So sad to say good-bye to Kerry and all my friends here. BUT – one last session at Prendeville’s with Jackie O’Connor, Terrence Quinn and PJ on bouzouki. The town was flying as they
sell their livestock right on main street.
Later that night Georgia and I are in Tig Coili’s on Shop Street, Galway City. Fun times with Liz Hanrahan and Kevin Whelan.
Arrived in Ennis at 2pm to meet John Culliney who had prepared his usual huge feast and a house full of guests. Paulo, Niamh, and Annette were at the house and a roast chicken meal with all the Irish roast veg – turnip, parsnips, carrots and spuds. Then some tunes and back on the road. Bank holiday Friday meant the roads were jammed and the 3 towns below Limerick were 15-30 minutes getting through. Arrived to Jackie and Annie – more food and fun – then down to the Patrick O’Keeffe Festival launch at the River Island Hotel. Georgia and I played a set of Michael Coleman reels on radio Kerry for Danny O’Mahoney’s program. Now the man before was singing the traditional Kerry song “The Hunting of the Ram” and went on rather long.”He was after singing 20 verses, I thought he’d never stop” said Jackie. so we had to cut our set short to get the rest of the guests on before the end of the program.
We continued on to Kearney’s bar, my local here, and had a might session until late with Eilish Murphy and Jonathan Roche.
Do I ever get sleep in this country? 2 hours the last night in Boffin and 4 hours last night in Galway. Was up at 5:40 am to get out to Shannon and collect Georgia. and guess what – Rob was already up with a pot of Coffee(!!!). He also made me some porridge. I was worried about arriving late at the airport but Rob has the laid back Irish approach (you definitely don’t want to leave before 6am). And it was true – i got there 15 minutes before she came through the gates. So good to see her, and she had lots of stories. All the Way to Galway (the name of an Irish Polka, btw). Then through to Roscommon town. We watched the sunrise and then a beautiful fog over the land. Saw lots of friends in Roscommon town; Paula Kelly, Joannie McCourt, Seamus talbot and Teresa Nerney. Then on to Ballaghadereen for the session at Spell’s with Frank Jordan (flute aged 88) and PJ Hernan (C#/D box). Very fun – there were 12 musicians sitting around, including 2 other Canadians from Sonora Island near Vancouver (|Luke and Mairead). Well Georgia had not slept much in 48 hours so didn’t she fall asleep in the session! “You missed the Tarbolton set”. “I must’ve been tired”.