In the Spring of 1991 I learned that there is one day every year in Ireland when the pubs are closed. Good Friday is that day. The holiest day on the Irish calendar. I was traveling on a weekend with two classmates and we had just checked into a hostile in Sligo. We had planned on a pub meal for dinner but when we asked the hostess about pub recommendations she said, "They're all closed today, or they are for you anyway." As we ambled downtown in search of food we began to better understand her statement. The pubs were all locked up. The curtains were drawn and the shutters closed tightly but we could hear people inside. I would check the door but they were all locked. It was a "locals only" night at the pubs. We reckoned that they were entering and leaving via back doors but our hostess was correct. The pubs were all closed to us. This year Good Friday falls on April 14th. How ruined can one day get? The assassin...