Make mine a Snakebite!

A well-known Cavan barman got the fright of his life this week when attempting to remove a blockage from an outside pipe, only to uncovered the remains of what is believed to have been a snake.
Well-known barman, Michael Mooney of the Slieve Rossa, has amazed disbelieving customers to the popular Cavan Town haunt with the story of the incredible find.
“It’s not something you come across everyday,” he told The Anglo-Celt, “and not something I ever expect to come across again”.
Michael was working to routinely remove a blockage to an outside water pipe on Monday last when he pulled from it what appeared to be a snake skin.
“I started pulling at it some more and the rest then came with it,” he says.
Michael has since contacted the ISPCA looking for information as to whether or not anyone has reported a missing snake in the Cavan area, but they have suggested either the reptile escaped or was dumped. Seeking warmth, the snake must have made its way up and into the Slieve Rossa hot-water out-pipe where it ultimately perished.
The breed of the snake, whether it was venomous or not, and its length, have yet been determined.
“I’ve no idea where it came from and no one has approached me about it since. The ISPCA say it must’ve went up the pipe for the heat and that’s what ended up killing it. He was boiled alive,” explained Michael.
Customers to the Slieve Rossa have been in hiss-terics, cracking jokes and snakey one-liners since the discovery was made.
“There’s been a few comments about two legged snakes behind the bar or ‘the one that got away’ after St Patrick’s Day, the craic and the chat has been good about it.
“A lot of people don’t believe me about it and I have to show them. That definitely shuts them up for a few minutes,” Michael told the Celt.
The snake has since been disposed of.