Sam has no complex about his Jesus ‘pose'

SAM McNicholl of Connolly’s Bar in Leap found an innovative way of wishing his customers ‘Happy Easter’ when he went into full Jesus mode on Facebook.

‘People do say I have a bit of a Jesus look,’ Sam told The Southern Star, ‘but dressing up like Christ wasn’t my idea. I just went along with it for the weekend that was in it. 

‘My friend, Barra Vernon – a photographer from Cork – was down in Connolly’s for the weekend and he told me, “Dress in all white and come down stairs.”

‘I asked him why and he said, “Just trust me,” so I came down in white shorts and a white t-shirt, but he said, “Go again,” and then I came down wearing the white shirt. It was only when he told me to stand on a stool that I could see what we were doing and I relinquished myself. It was just a bit of fun. It was more about having a laugh at myself because despite what people might say, I don’t have a Jesus complex.’

It was only after the stool was Photoshopped out that Sam said he got a proper look at the final image, a faux crucifixion. 

He said: ‘My face was sore from laughing because, let’s face it, it’s a bit ridiculous.’

When asked if he thought that some might find it offensive, Sam – who runs the well-known music venue with his mother Eileen – replied: ‘I don’t think so, don’t some people wear a symbol of the crucified Christ around their necks? I certainly didn’t mean to offend anyone. Although the photographer did say to me, “We’re going to hell now.”

However, the reaction on Facebook has been positive.