Another great night in Flannagan’s. Michael was in fine form and sang the house favourite “Red is the Rose”. Jigs, reels and hornpipes till the cows came home.
Ireland Trip 2011
Day 6 – Collecting seaweed at Fenit.
Aidan Rooney, Jackie and I made the 30 minute trip to Fenit to collect 3 kinds of seaweed, one for eating, one for bathing and one for adding to the garden. It was beautiful to be at the sea in all her noisy, smelly glory.
Day 5 – This feels like the festival!
There was a mass for Padraig O’Keeffe festival organizer Mike Kenny, who passed away suddenly this year. Afterwards there was a mighty session at Browne’s Bar led by Con Moynihan and Dennis O’Connor.
Day 4 – Quiet session in Prendeville’s
Played last night at Prendeville’s 
in Castleisland. Jackie O’Connor (accordion), Charlie Nelligan (concertina) and meself. Check out Charlie at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Nelligan
one of the best goalkeepers ever, in Gaelic Football he now turns his attention to baking and traditional music. Jackie and I stretched out the tunes we have been playing all day. And the pints were mighty!
Day 3 – sitting around the farm learning tunes
Jackie and I played tunes off and on all through the day and night. So far have a new reel ‘the Culfadda’, a new jig ‘the Drunken Gauger’ and reworking all those tunes from last year. Also watched a documentary on RTE about the Bothy Band, in Irish with English subtitles.
Made it!
I arrived safely yesterday on the Emerald Isle.
very green of course and fairly mild, wet weather. Drove to Castleisland in Kerry. Played a great session last night in Brosna at Flannagan’s Pub with my good friend Jackie O’Connor on box. Now gotta get busy learning some new reels and slides.