Jay took me to the Carrowkeel passage tombs Co. Sligo. What can I say? Where can I start? The were built 4000 years before Christ. We hiked up the mountain and even that view was spectacular. One tomb is accessible and neither is there an interpretive centre nor an admission fee.
Jay says the faeries will dance to your music. I pull out the fiddle and play “The Kid on the Mountain”. Very magical indeed.
Wednesday I awoke and had the fry with the Kerins then on the road to Galway (yes I missed the turn at Charlesville and added an hour to the trip! ). Still I arrived in time for dinner with the Fullers and G&S. Fun to hear the stories. They were 3 days in Dublin and 2 days on Inishbofin.
We walk into town to meet Declan Corey (mandolin) Ger Clancey (fiddle) & Mick Clancy (bouzouki). I love playing with Georgia: it’s one of the true joys of my life! The synchronicity and “know where we’re going next-ness” can’t be described.
Just finished a week of heavy session work with good friend Jay Kerins. He know all the sessions around and we hit 9 n 7 days. Some hights were playing with grand-niece of Peter Horan: Grainne Horan in Hargadon Bro.s Sligo town. Grainne plays the fiddle and does a fine job of it.
A Sunday session in Cran’s in Carrick-on-Shannon with Sean Ward was totally lovely. I met Sean first in 1996 and we share a Canadian friend, Dave Papazian (Papper) of Cape Breton Island.
Friday found us in Murray’s Bar Charlestown Co. Mayo playing with another long time friend Joe Grady (fiddle).
But Monday in Matt Molloy’s Pub Westport Co. Mayo was one lively session. Brothers John Kilkenny (fiddle) and Noel Kilkenny (banjo!!!) gave a “take no prisoners” session with loads of mighty tunes.
Walked in from Renmore in the Lashing rain. A very small and lovely session with only Mick, Anders and myself. It would have been a lovely quiet session but for the College ceili session going on upstairs, I thought the roof would come in. Old friends Christine & Gerry Marti showed up. They just happen to arrive in Galway every October as I do.
A great night in Tig Coili’s with Anders Trajberg (box), Mick Creehan (whistle), Cathal Johnson (harmonica) and NIall (bodrhan and tambourine). I swear Anders know every tune from every culture on every instrument! I told him about the Danish Viking Exhibit at the Royal Alberta Museum. “They should hire me!” “You’d be perfect!”
Mick is the nephew of legendary Clare fiddler Junior Crehan
“I learned a lot from Junior and it wasn’t all music.”
I am here and living the life. Direct flight from Vancouver to Dublin. 8 1/2 hours in the air. Spent a long time convincing the customs man that I was not here to work, that I had a return ticket and work to come home too and that I earn no money playing in pubs ( do you include free pints?). 2 lovely sunny days here and it is green! Was at the Crane Bar on Saturday playing with Michael Chan and 200 others. Met Tommy McCarthy, https://www.facebook.com/tommy.mccarthy.58
He played with Arcady at the Edmonton Festival in 1993. He sat in for a couple of tunes.
Sunday I was at the Salthouse for 2 Americana sessions and met up with fellow Canadian Kyle from Saltspring Island and we talked for several hours about hockey and why the Canucks suck! (haha). His friend Siobhan from Dublin patiently indulging us. A great night all in all. Finished it off with the small curry chip from Vinnie’s (our tradition.)
I will arrive in Eire on October 12, 2019. A pint anyone? Georgia arrives a week later.
It’s January Fun! Come see us play
http://www.deepfreezefest.ca/
2019 DEEP FREEZE: BYZANTINE WINTER FESTIVAL
Venue Address# 1: Hearth (9210 118 Ave)
Date of Performance: Saturday, January 12, 2019
Time of Performance:2:00 PM – 2:45 PM
Venue Address#2: Pavilion (91 St & 118 Ave) — Kitchen Party
Date of Performance: Saturday, January 12, 2019
Time of Performance:3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
Venue Address# 3: Igloo (92 St. & north of 118 Ave)
Date of Performance: Saturday, January 12, 2019
Time of Performance:5:00 PM – 5:45 PM
On November 29th 2018 Dr. Donald Glasgow replaced my right hip which had previously been shattered in 2013 in a bicycle collision with a van. It’s been 11 days and I am already enjoying the benefits!!
Instead of my annual 4 week visit to Ireland to enjoy the wonderful people, music, Guinness & scenery I will be staying put in Edmonton and preparing for an upcoming hip replacement. Sad to break with tradition but my mobility is very limited (I use a cane all the time) and I am trying to get my blood glucose numbers down. I look forward to my next visit in good health when I will easily walk from Renmore to Eyre Square or up the Pound Road.