Last orders: Speedy and Tom bid farewell to Syd Harkin’s Kilkenny pub

David Harkin has worked with the brothers all his life. It’s a family pub and Speedy and Tom ‘are a big part of our family. We’ll be completely lost without them’.
Originally from Kilfane, Thomastown, the brothers are from a family of nine boys and three girls, and came into the city for work. Speedy now lives in Loughboy with his wife Catherine and has been easing into retirement over the last year by working on their house.
Tom lives in the city, on College Road, but in his retirement he hopes to venture further. He wants to see the counties of Ireland he hasn’t yet visited, with the northern counties top of the list. He said he would also like to see America.
The brothers are also looking forward to celebrating a family wedding in April.
Speedy said he visited Australia 24 years ago and that was enjoyable but there won’t be any travel during the hurling season! The brothers are both ‘massive hurling fans’.
“Our team is the Bennettsbridge hurling club. The whole team comes in here, now and again,” Speedy said. “They’re a nice bunch of lads,” Tom agreed.
“We had great years, this was a great pub to work in and a brilliant family to work for,” Speedy said. “That we’re here over 70 years tells its own story.”
Tom said it’s 72 years between the two of them, and the secret to their success was ‘we all worked as a team’.
FAREWELL
That team hosted a farewell do for the brothers, paced with family, friends and customers, last Sunday night in Syd Harkin’s.
Being a barman is in the blood for the brothers. Tom said he will miss being in the pub, but is ready to come back any time they need a hand.
Speedy has stepped back in the last year and he says he ‘does and he doesn’t’ miss it. He will still give a hand if needed and even when he’s out himself he can’t pass a table with empty glasses without picking them up and bringing them to the bar!
“You’re never finished work when you’re a barman,” he says.