AT THE aptly-titled Merry Cricketer bar in north Co Dublin, Ireland's eight-wicket defeat at the hands of the West Indies did nothing to dampen spirits on Friday night.

'The Merry Cricketer' is the name given to the back bar in the Balrothery Inn, which has become a mecca for Irish cricket fans in recent weeks.

Four of the Irish squad hail from the local North County Cricket Club, including Paul and John Mooney, whose uncle Tommy has watched all the games in this pub.

Gazing proudly at his cricketing kin on the TV, he said, "I never thought I would see the day when my two nephews would be playing in the World Cup. This is a very special time for me as my brother John 'Ranger' Mooney was their father and he passed away a few years ago.

"He was a fantastic player with North County and he would be so proud of them if he was here today. All Irish people should be happy for this cricket team." The fans blew whistles, tapped their glasses, played mouth organs and chanted 'Ole Ole' in Balrothery on Friday, in scenes reminiscent of any pub during soccer's Italia '90.

The pub's owner, Brendan McCormack, said, "There has been a great buzz in here since the start of the World Cup, especially on St Patrick's Day when we beat Pakistan.

The pub was fairly crowded all day for that game but when it started to look as if we might pull off a shock, the whole village came in.

"The pub was completely packed and we had to close the doors. At one stage there was even people looking in the windows to see the game."

One of the biggest cheers goes up in The Merry Cricketer every time pictures of 100 local fans who travelled over to the tournament flash up on screen. "Ireland went out there hoping for a good performance against Zimbabwe, " said local Kit White, "but we never expected them to go so far."

Another local man, who did not wish to be named, said, "When I first got married, I used to tell the wife that I would be in the pub for two hours watching the football.

Then I discovered cricket so I now tell her that I will be in the pub for the day!"

Cricket fever has even affected the general-election campaign for local Labour party candidate Brendan Ryan, who took time out from canvassing doorsteps to watch Friday's game.

Local man Eoin Lynch said, "The atmosphere will be brilliant if we play England.

Any time we play England in any sport is a special occasion."

Len Fleming, whose son is on the Irish under-13 team, said, "The England match will be our World Cup final and it doesn't matter what happens after that. We have every chance of beating them and if we do I'll buy a drink for everyone in the bar . . .

that'll be a first for me!"

Fleming's niece Nicola Fleming added, "My sister Tracy plays cricket for Ireland as well and she is over at the World Cup. She says that a lot of the locals might stay on for the Super Eights."

It seems Ireland's World Cup journey can't go on long enough for the locals at The Merry Cricketer.