Dumbledore has no words of magic this timeAGAINST THE ODDS: Ol’ Bones Brogan’s suspicions are proved correct as Vinny faces up to some grim news and another stark warning…Wed Aug 03 2011 - 01:00
Bones gets to the bottom of Vinny's wee problemAGAINST THE ODDS : BY HIS own admission, Vinny Fitzpatrick was as regular as clockwork when it came to relieving himselfWed Jul 27 2011 - 01:00
Clarke's heroics inspire Vinny to dream againAGAINST THE ODDS: AS THE Claret Jug was raised skywards and Darren Clarke’s mega-watt smile lit up the Kent coast, Foley’s pub…Wed Jul 20 2011 - 01:00
How to win friends and influence peopleAGAINST THE ODDS: Our hero expands his networking skills with a bit of birdsong in cyberspaceWed Jul 13 2011 - 01:00
Finding Treasure on the Curragh of KildareAGAINST THE ODDS: BOARDING BENNY’S bus outside Foley’s on Sunday at noon, Vinny Fitzpatrick regretted he hadn’t chanced his …Wed Jun 29 2011 - 01:00
Tears flow freely for Vinny on Father's DayAGAINST THE ODDS : AS HE opened the Father’s Day cards placed neatly on the kitchen table, between the Sunday papers and a breakfast…Wed Jun 22 2011 - 01:00
Vinny sticks to his plan and Lugs falls for itAGAINST THE ODDS: ASSESSING THE parade ring of parents from his perch in the shade of a chestnut tree, where he sipped the finest…Wed Jun 15 2011 - 01:00
Staying the course to honour a lost friendAGAINST THE ODDS: AT NOON on Sunday, all was quiet on Maryfield Drive, a handy rat-run between the busy Ardlea and Kilmore roads…Wed Jun 08 2011 - 01:00
Breasting the tape is not a pretty sightAGAINST THE ODDS: At short notice and with some reluctance, our hero agrees to take part in the Balscadden BiathlonWed Jun 01 2011 - 01:00
'QE2' stays afloat after injection of humourAGAINST THE ODDS: AS HE flicked through the Sunday newspapers, it struck Vinny Fitzpatrick that where the Royal visit was concerned…Wed May 18 2011 - 01:00
Paying homage to Seve's exploits around Royal DublinAGAINST THE ODDS: CROSSING THE wooden bridge on the Bull Island before daybreak, the man could have been an early morning walker…Wed May 11 2011 - 01:00
Vinny to stick by Giller and his beloved DubsAGAINST THE ODDS: Vinny finds it hard to concentrate on Irish Grand National form after Dublin's second-half capitulation to…Wed Apr 27 2011 - 01:00
Nothing like some unexpected news to clear the headAG AINST THE ODDS: THE VOICE on the end of the phone was brusque, business-like, and prompted Vinny Fitzpatrick to stand to …Wed Apr 13 2011 - 01:00
Stout heart needed for betting week of the yearAGAINST THE ODDS: DEPENDING ON your persuasion, Vinny Fitzpatrick was either as happy as Larry, happy as a sand boy or as happy…Wed Apr 06 2011 - 01:00
Trapattoni's claptrap far from music to Vinny's earsAGAINST THE ODDS: Vinny assesses the Milan-based manager’s time in charge of the Republic of Ireland after getting the chance…Wed Mar 30 2011 - 01:00
Cruel twist of fate leaves Vinny sore and sorryAGAINST THE ODDS: An untimely visit to the dentist robs our hero of his normal ritual for one of the biggest occasions of the…Wed Mar 16 2011 - 00:00
Murphy's law as The Ferret scents sweet revengeAGAINST THE ODDS: Vinny’s election chances are scuppered by his lodger’s crimes and things get worse when he discovers the investigating…Wed Mar 02 2011 - 00:00
Bolt from the blue leaves Vinny feeling queasyAGAINST THE ODDS: Just as the election campaign hits the finishing straight, Vinny gets an ominous call from the local Garda…Wed Feb 23 2011 - 00:00
Unheralded Vinny rattles the political big wigsAGAINST THE ODDS: STEALING A glance from behind the curtain in the giant assembly hall in Coolock’s Chanel College, Vinny Fitzpatrick…Wed Feb 16 2011 - 00:00
Captain's contest turns into battle RoyalAGAINST THE ODDS: The Duke is decked and the Spider stretched, but when the red mist clears in Foley’s, Vinny’s supporters make…Wed Jan 26 2011 - 00:00
Spud gives Liverpool backers the bluesVinny’s chirpy new tenant in Causeway Avenue is holding court in Foley’s and fast becoming a firm favouriteWed Jan 19 2011 - 00:00
Vinny takes a punt with new true-blue tenantAGAINST THE ODDS: The lure of an extra €750 cash up front helps a likeable Scally beat off some serious competition to become…Wed Jan 12 2011 - 00:00
Vinny hit for six as Socket Twomey callsAGAINST THE ODDS: AS THE doorbell ding-donged for the umpteenth time on Sunday, Vinny Fitzpatrick stretched his trotters and…Wed Dec 15 2010 - 00:00
Vinny back on the road, and a slippery slopeAGAINST THE ODDS: As Dublin Bus was grinding to a halt due to the bad weather Vinny decides to act on the company’s slogan and…Wed Dec 08 2010 - 00:00
Vinny snowed under after Berbatov bloomerAGAINST THE ODDS: “ BRING it on, old man,” taunted the boyWed Dec 01 2010 - 00:00
Edgy Vinny a bet away from disaster or deliveranceAGAINST THE ODDS: The taxman wants a cut of cash long gone so our betting bus driver has to make a few well-chosen punts, sit…Wed Nov 17 2010 - 00:00
Vinny welcomes back jumps' hardy annualsAGAINST THE ODDS: Unlike his mate Brennie, Vinny preferred to go with his instincts, his own feel for a race, rather than place…Wed Nov 10 2010 - 00:00
Favre and the number 10 bus take a hitAGAINST THE ODDS: Just as Vinny was about to head out into the Halloween night for a bit of trick or treating he received a …Wed Nov 03 2010 - 00:00
Bird from Ballyer hits right note with VinnyAGAINST THE ODDS: Vinny’s Saturday nights may have changed forever after he gets blown away by the Tesco checkout girl with …Wed Oct 27 2010 - 01:00
Captain Keane fails to inspire VinnyAGAINST THE ODDS: THERE WERE always newspapers scattered about the canteen in Clontarf Bus depot; mostly of the red-top variety…Wed Oct 13 2010 - 01:00
Vinny's plans for Ryder rendezvous creche and burnAGAINST THE ODDS: Plans to watch the final day drama of the Ryder Cup in his local are scuppered by an outbreak of measles at…Wed Oct 06 2010 - 01:00
Vinny raises glass of black stuff to the vixen of VilniusAGAINST THE ODDS: AT ONE level, living the lie had been straightforward enough for Vinny FitzpatrickWed Sept 29 2010 - 01:00
Stark ultimatum leaves Vinny rocked to the coreAGAINST THE ODDS: Temporarily banished from home by an irate Angie, our hero is left forlorn and lonely as he muses on his future…Wed Sept 22 2010 - 01:00
Mighty craic on the 'so-say' back to Foley'sAGAINST THE ODDS: Standing on the 18th tee box Vinny's friend Brennie only needed a double-bogey seven to win the Captain's …Wed Sept 15 2010 - 01:00
Vinny bowled over as the Khans prepare to up stumpsAGAINST THE ODDS: Approaching Clontarf Bus Depot after nearly six months on sick leave Vinny gets some news from his lodgers…Wed Sept 08 2010 - 01:00
Consequences ignored as Vinny's old habits die hardAGAINST THE ODDS: THERE WASN’T much time to arrange the sweep, but the six friends were past masters at applying themselves, …Wed Sept 01 2010 - 01:00
Grieving Vinny tempted by a simple twist of fateAGAINST THE ODDS: AS THE dream died and Dublin players collapsed to their knees on the final whistle, Vinny Fitzpatrick slumped…Wed Aug 25 2010 - 01:00
Vinny's not where he wants to be on back nine of lifeAGAINST THE ODDS: THE TROUSER belt was the first to go; followed by the insoles, watch, mobile ’phone and, finally, wallet. …Wed Aug 18 2010 - 01:00
Nothing funny about these cartoon charactersAGAINST THE ODDS: A lovely Saturday evening at home without the kids takes a sinister turnWed Jul 14 2010 - 01:00
Ringer Khan comes up stumps for VinnyAGAINST THE ODDS: Cricket-loving tenant occupies the crease as captain Fitzpatrick and his Foley’s Taverners’ XI go in search…Wed Jul 07 2010 - 01:00
Right Royal drubbing casts shadow on The HillAGAINST THE ODDS: A glorious Sunday afternoon darkens as goals fly in at Croker and BloemfonteinWed Jun 30 2010 - 01:00
A great Irish victory at Pebbler, pity they let Aussies off the hookAGAINST THE ODDS: FORTIFIED BY a large sausage sandwich smothered in mustard, two bags of cheese-and-onion crisps and a six-…Wed Jun 23 2010 - 01:00
Points mean prizes - or better yet, pints, in pub promotionAGAINST THE ODDS: A World Cup offer in Clontarf’s leading hostelry attracts our hero’s undivided attentionWed Jun 16 2010 - 01:00
A simple choice - the Eurovision or a Race NightIF GREYHOUND racing was lotto on legs, Vinny Fitzpatrick felt a Race Night was not only more unpredictable, it was bordering …Wed Jun 02 2010 - 01:00
Vinny well on the promenade to recoveryFROM THE Alfie Byrne Road to the Bull Island turn was three kilometres, a handy 15-minute jog, a seven-minute cycle or, for Rory…Wed May 05 2010 - 01:00
'Conundrum': nine-letter word spells troubleAGAINST THE ODDS: Our hero is back home, but a visit from Kathy Bates disguised as Lauren Bacall leaves him scrambling for escape…Wed Mar 31 2010 - 01:00
Vinny bowled over by visit from the KhansVinny’s Bismarck: AS VINNY Fitzpatrick looked out of Beaumont Hospital to the former home of Arthur Guinness next door, the …Wed Mar 24 2010 - 00:00
Too close to call in race for survivalAGAINST THE ODDS: Vinny searches for familiar faces as he drifts between here and thereWed Mar 17 2010 - 00:00
Finding the benefits of shopping locallyAgainst The Odds: Vinny gives the racing at Fairyhouse a miss and decides to boldly go where he had never gone before.Wed Feb 24 2010 - 00:00
Unrivalled Ruby the key to canny punting planAGAINST THE ODDS: Trusting in the gifted Kildare jockey is central to Vinny's strategy as he does his homework on Pancake Tuesday…Wed Feb 17 2010 - 00:00
