Sir, – With regard to Frank McNally’s enjoyable Irishman’s Diary (May 2nd) on Betty Martin, professional toucher, and Patrick Kavanagh, the statement that he sometimes touched people for money is true enough, but not the whole of the story.
I remember on one occasion as a very young man arriving back in McDaid’s of Harry Street from the night-train and boat from London, very broke indeed, to find Patrick Kavanagh already in residence at the counter.
He greeted me and offered me a drink, which I accepted. In due course, after the pub had filled up a little, he surreptitiously passed me a 10-shilling note, under the table as it were, saying “You get the next one. Mine’s a large scotch”. He could be generous when he had money, and also delicate. – Yours, etc,