The Cosmo King is a former member of that elite and highly respected group, The Good Folk Behind The Bar.

The Good Folk Behind The Bar are the heart and soul of The Great Institution of Chatham Street. They are the people to whom I turn for a little stimulating chatter on evenings when I depart My Official Residence, head across the Liffey, wander up Grafton Street and make the right-left-right- left chicane at the corner of Chatham Street that sees me safely into porter.

Taking up My Preferred Barstool one fine evening at The Holy Grail Known As The Bar I had the good fortune to make the acquaintance of The Cosmo King.

Although he is one or two seasons younger than My Good Self this did not prevent us from building up quite an excellent rapport. We discussed in detail the great questions of life. And then we got on to the only issue that really mattered.

Who would win the upcoming US Masters golf tournament.

My Good Self felt that Tiger Woods and Jordan Speith were the men to beat. The Cosmo King thought otherwise We argued back and forth but I was not to be dissuaded. I stuck to my guns and duly strolled down to My Sometime Friend Paddy Power, put forth a wager, and lo and behold a few days later I was a slightly wealthier young man.

And it was all down to the chat I had had with The Cosmo King.

A few moons back I had the great pleasure of witnessing at first hand the golfing skills of The Cosmo King. I had been invited by The Boss to do a little Strolling The Fairways (golf) and The Cosmo King had also been asked along. Jack Nicklaus got wind of what was going on and he wondered could he join us. My Good Self and Jack go back a long way, it was nice to have him along with us. We chatted amiably about old triumphs. Jack recounted stories from his Open Championship successes at Muirfield and St. Andrews. I told him of the time when I had two successive birdies down at Waterford Castle.

He was suitably impressed.

The following day My Good Self and Jack took up residence in The Great Institution of Chatham Street and who was on hand to look after us only The Cosmo King, He rustled up a couple of his world famous cosmopolitan cocktails and in no time at all the world was quite a wondrous place to My Good Self and Jack,

A few moons ago I received the shock news that The Cosmo King was moving on to fresh pastures. After falling off my bar stool and needing to be resuscitated by the Emergency Services, I somehow managed to gather myself together and come to my senses.

It was a tough blow for My Good Self but I somehow made it through. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I am indebted to The Cosmo King for making me stronger.

The Cosmo King has departed the scene. May he live long.

We shall meet again.