Caught up with my old friend Tony Anderson & his lovely wife Amanda. We called into the session in Kinvarra at Connolon’s pub. The players were Doreen and Ray. What was amazing was I had just watched a documentary on Johnny Doherty, the legendary Donegal fiddler, and she mentioned it and said she was the driver for the UTV film crew. She had some great stories, especially about finding Johnny Doherty in Killibegs Co. Donegal.
Be sure to watch it;
It was quite a long drive from Gort to Sligo Town -2.5 hours. Mercifully the rain eased up. Now I remember how beautiful the countryside is here in Sligo. Called into Brian’s painting studio – an old school house. Some lovely work by Brian McDonough. So nice to see Gay McDonough as well. After a lovely dinner by Brian we drove into town to the session at “Shoot the Crows” – a very lovely and narrow pub. Well this session was SUPER fun. “Is it always this fun in Sligo?” I ask. Felip on guitar, Ian on guitar, Ray Coen on fiddle & guitar, Brian on mandola, Alain on Clarinet, & Eddie lee on bass.
I was coming out of Dunne Stores Ennis and I ran into Martin Hayes. I have met him twice before at his gigs in E-town. Also I played twice with his father, P.J. Hayes at Pepper’s Bar in Feakle, Co. Clare. He was amazed I had come all the way from Edmonton.
Teresa once said she didn’t care for my photos as they were mostly “fiddlers in pubs”. Here they are.
Now to drive up to Gort to see Tony Anderson. Often I find myself thinking ‘Why does it rain so much?” Then I slap myself on the forehead and say “Because it’s Ireland, DUH!”
The Patrick O’Keeffe festival has come to its last day. I call into Kearney’s to play with Dennis O’Connor & Con Moynihan. I had a great 4 hours of playing slides & polkas & reels & jigs. Young Timmy Flaherty (age 15) is outstanding on his banjo – he even has a band now “Sound as a Pound”. So that was 4 hours of tunes. Annie collected me then at “half 9” Jackie & I drove to Brosna. Twas another altogether mighty night of tunes and songs. No Terrance tonight but Ned Casey joined us with his fiddle. People were commenting that I am looking stronger in the 2 weeks I have been around. I am doing my physio faithfully.
Mary O’Connor & 3 year old son Hugh are down for the week. Mary is a children and schools are shut for a week here the week of Halloween. When I was walking to town I met Joe Herlihy, Brianie’s father. He’s bought a bike to get some exercise.
Jackie, Terrance & I regularly have a spot on the festival program. This year it was Sunday night at the hotel. I got one session in before at Hickey’s with a lot of the locals: loads of slides and polkas. Reels as well. Also saw Anne Cahill for a visit. She told me she turned 90 in March! Most of her 21 grandchildren were down for the party.
My own session started slow enough as people were at the concert to see Frankie Gavin and De Dannan amongst many others. But our room soon filled up and we had the most amazing night of music. Jackie & I shut her down at 3:00 am. We had many enthusiastic listeners and a few participants. Four Strong Winds went “down a bomb!”
Finally the festival has arrived and it is many familiar faces to catch up with. Mary Conroy has returned to host Radio Kerry’s launch in the River Island Hotel. I get the last interview spot with Dan Herlihy and play ‘Bridgie the Weaver’ – a slide I learned from Dan’s playing. Then off to Kearney’s Bar for a fabulous session hosted by Sean Abeyta (Kevin’s twin) who arrived fashionably late – “I fell asleep”. He has 4 children between the ages of 2 and 7 so I guess we can give him that. 
A woman named Frances Kennedy sang 2 incredibly funny and robust songs. Also from Dublin were Paul (banjo) and Aoife (fiddle).
Jackie and I spent a lot of time hanging around the farm and playing tunes new & old. There are 2 Cape Breton tunes he is mad for, plus the “bent” Patrick O’Keeffe polka as well as the House of Hamill by Ed Reavey. Annie & Margaret O’`Connor spent Wednesday night in Dublin with baby Ruth. They returned at 2:30 pm and Annie quickly got the dinner on (pan fried salmon!). Then by 5:oo she was catching the train back to Dublin to see Mary and care for young Hugh. I gave her a lift to Faranfore to catch the train. Jackie & played tunes in the evening then called down to Margaret and Jason (1 farm over) for a nightcap. The Patrick O’Keefe starts tomorrow!
Didn’t do all that much today on a very rainy day. Called into town to Buy some postcards from J.J. at Brosnan’s. Used to be nobody knew where Edmonton was; Toronto, Montreal & Vancouver yes. Now most Irish will have someone they know working in Alberta. Called in on Tony Halsall and did a repair on his banjo which Rachel had dropped in the Pub. Jackie came with me to Kearney’s for the regular weekly session. All the usual suspects were there; John McAuliffe, Jimmy Kearney, Dan Daly, Dermott Scolar, Joe. Jackie and I played some of our favourites, some by request. The Death Valley Waltz, The house of Hamill (reel), Tenessee Waltz, Planxty David, Bourasque. Now back to the house it is 2:58 am and I am watching the Oilers beat the Habs on streaming internet.Yay! Great goal Jonsie!