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gCopaleen to protect his job as a civil servant as he often wrote critical and
satirical comments about those in power.
The theme is that whenever things are going badly in your life, whether it be work,
money or relationship problems, a pint of beer will always make things seem better.
The poem was voted inside the top 50 of Ireland’s 100 favourite poems.
A Pint of Plain is Your Only Man by Flann O’Brien. Image copyright Ireland Calling
A Pint of Plain is Your Only Man_Flann OBrien Image copyright Ireland Calling
A Pint of Plain is Your Only Man
When things go wrong and will not come right,
Though you do the best you can,
When life looks black as the hour of night –
A pint of plain is your only man.