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CONNAUGHT TELEGRAPH (Ireland) 03 May 06 Liam makes his pint with Boa Annabel (Deirdre Kelly)
A legless lady had a few customers in a bit of a slither when she popped into Cosy Joe’s pub in Westport last week.
Draping all of her eight-foot body around barman Liam Quinn, ‘Annabel’ was definitely more the ‘pub boa’ than ‘pub bore’ as punters enjoyed their pints of plain.
A Surinam Red-tailed boa constrictor is not your usual company when you drop into your local, and before we lose publican Joe O'Malley any customers, this was a one-off appearance!
Annabel came into Liam Quinn’s life two years ago when wife Breege bought her for his birthday. A mere four inches long at that time, when she has grown up she will be a lengthy if not a leggy 13 feet.
Liam brought Annabel down to the pub where he works on what was a quiet night for a few friends who wanted to see her. Although she didn’t pull any pints, she did pull a few curious punters in, not clearing the house as one might have expected.
Everyone was definitely curious about her, says Liam, with some brave enough to hold or feel here.
Annabel lives with Liam, Breege and their two-year-old daughter at The Fairgreen in Westport, in a special enclosure for which Liam has the only key.
“Snakes make fantastic pets,” he says. “Her grace and movement is therapeutic to watch. The way she moves is so calming.
“Also, the way she interacts with her environment is amazing.”
Feasting on just one king rat a month, holidays away are never an issue, and local people don’t have a problem with their unusual neighbour.
Snakes, adds Liam, are as dangerous as any pet can be and he would never have her around anything she might be a danger to. “She is user friendly, for want of a better word.”
Annabel was bought from a licensed reptile and exotic pet shop in Dublin. Though there is no licensing system or legislation controlling who owns such pets Liam suggests people adopt a “common sense” attitude to this. For example, the RSPCA know that he has the snake so if there was ever a problem he can go to them for advice.
Liam makes his pint with Boa Annabel
