Pub landlord Mick Doheny, who was found dead in Camden Town last week

Published: 15 November, 2012

Fellow licensee HENRY CONLON remember a man at the centre of the Irish community…

MICK Doheny, landlord of the World’s End pub and Underworld nightclub, was one of the few remaining traditional Irish publicans in Camden Town.

He loved the town, he loved its people and he lived the experience of it as much as he possibly could, right up to his final moments on Thursday when Camden Town lost another of its famous characters.

Mick knew many of the people of our town as he drank beside them, listened to their quips, woes and stories and added his own.

He held a strong position in the Irish community and was often the source of news or issues.

He was there to listen, to help, to dedicate his time and support and to pass on his knowledge.

Some would argue that he was highly opinionated. I would suggest that he was well spoken and highly articulate.

He had his own point of view, which he freely put forward.

Mick couldn’t be taken for granted; his appearance alone was often a topic of conversation as he sometimes went “undercover” on his trips around town.

Once, while sporting a long beard he had allowed to grey, he found himself being told to move along outside his own pub, the World’s End, as the PCSO wasn’t convinced he was the licensee.

He was keen to be part of the story and folklore of our town.

For 10 years, Mick Doheny held the unenviable position of chairman of Camden Inner London Licensees Association (Cilla).

He had to address and advise others over the change in licensing laws and policy within Camden.

He was influential in many of his approaches, including taking the bold step to grant the support of Cilla to Camden Town Unlimited in order to establish the Business Improvement District (BID). This in turn cut crime and the fear of crime.

He took great enjoyment from listening to traditional Irish music and had a love of GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) sports especially, having visited Ireland in September to celebrate Kilkenny winning the all-Ireland hurling final.

Mick raised many thousands of pounds for charities through the Cilla Ball at the Camden Irish Centre. He was a great supporter of the Aisling Return to Ireland project, which reaches out to the vulnerable, the isolated and those alone.

Mick will be sorely missed by many parts of the community and will leave his own legacy.

Many conversations will be less colourful without him.

If only we all had a chance to thank him and to have said goodbye.

• Henry Conlon, land­lord of the Dublin Castle, is vice-chairman of Camden Inner London Licensees Association.

>>'Camden Town will never be the same' (click here for full story)