Dave O'Connell

@CoynesGastropub Another unforgettable night in the biggest small venue in Ireland; maybe the best yet - and that’s saying something!

Mick Flannery appreciation night. #CoyesUnplugged #Music #Concert #Ireland

Four Old Men. Two Wheelchairs. One Beach. Alan Alda’s 90th Birthday January 28, 2026. Alan Alda turned 90. His family planned a safe celebration at home. Cake. Balloons. Grandkids. Alan said no. “I don’t want a party,” he said. His daughter frowned. “Dad… you’re turning ninety. This is a big deal.” “I know,” Alan said. “But I don’t want to celebrate here.” “Then where?” Alan didn’t hesitate. “I want to go to the beach.” The room went still. “The beach?” “Dad, you’re in a wheelchair.” “You can barely stand.” Alan smiled. That smile. The Hawkeye Pierce smile — the one that always meant something stubborn was coming. “So?” By that afternoon, he had already decided who was coming. “The four of us,” he said. “The last four.” Gary Burghoff. Jamie Farr. Mike Farrell. And himself. The final survivors of the 4077th. “No cameras. No interviews. No speeches,” Alan said. “Just us.” The phone calls began. Gary answered first. “Happy birthday, old man! Ninety!” “Thanks. I need you to drive.” “Drive where?” “To the beach.” A pause. “Alan… you’re in a wheelchair.” “So are facts. They don’t stop me either.” Gary laughed. That Radar laugh Alan had known for over fifty years. “Fine. But I’m not pushing you through sand.” “I’ll crawl if I have to.” “You’re insane.” “I’m Hawkeye. Same thing.” Jamie Farr was next. “The beach?” Jamie said. “I’m ninety-one and in a wheelchair.” “Then we’ll have two wheelchairs at the beach.” “Like a parade?” “Like a victory lap.” Jamie laughed until his voice cracked. “You haven’t changed since 1972.” “And you’re still Klinger.” “Fine. I’m in.” Mike Farrell sighed the moment he answered. “Let me guess,” he said. “You want me to push your wheelchair.” “Yes.” “I’m eighty-six. I use a cane.” “BJ Hunnicutt once saved a man with dental floss,” Alan said. “You’ll manage.” Long pause. “…Fine.” January 28. 6:00 a.m. Gary arrived in a rented van. Two wheelchair spaces. He was wearing a Hawaiian shirt. At Alan’s house, his daughter hovered. “Dad, are you sure?” “I’ve never been more sure of anything.” “What if something happens?” “Something is always about to happen at ninety,” Alan said. “Might as well happen at the beach.” Jamie was waiting outside his house. Wheelchair. Sunglasses. Hawaiian shirt. “You coordinated outfits?” Gary asked. “It’s tradition,” Jamie said. “The 4077th always matched.” Mike showed up next. Also in a Hawaiian shirt. Four old men. One van. Heading west. On the drive, memories filled the air. Harry driving too fast. Larry bringing his own wine. Radar making everyone cry. Klinger never sleeping. When the MASH* theme song came on, no one spoke. After it ended, Alan said quietly, “That song used to annoy me.” “Now?” “Now it just reminds me how lucky we were.” At Malibu, reality hit. Wheelchairs don’t work on sand. Jamie grumbled. Mike rubbed his back. Alan stared at the ocean. Gary disappeared. Fifteen minutes later, he returned with two lifeguards and two beach wheelchairs. One lifeguard whispered, “My grandmother watched MASH* every night.” It took time. Transfers were slow. Hands trembled. Bones protested. But they made it. To the water. Alan closed his eyes. The sound of waves. Salt in the air. Sun on his face. “I forgot what this felt like,” he said. They talked about the ones who weren’t there. McLean. Wayne. Larry. Harry. Bill. David. Loretta. Jamie finally broke the silence. “Let’s race.” Two wheelchairs. Two pushers. One rock. They raced. They tied. People on the beach stared. A teenager asked, “What are those old guys doing?” His mother said, “Living.” As the sun set, Alan spoke. “This might be the last time.” No one argued. “That’s why it matters,” he said. “Because we know.” He made a wish. “One more year.” “One more adventure.” “Korea. Together.” They promised.

And true to form @Heineken_IE row in with their own “blended” price increase citing the usual blah “cost increases etc”. Irish Pubs, especially rural pubs are going to have to do something to fight the powerful monopoly @DiageoIreland and @Heineken_IE have over the drinks trade in Ireland before rural Irish Pubs are destroyed completely. Over to you @VFIpubs #Pubs #Hospitality #Ireland #Tourism #Monopoly #PriceIncrease #Europe

RT @CoynesGastropub: Hi @DiageoIreland! Why not support your own grassroots teams instead of raising the price of your draught products?…

Delighted to announce our “Coyne’s Unplugged” intimate concert line up for the first half of 2026 featuring the finest of Irish contemporary artists. Thank you for supporting live music ✊ #SmallVenue #LiveMusic #CillChiaráin #Connemara #ireland #WildAtlanticWay

@KCsixtyseven Best of good luck and good health for the next part of the journey - and heartiest congrats on a job well done.

Final piece from my old job. How to lose friends and influence nobody. Click on pic to read. irishmirror.ie/sport/sport-op…

Thanks to Judy Murphy and Joe O'Shaughnessy for piece in this week's Connacht Tribune. Lord save us! In the paper, or read online (truncated) : connachttribune.ie/capturing-chan… #deankelly #art #exhibition #Galway

@KCsixtyseven Best of luck, Kieran. Brilliant career - and more to come.

Last day in the job after nearly 28 years. Without getting all Linkedin on it, ready to move on and try something new.

Is Was, my new exhibition of paintings, drawings and photographs, is now live on the Kenny Gallery website. Over forty new works, made from the streets, light and shifting memory of Galway. thekennygallery.ie

The Garda van that was earlier set alight outside Citywest Hotel in Saggart, Co Dublin. Protesters have been successfully shepherded away from the hotel entrance by Gardaí carrying riot shields.

Large container of glass bottles hurled at Gardaí by protesters outside Citywest Hotel in Saggart, Co Dublin. Fireworks continue to be launched at officers defending the entrance to the hotel. Earlier, a Garda van was set alight.

For anyone wondering who Luke Combs is and whether anyone will be paying big money to see him at Slane next summer: irishtimes.com/culture/music/…

I spoke with Naoise Dolan yesterday evening, before she and other members of the freedom flotilla were intercepted and captured by Israeli forces. ‘I’m prepared for what might happen’: novelist Naoise Dolan approaches Gaza on next flotilla: irishtimes.com/ireland/2025/1…

A feature in today’s ⁦@IrishTimes⁩ on the disparity in higher level LC maths results between girls and boys, and what might be done to resolve it. Ireland’s maths gender gap: why boys are getting twice as many top grades: irishtimes.com/ireland/educat…

Thousands take part in pro-Palestine march in Dublin, calling for sanctions irishtimes.com/ireland/2025/1…

@AlanEnglish9 Fair play, Alan - there was always a few more chapters in that book! Best of luck, not that you’ll need it.

I'm joining The Currency full-time as Associate Editor - a mostly writing role. After a good break I'm looking forward to getting back into journalism and doing something different. I've been a subscriber since The Currency started - it's a brilliant team thecurrency.news/articles/20324…

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Niamh Fahey as the club’s first Technical Coordinator:

One in five children lives in poverty when housing costs factored in, ESRI finds: irishtimes.com/ireland/2025/0…

All-Ireland champions, thanks to @KennysBookshop, @Galway_GAA @BellewPaul, @MonroesLive , @Mulliganj, @gbfmsports, @galwayad, @CTribune for all the support over the last three years.