Murphy’s Law

Murphy’s is, by now, an Osaka institution. It is, apparently, the oldest Irish pub in Japan, and pre-dates it’s Osakan gaijin bar rivals by a fair few furlongs. This enduring populatity is due in no small part, to its affable manager, Mick O’Carroll.

Mick has been in Kansai for over four years now. He stopped by for a couple of weeks, back in 2000, for a quick visit and has never looked back. He was offered the position at Murphy’s during this brief stopover, and since then has made Murphy’s into what it is today – the most genuine Irish pub in this part of the world. It is hard to imagine a more suitable man in charge – he presides over the bar, offering advice and opinions on any subject, every inch the Irish publican. It is a family affair, like so many pubs back in Ireland – his brother-in-law, an expat Japanese living in Dublin, is the owner, and gives Mick free reign on how to take care of this far-flung outpost.

Born in Dublin back in the seventies, he lived and breathed sports from an early age. He watches, rather than plays, these days – he played rugby in Ireland, but that was before he “discovered cigarettes and alcohol.” He comes from good stock – his father is a sports producer for RTE, Ireland’s national broadcaster, and his childhood was immersed in the sporting world. His favorite game is rugby, but like so many Irishmen, his interests are wide and varied, taking in everything from football to horseracing. It has stood him in good stead for his current occupation, and he cites the World Cup as his most memorable moment managing the bar. Simply put, “it was crazy”. Music is another love, and his eclectic tastes are evident by the playlist at Murphy’s, and by the live bands he brings in periodically. He is, as he should be, “a U2 lover” – both of Ireland’s top exports (the other being Guiness) are well represented.

He also made it down to Australia for the Rugby World Cup last year, and this love of everything sporting is evident throughout the bar, from the constant screening on the TVs to the Irish Times sports results in the toilet. He has also sponsored a football team, who play friendlies around Kansai, and, one would expect, get involved in a fair few sessions in the bar after games. His interest in Japan was stimulated by his sister’s connections here, and his father used to cover the Suzuka Grand Prix.

He is a busy man these days, and his leisure time is spent “recovering”, although he does try to get down to the gym from time to time, in addition to the travelling he tries to fit in when he can. He’s off to San Fransisco soon, to meet his parents. He’s too involved in the bar for much of an outside social life, but in all honesty, he doesn’t really need any more drinking time. The bar provides many an amiable drinking companion, and Mick says that there are a lot of similarities between Ireland and his adopted home. While the Irish are long-term and stoical in their approach, the Japanese tend to be “one-can wonders”. Both, however, are jovial drinkers, friendly and ready to enjoy themselves. “When they get pissed [they’re both] loud and noisy.” Murphy’s has a steady stream of regulars, brought in by the charm and genuine nature of both Murphy’s and it’s publican.

Text: Euan McKirdy • Photos: Murphy's