Clare characters #1: old beardy homeless guy in Ennis

bowsie casey

I've always wanted to ask about this guy, and am sure there's plenty more "characters" out there to be discussed....(none more so than my namesake).

Does anyone know anything about the old homeless guy with the beard who was around town for years? I think he died 5-10 years ago. He always gave the impression of being a down-on-his-luck nice guy rather than an out and out knack.

Have heard rumours (Ennis is terrible for them :rolleyes: ) that he was from a rich family and left it all behind....usual crap.

Does anyone know some facts ? ...if not, your own rumours / conspiracy theory will do, or just make something up !

Stuxnet

bowsie casey wrote: »

I've always wanted to ask about this guy, and am sure there's plenty more "characters" out there to be discussed....(none more so than my namesake).

so your not the real Bowsie c !! imposter :-p

didnt he make a fire in some lane, the one across for enzo's on parnell street, he was bits drunk, and fell into the fire and killed himself

soccymonster

when i read your post i thought you were talking about that old, beardy guy that used to always be singing around O' Mahoneys bookshop for money in the same clothes everyday with fabric wrapped round his feet??...
i don't see him anymore...:(

branie

Was he on crutches, and did he stand on O'Connell street, across the road from Supermacs?

asmobhosca

anyone remember Michael Tierney Ennis's most renowned Newspaper selling transvestite??? He used to sell papers outside mass at the cathedral....:D

MyPeopleDrankTheSoup

Anyone know the ennis guy with 80s style mullet, shorts and yellow rainjacket. I see him walking into and out of town on the Limerick road all the time, he gives a big wave to everyone who so much as glances at him! Seems like a nice guy

Claregirl

He's not Ennis he's Clarecastle!!! Used to work in Tesco when it was Quinsworth! Don't wave back!!!

Insulting_Bitch

Claregirl wrote: »

He's not Ennis he's Clarecastle!!! Used to work in Tesco when it was Quinsworth! Don't wave back!!!

Take her advice...DO NOT WAVE BACK.

Claregirl

Just found video on Youtube that feature photo's of old guy by Mike Mulcaire see link http://www.youtube.com/user/FMONDAY

Hawk Wing

georgiecasey wrote: »

Anyone know the ennis guy with 80s style mullet, shorts and yellow rainjacket. I see him walking into and out of town on the Limerick road all the time, he gives a big wave to everyone who so much as glances at him! Seems like a nice guy

Wears sandals aswell, even in **** weather

drunken_munky52

Hawk Wing wrote: »

Wears sandals aswell, even in **** weather

Used to mop the floors in Quinnsworth, says hello to EVERYONE he passes, even when he was working there. Pure harmless guy, but yeah a bit cracked. Same routine everyday, walks into town for Clarecastle in his yellow mac and shorts, drinks coffee down the temple gate lane and mosies back in the evening, pure legend!

omahaid

Insulting_Bitch wrote: »

Take her advice...DO NOT WAVE BACK.

Why, what'll happen? I always wave back

drunken_munky52

bowsie casey wrote: »

I've always wanted to ask about this guy, and am sure there's plenty more "characters" out there to be discussed....(none more so than my namesake).

Does anyone know anything about the old homeless guy with the beard who was around town for years? I think he died 5-10 years ago. He always gave the impression of being a down-on-his-luck nice guy rather than an out and out knack.

Have heard rumours (Ennis is terrible for them :rolleyes: ) that he was from a rich family and left it all behind....usual crap.

Does anyone know some facts ? ...if not, your own rumours / conspiracy theory will do, or just make something up !

His was known as "Seamus the begger" I nearly sure. Used to call to doors looking for a bit of spare change. I can remember great wit and stories he would tell.

BLITZ_Molloy

There was the transvestite lived in Hermitage years ago. He was pretty cracked as well. Used to carry around bars of pink chocolate and give them to any kids that happened to talk to him. His house had 10's of cuddly toys in each window as well.

Mullet guy from Clarecastle is kind of obnoxious. I think that's the main reason not to wave back. He's got a fantastic swagger about him though. And the haircut demands a certain amount of respect.

There aren't that many proper oddballs around anymore sadly. Theres a very cool slim old guy who always sits outside the Country Kitchen in the morning. I'd say he's in his 70's or 80's. Always dressed immaculately in a suit, with a great head of hair, and chain smoking and drinking coffee. I hope I look as cool in my old age.

Hawk Wing

Mullet man used to be a security guard in lifestyle before he mopped the floors

branie

I was right, the old guy in the video was on crutches.

ollaetta

Going back a bit here but does anyone remember "the Virginian"? He was a traveller who hung around town in the 70's and who used to wear a cowboy hat. Spent most of his time locked and ended up in a wheelchair.

He had a very vocal missus to say the least. I remember them having a massive row in the street once and she wheeled him out into the traffic and left him there!

branie

And who could ever forget Julia McDonagh?

bowsie casey

soccymonster wrote: »

when i read your post i thought you were talking about that old, beardy guy that used to always be singing around O' Mahoneys bookshop for money in the same clothes everyday with fabric wrapped round his feet??...
i don't see him anymore...:(

That guy with the real deep voice singing sea shanty type songs....he's still around, I saw him a couple of months back.

What about Whistler ? Old guy in his 70s used be around abt 15 yrs ago, walked around in a suit and a walking stick, always whistling. Used be around the library a bit. I remember someone calling him Whistler and getting a belt of the cane...

bowsie casey

georgiecasey wrote: »

Anyone know the ennis guy with 80s style mullet, shorts and yellow rainjacket. I see him walking into and out of town on the Limerick road all the time, he gives a big wave to everyone who so much as glances at him! Seems like a nice guy

He's a regular fruitcake.... every town needs a couple of them! He brightens up the place a bit, which isn't bad given all the depressing talk round here of feuds and hand grenades and violence in Ennis.

Stuxnet

lol best thread ever

that tesco dude, he's called the champ, its all "..well champ.." with him, nut job always waving by that roundabout in cc
michael tierney, the first tranny i ever saw when i was about 10, how could you forget the hats he used to where, and the black wig, i think my grandad was mates with him, should i even be saying that !!
aaron esley the most infamous of clare characters, psychopath always bits in brandons
there's plenty more,
bowsie casey himself, the merchant of ennis
anyone have good stories on him? he's renouned legand

Auldloon

I was told the old beardy homeless guy had been a conductor with the national orchestra.
His wife and two kids died in a house fire and he gave up.
No idea if there is any truth in that.
Pretty sure it was one of our teachers who told us that story in class one day.
He seemed like a harmless ould fella.

Edit to add
Speaking to Aaron Esley in Brandons one night and he just kept repeating
"I,m caught in a trap"

Teadrinker

bowsie casey wrote: »

He's a regular fruitcake.... every town needs a couple of them! He brightens up the place a bit, which isn't bad given all the depressing talk round here of feuds and hand grenades and violence in Ennis.

Yeah, nothing like having a bit of fun listing the troubled and the marginalised, past and present.

drunken_munky52

Correction: That guy was "Sean the begger", I recognise him from the video. Wasnt he a teacher or sumtin?

Does anybody remember the names "Wruggie" or "Blackjack"?

Wruggie used to go around pulling his jacket over his head whenever he passed someone, i never actually saw his face! This was 15 years ago atleast, never saw him again. What happened him?

Blackjack was hit by a train, fell asleep on the railway line blocked.

soccymonster

bowsie casey wrote: »

That guy with the real deep voice singing sea shanty type songs....he's still around, I saw him a couple of months back.

yea thats him! i miss him..:p

Insulting_Bitch wrote: »

Take her advice...DO NOT WAVE BACK.

WHAT? WHY!? me and my friends saw him one day and he took a photo with us :pac:.. he asked my friend for her camera so he could take a pick of us and she was like "eh.. your grand.."

ktc1

BOBBY wrote: »

lol best thread ever

bowsie casey himself, the merchant of ennis
anyone have good stories on him? he's renouned legand

A few stories on Bowsie:

I heard from an accountant in Ennis (long deceased) about Bowsie going to meet the tax man in Limerick. Answered all questions along the lines of " I don't be knowing anything about VAT or tax sir, sure I don't be able to read or write sir, could you be explaining that to me sir", etc, etc ad nauseum. When the tax man actually came to the shop he chased him off with a hatchet.

Bowsie built houses for his kids. He was sent to jail for refusing to tear one down that didn't have proper planning permission (think it was subsequently demolished) He was on RTE radio complaining (rightfully) that many other people who were pillars of society had done the same thing and gotten off with it.

Bowsie bought a house on College Road near the Colaiste. Locals got together and gave him £20k to pull out of the deal.

Some lads (my brother being one of them) were doing a business project for school that involved making and selling electric Christmas candles. Bowsie took a batch and subsequently refused to pay. "What candles, I don't see any candles, do you, etc, etc". They learned a valuable business lesson there.

My Dad saw Bowsie asleep on a doorstep in town on a bitter windy snowy night and was sure he'd die of exposure. He wasn't going to wake him up as there was no knowing what Bowsie might do to you in an inebriated state, so he called the guards instead. He saw Bowsie still there early the next morning, he must have had some amount of whisky/brandy inside him to kep him warm and alive.

Bowsie's wife (first or second?) is buried in Drumcliffe with an OTT headstone/memorial. The story is that Bowsie used go up to on a Saturday evening and spread out the money he had made during the week on the grave and tell her how well he had done, which in all fairness is quite touching. (wonder if he told her about ripping off my brother!)

BLITZ_Molloy

Heard a story about him going on holidays in france or someplace and getting arrested, this is back in the 70's or something. The gendarmes didn't have a clue what the **** he was saying, they rang the garda barracks in Kilmaley or wherever he's from originally and the gard on the other end says "Ah yeah, you've got Bowsie Casey banged up. Nice work. Ahaha" and just assumed it was a windup so it took forever for them to deal with it. Pardon the vagueness.. told this ages ago.

Deep voiced sea shanty singer was in Cork city singing a few weeks ago. Might have moved down there.

bantee

LOL! I used to work in Quinsworth with "the Champ". He is one far-out guy I can tell you.
He used to stick to himself a lot but would always salute everyone at work and be friendly.
He goes to all the hurling matches with his '95 jersey still intact.
What a LEGEND.

Claregirl

Anyone remember the Friar? He looked very much like Brendan Grace big jolly man. Did he run off and get married?

bowsie casey

Claregirl wrote: »

Anyone remember the Friar? He looked very much like Brendan Grace big jolly man. Did he run off and get married?

That was Fr Stan, known for the 30 minute mass. No idea what happened to him.

Precious flower

That guy that always singing and playing his guitar near the temple gate with that adorable dog in the basket.:D He has two dogs I think because I see a different dog sometimes when I pass.One of the dogs has a lovely black coat. I give him money from time to time when I pass.

Stuxnet

and what about georgie meehan, and his infamous shop of treasures
he used sell us single fags and stink bombs when we were 12
i dunno is he still at it, sometimes i drive past and the shop door is closed, this is during school lunch, his busiest, i heard he's made close at lunch cos he's still up to his old antics, i dont know how true that is tho !

Clareman

Ah Georgie, he used to buy the milk, bread and papers in Tesco on his way to opening the shop. I bought a paper there once, it was 3 days old. I think that he sold up to the Lyon's, but had a condition that he could stay open until they needed to knock the shop to do up Sullies

asmobhosca

Clareman wrote: »

Ah Georgie, he used to buy the milk, bread and papers in Tesco on his way to opening the shop. I bought a paper there once, it was 3 days old. I think that he sold up to the Lyon's, but had a condition that he could stay open until they needed to knock the shop to do up Sullies

I'd doubt it, he was looking for a million euro at the time he was trying to sell and so it never sold, he missed the boat. As for sullies, the lynes dont own sullies, peter considine does its just been leased out to someone else....but that place is falling down would need a hell of a lot of money

Clareman

Sullies was sold, well, it's a complicated story that might be completely wrong but close, someone was leasing it and had an option to buy, so they sold the option to buy, then Peter Considine went back and said that the option to sell wasn't transferable or something like that, so it wasn't sold, but it was sold at 1 stage which was why Georgie sold up and started coining it in, or so the rumours

soccymonster

BOBBY wrote: »

and what about georgie meehan, and his infamous shop of treasures
he used sell us single fags and stink bombs when we were 12
i dunno is he still at it, sometimes i drive past and the shop door is closed, this is during school lunch, his busiest, i heard he's made close at lunch cos he's still up to his old antics, i dont know how true that is tho !

Its true alright. He's been selling fags to students and s**t so hes to only open up late at night.

asmobhosca

Clareman wrote: »

Sullies was sold, well, it's a complicated story that might be completely wrong but close, someone was leasing it and had an option to buy, so they sold the option to buy, then Peter Considine went back and said that the option to sell wasn't transferable or something like that, so it wasn't sold, but it was sold at 1 stage which was why Georgie sold up and started coining it in, or so the rumours

youre almost right, the sale of sullies to anyone from peter considine never actually happened, he gave an option to sullie to buy when he leased it off him... then bought the option back which is why peter considine put it up for auction last febuary (it didnt sell).

Giving someone an option to buy is nowhere near actually selling something.

Georgie meehan wont get his million euro now....he'd be lucky to get 250k, he should have taken the offers he got at the time, heard from an auctioneer at the time that he was offered over 750k....

Precious flower

Georgie Meehan's, yeah, I remember when my brother went in there to get straws and when he came out he had a bunch of McDonald straws in his hand!:p

gerrimac

I know this man. I hope he never reads these posts as I think he would be very hurt. He treats others with respect and I feel that the same courtesy should be shown to him. He has a very positive outlook on life which is surprising - as he did not have a very nice life...
What harm is it to wave at him should he wave at you?
Kindness costs nothing.:)

clare9597

does anyone remeber the really skin guy who used to do the dance offs in pockets and would take his top off. was the skinniest fella ive ever seen. used to always be out of his mind. haven't seen him around in ages

bantee

gerrimac wrote: »

I know this man. I hope he never reads these posts as I think he would be very hurt. He treats others with respect and I feel that the same courtesy should be shown to him. He has a very positive outlook on life which is surprising - as he did not have a very nice life...
What harm is it to wave at him should he wave at you?
Kindness costs nothing.:)

Ha thanks for the bible lesson. I will be sure to tip my hat to him the next time I see him :rolleyes:

gerrimac

Well.... would you like to be spoken of as he has been on here?

Teadrinker

gerrimac wrote: »

Well.... would you like to be spoken of as he has been on here?

Gerrimac, I think the key to the attitude is in the name of the thread - they are discussing 'characters' - as if they were from films or cartoons - little realization or care that these are real people, past and present, with real lives, in many cases very difficult lives, and as for the discussion of people's business practices? - well, imagine the legal eagles who would descend on boards.ie should the discussion stretch to the business practices of the powers that be in Ennis? But it won't of course - this is about those perceived as 'other' and powerless to fight back against slurs on them or disclosure, correct or otherwise, of the very personal details of their lives.

bantee

gerrimac wrote: »

Well.... would you like to be spoken of as he has been on here?

Who? The Champ? Don't think there has been anything too nasty said.
I was giving my opinion about him on a public thread. If the moderators deem it to be over the top, they can delete my post or ban me and the others who have given their opinions on "characters" of Clare.

You have to admit, that anyone who sports a 80's mullet and who acts a bit "strangely" is going to attract attention. All IMO of course.

If someone can realise that they stand out for being a bit different, they should be conscious that people are going to talk about them, either in real life, or on a public discussion board about Clare.

Take a wander into the Limerick thread, and you will find many similar posts about the "characters" there.

ktc1

Teadrinker wrote: »

Gerrimac, I think the key to the attitude is in the name of the thread - they are discussing 'characters' - as if they were from films or cartoons - little realization or care that these are real people, past and present, with real lives, in many cases very difficult lives, and as for the discussion of people's business practices? - well, imagine the legal eagles who would descend on boards.ie should the discussion stretch to the business practices of the powers that be in Ennis? But it won't of course - this is about those perceived as 'other' and powerless to fight back against slurs on them or disclosure, correct or otherwise, of the very personal details of their lives.

I think you need to chill out, this is a laid back discussion and people are reminiscing on a forum about characters in our town, not an RTE expose to the country. I referred to Bowsie's business practices as the man passed away over ten years ago I believe, and the dead can't sue. I'll be more than happy to discuss online the business practices of the current luminaries in Ennis after they die. This isn't cowardice, it's common sense given the way that the legal system in this country is skewed massively towards those with money, and again it'll be in the context of a chat between a few interested people.

Teadrinker

ktc1 wrote: »

I think you need to chill out, this is a laid back discussion and people are reminiscing on a forum about characters in our town, not an RTE expose to the country. I referred to Bowsie's business practices as the man passed away over ten years ago I believe, and the dead can't sue. I'll be more than happy to discuss online the business practices of the current luminaries in Ennis after they die. This isn't cowardice, it's common sense given the way that the legal system in this country is skewed massively towards those with money, and again it'll be in the context of a chat between a few interested people.

Let me break this to you gently: if you want to be surrounded by likeminded people for a private chat, the internet may not be the most comfortable place for you to do it.

gerrimac

Bobby says: nut job always waving by that roundabout in cc

Bowsie Casey says: He's a regular fruitcake....

Claregirl says: Don't wave back!!!

Insulting B**** says: Take her advice...DO NOT WAVE BACK.

drunken Munky 52 says: yeah a bit cracked.

Blitz Molloy says: Mullet guy from Clarecastle is kind of obnoxious. I think that's the main reason not to wave back.

I have no problem with discussing 'Characters' - we all know one or two.

However, it seems to me that the other 'Characters' spoken about, were spared the personal insults...

Perhaps you need to ask yourselves why you feel it necessary to pass these comments about this man (who is related to me), or indeed anyone else for that matter.


"Whom they fear, they hate"
Quintus Ennius

Claregirl

Welcome to Boards Newbie! First you know the guy.... Second you're related.... OMG is it you????;)

gerrimac

Thanks for the welcome Claregirl.

matt007

Now I'm sure this guy wears shades normally and it's
not intentional that you may think he is blind (as I
did when I first saw him) and give him money.
But today he has a new chair, which has big wheels
and I'm sure it's unitentional and he's a thourougly nice
chap and all, but well it does look like a wheelchair..
Business must be good.

drunken_munky52

I know the names of almost every one of these characters. I could mention them, even the mullet dude (who i apologise for saying he was "cracked"), hes just really stands out and thats why we are taling about him. Thats what characters do. No names of the living will be mentioned on this thread.

Back to characters anyway! Anyone seen "Daddy" (thats my nickname for him) lately? The tall fella with the tweed and long navy thenchcoat! He was always seen nearly in the Dunnes Cafe looking at the world go by. Havnt seen him in a while, anyone know about him?