pete.

Subject: RE: Obit: Pete McCarthy
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 01:30 AM

Poppagator, what's the name of the bar with your name in Westport. I take my tour groups to Westport quite a bit in the summer, and I'd be glad to have a drink in a pub with YOUR name on it - in your honor, of course.

A couple of years ago, I was in Dublin with a friend for a few days.
We went out one night for a nice dinner and a few bars of music afterwards.
We wound up in O"Donoghue's in Merrion Row. The music wan't great so we decided to go across the street to Doheny & Nesbit's for a couple of quiet pints.
There were a few posters on the walls advertising Pete McCarthy's new book - The Road to McCarthy.
I'd read his first one, and nearly blew a gasket laughing so hard, so when I saw the poster I said to my friend "I've got to get the book."

The barman leaned over and said, "He's upstairs. He's doing a booksigning."
I said, "You're kidding." He said, "No. He's upstairs, but it's private. It's only for booksellers, not open to the public."

So I said to my friend, "Let's go up and see if we can buy a book."

Up we went.
The place was full of people; there were trays of hors d'oeuvres laid out and folks were going to the bar and getting free pints.

There was a line of about 10 souls standing beside a gent sitting at a table signing books.
So we went and got in line.
Our turn came, and I said, "I really enjoyed your last book, and I'd like to buy this one if I may. Oh, and I'd like to have you sign it, please."

Pete McCarthy (for it was indeed he) looked at us and said," I'm sorry. This is not a public signing. We're not selling the book here tonight. This is just for people in the trade, booksellers and the like."

Looking properly crestfallen I said, "I'm very sorry, I didn't know..We just saw the posters on the wall downstairs.."

Pete replied,"Look, there's an open bar; go and have a couple of pints, get some free grub, and I'll see what I can do."

We repaired to the bar, and were enjoying a couple of swallies of Guinness and a plateful of cocktail suasages and chicken wings, when the estimable Mr. McCarthy joined us.

When he found that we were from the U.S. he sat and talked to us for about half and hour about his trip to the States while researching the books.
Then he said, "Look, I managed to liberate this copy for you. It's yours with my compliments."
He continued, "As you know from my writing, I have a reputation for sort of crashing parties. Well, it's not really crashing. It's simply being in the right place at the right time.
And do you know what you've done? You've crashed my party!"

And he opened the book to the flyleaf and signed it: To Seamus - Thanks for crashing my party. Well done! sincerely - Pete McCarthy.

I hope there's a McCarthy's Pub in heaven. Thank YOU, Pete.


Seamus

Subject: RE: Obit: Pete McCarthy
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 04:09 AM

I was reading McCarthy's bar a couple of years ago, when I come across this passage about his schooling. I suddenly realised he had been to the same school as my cousin. he was educated by an order of teaching Catholic priests, and he was treated very harshly by them.

I wrote my cousin, and asked him about it - was it really that bad? My cousin said it was in fact far worse - the beatings were terrible and in his words the headmaster would have been thrown out of the gestapo for excessive cruelty. So bad that my cousin fled the place a few weeks befor his A levels rather than face more of the same sort of treatment.

And now this lovely man is dead. Life really is a terribly short business for unkind words and deeds. I sometimes feel like shaking Martin Gibson and trying to explain that to him.

Subject: RE: Obit: Pete McCarthy
From: PoppaGator
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 04:27 PM

Seamus, GREAT Pete McCarthy story!

I am sending a PM to reveal the name of that pub (i.e., my name). Just preserving my aura of mystery, you understand...

Subject: RE: Obit: Pete McCarthy
From: John Robinson (aka Cittern)
Date: 13 Oct 04 - 05:39 PM

One of my biggest regrets is that I never saw him doing his live show with one of my all time favourite guitarists Paul Buckley, "straight from page three hundred and twelve of McCarthy's Bar."

Best regards
John Robinson
Acoustyistics Ltd
http://www.JulieEllison.co.uk