Mickey Finn: Inebriation and Creativity in Myles na gCopaleen’s ‘Drink and Time in Dublin’

Abstract

Myles na gCopaleen’s short story ‘Drink and Time in Dublin’ explores the literary role of alcohol and sedatives within a narrative framework. Examining binge drinking and blackouts in the short story that produce lacunas, complicate time, and disrupt the logical progression of events, this article explores the connection between intoxication and the deployment of anti-narrative strategies. Special attention is given to the use of sedatives in the text that, it is argued, allude to the Irish figure Mickey Finn. The story’s allusion to Finn reorganises Irish mythology as it replaces ancient traditional heroism with modern anti-heroism, resulting in the collapse of realist narrative norms and narrative structure.

Keywords

• Alcohol
• Sedatives
• Anti-Narrative
• Irish Mythology
• Finn Mac Cool
• Mickey Finn