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Mary O'Rourke and Terry Leyden in his new pub, which is a replication of the Dáil's Private Members’ Bar. Castlecoote Lodge

FF Senator opens Dáil's Private Members’ Bar replica in Co Roscommon

Terry Leyden said former boss Charlie Haughey “would be there in spirit” while Mary O’Rourke would be there in person.

IN WHAT SEEMS like perfect timing, a Senator is having the official launch of his newly opened pub tonight, which is a replica of the Dáil and Seanad Private Members’ Bar.

Terry Leyden, a one-time Fianna Fáil TD, is launching the bar to be known as the Castlecoote Lodge in Co Roscommon.

Former TD Mary O’Rourke is set to make a special appearance, while Leyden said his former boss Charlie Haughey “would be there in spirit”. Current Fianna Fáil head Michael Martin would be making an “I will be Taoiseach speech” in the replica Dáil bar on Wednesday, Leyden said.

Unlike current revelations that the real members’ bar stayed opened until 5.31am on the night of the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill debate, the Castlecoote Lodge would “be totally compliant with opening and closing times”.

Another difference between both bars will be the lack of “fractions”:

“Fianna Fáil have their own space [in the Private Members’ Bar], Fine Gael another and Labour have their area,” explained Leyden. “It won’t be like that here. It’ll be a better atmosphere with no divisions”.

He also said there would be no tabs unlike the Leinster House members’ bar, which is owed €11,392.63 by Minister, TDs and Senators, “only slate is the one on the roof”.

Leyden’s wife Mary is the licensee of the pub, while their son Conor is the bar manager. Terry plans to be the “front of house” man, telling the “anecdotal stories”.

Pints, wine and scones: Nearly €7k spent in Dáil bars during late night abortion debate>

How much is the Leinster House members’ bar owed by TDs and Senators?>

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31 Comments
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    Mute Despicable You
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    Sep 6th 2013, 1:04 PM

    Charlie will be there in spirit? better leave out a brown envelope so.

    141
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    Mute Alan Kennedy
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    Sep 6th 2013, 1:18 PM

    What do you think they are using as beer mats?

    85
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    Mute Anthony Byrne
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    Sep 6th 2013, 4:15 PM

    Fifties

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    Mute Anthony Byrne
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    Sep 6th 2013, 4:15 PM

    Qnd brown envelopes of course.

    9
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    Mute Paddy Cole
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    Sep 6th 2013, 1:02 PM

    A “front of house” man, telling the “anecdotal stories” – what’s the emoticon for vomiting blood on oneself?

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    Mute alan
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    Sep 6th 2013, 1:06 PM

    I’m lost for words. What a country

    95
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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Sep 6th 2013, 4:42 PM

    So long as they don’t wander out onto the streets trying to pull women on to their laps, sure what’s the harm….?

    29
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    Mute 'Bull' Mick Daly
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    Sep 6th 2013, 1:05 PM

    What so special about an appearance from O’Rourke?? She drives me mental.Fluck off

    89
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    Mute Cuddle Flips
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    Sep 7th 2013, 12:22 AM

    Why do you think the Electric Picnic sold out this year?

    3
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    Mute Ru Ni Digs
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    Sep 6th 2013, 2:07 PM

    The headline should have read “FF Senator get’s free advertising for his new bar,from The Journal!”

    84
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    Mute Adrian Mc Sweeney
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    Sep 6th 2013, 1:37 PM

    This country is sick.

    60
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    Mute Malachy Quinn
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    Sep 6th 2013, 1:13 PM

    FF will they ever learn !
    Have they no shame!
    OMG!

    59
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    Mute Aine Ni Chroinin
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    Sep 6th 2013, 1:16 PM

    Is ‘Charlie there in spirit’ a euphemism for Bertie turning up? I hope they serve slops

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    Mute John Campbell
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    Sep 6th 2013, 1:15 PM

    The only good news about this story is that the clients will have to pay for their own drinks, at least until Fianna Fáil are back in charge. The ghost of corruption past is still around I see.

    42
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    Mute Larry O'Doherty
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    Sep 6th 2013, 1:55 PM

    We HAVE to be the most dysfunctional country on this planet, even Sigmund frued couldn’t figure us out as a race and that says something….off the fcukin wall the carry on!

    39
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    Mute kieran Curran
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    Sep 6th 2013, 3:50 PM

    Wow just wow. It’s like something from Fr Ted but more absurd.

    31
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    Mute Larry O'Doherty
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    Sep 6th 2013, 7:30 PM

    Just shows ya Kieran, Dermot Morgan was so on the button. Sure he used to have a radio show called Scrap Saturday and that was taken off the air because it was so close to the bone!

    15
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    Mute Sheik Yahbouti
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    Sep 6th 2013, 2:28 PM

    Words fail me. A man who has wined and dined for far too long on the public purse (if his photo is anything to go by) now intends to capitalize on his intimate knowledge of the two free troughs, to further enrich himself.

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    Mute Dermot Mc Loughlin
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    Sep 6th 2013, 1:50 PM

    Anyone else think these people get paid to much?

    28
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    Mute Nelly Bergman
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    Sep 6th 2013, 2:13 PM

    What do they think the appeal of “replica of the Dáil and Seanad Private Members’ Bar” is for your lay Roscommoner? or any other county resident? Weird…

    26
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    Mute Terry Ralph
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    Sep 6th 2013, 2:35 PM

    Who wants to hear anecdotal stories of failure upon failure,treason etc.the list goes on ,please tell me this is a joke ?

    24
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    Mute MrKnow
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    Sep 6th 2013, 2:56 PM

    Its time to kill off the political class in this country and start again

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    Mute Dave O'Hanlon
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    Sep 6th 2013, 3:20 PM

    Maybe if they all turn up to this bar at once we could burn it down

    14
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    Mute Patrick
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    Sep 6th 2013, 2:01 PM

    I wonder is the drink is free too.

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    Mute Anthony Byrne
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    Sep 6th 2013, 4:16 PM

    Not free but, but can be vouched and expensed.

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    Mute Fergal McDonagh
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    Sep 6th 2013, 6:40 PM

    Obnoxious pr#£ks

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    Mute Max
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    Sep 6th 2013, 5:09 PM

    Only in Ireland would the opening of a pub make the news, it’s great to be Irish , isn’t it….

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    Mute the bad mood pixie
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    Sep 6th 2013, 6:58 PM

    Will this bar be full of obnoxious out of touch €unts with a god complex too?

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    Mute martin freyne
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    Sep 6th 2013, 6:47 PM

    Nice Wallpaper, like something the Ceaușescu’s would pick

    …now there’s a thought!

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    Mute Dermot Ryan
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    Sep 6th 2013, 8:21 PM

    “No Fractions” ….that’s what with Ireland F.F. don’t understand English, History or Maths !
    What hope did we have with FACTIONS who don’t understand FRACTIONS. ……

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    Mute Michael Carroll
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    Sep 6th 2013, 7:01 PM

    Does it stay open until 5am ?

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