Ireland December 2001The gigs were:
Nov.30th - Dublin @ Cobblestones
Dec.2nd - Cork @ The Lobby
Dec.3rd - Ballymore Eustice @ Ballymore Inn
Dec.4th - Wexford @ Finnegans Bar
Dec.5th - Clones @ Bursted Sofa
Dec.6th - Tramore @ Murph's Bar
Dec.7th - Maghrafelt @ Town & Country Inn
Dec.8th - DownPatrick @ Denar's Hotel for the DownPatrick Folk Club
Dec.9th Carrig-on-Bannon @ Colfer's Bar
This tour was probably ill advised to attempt. The biggest problem was that it was very late in the year to be out on the road trying to sell a basically unknown act. I guess if you're a "big draw" it might work no matter what time of the year you tour but for someone like myself and in a place like Ireland folks just didn't have the extra money to spend. Times are tough everywhere. So attendence at all the shows was very light and disappointing, not only for myself of course but for the promoters and club owners as well! And really the worse thing about these dates was that I became very ill on my second day in Ireland and ended up fighting a horrible cold for my whole stay there.
I was leaking like a faucet the whole time and with a fever and the rest I was pretty miserable. PLUS I had horrible routing on this tour and ended up driving 1600 miles (2547K) in the days I was there. As I've mentioned before, driving in Ireland is dangerous, time consuming and requires the utmost concentration of which I was in short supply. I did make it though but there were some scarry moments when I lapsed and ended up driving on the wrong side of the road ect. Not fun. I made it though but believe me when I tell you that I said a heartfelt prayer of thanks to the God of us all when it was over and I was safely back here at home!
Hightlights were the Cobblestone in Dublin which has a good sound system and a real listening audience. I felt the best on the this night and although I was a little rusty 'cause I had not gigged in awhile, it felt great to be back on stage again. Ballymore Inn was also fun - a very "homey" feel and relaxed, friendly folks made this night special. Up in Clones I was back at one of my all time favorite bars but I was to be the last performer here as the Bursted Sofa is finding a new home after the first of the year! The little bar will be sorely missed though but they are moving to a new and larger venure (The Lennard Arms Hotel) and there will be more room for everyone for sure. Still the funky little room and stage at the old bar will inspire many a good story far into the future I'm sure. RIP.
All the way back to the south of Ireland to a place I'm really beginning to enjoy. Tramore is right on the ocean and real summer spot but the patrons at Murph's really know the difference between good music and bad and they did indeed seem to enjoy yours truly! I actually had the guys dancing at one point. Maybe next time the gals will join in!! All the up to Northern Ireland for the next two shows. I got to see into the very east of the country up there and some beautiful countryside. Friendly folks at Downpatrick and a wonderfull old hotel to stay and play in. I hope to get the chance to return up there to a larger audience one day in the future. All the way back down south for the final show at John Murphy's newly enlarged countryside pub near Wexford. He's just got the room opened but it is a great sounding room and will see lot's and lot's of good music for sure. That's the tour friends.
I wish it was prettier picture to paint but not all the tours are joy rides. Sometimes they are real work and sometimes even hell as any traveling musician can tell you. This one was not THAT bad but it was difficult. Even through it all though I did enjoy playing and even though I know I sounded like shit (with my stuffed up nose and hoarse voice!) I played (tried to play) my very best. Thanks to those who did make it out to the shows, Larry Roddy for booking it and especially to the owners and promoter who so generously honored the agreements and smiled even though....
