Leixlip shows

Ireland rocks! We played shows the past two nights at Arthur's Pub in the Courtyard Hotel in Leixlip. We couldn't ask for a better response to our music! The pub was rockin' both nights and we met a ton of great people. Sadly, tonight is our last show in Ireland- at The Middle Shop which is also in Leixlip. A lot of our new friends who were at Arthur's are coming back tonight, so we're guaranteed another great time.

Everything you've heard about how friendly the people are in Ireland is true. It's been a lot of fun meeting and talking to everyone here. With such a great response hopefully we can do this again next year!

Tim

Trip to Achill Island

Yesterday (Tuesday) we caravanned to Achill Island on the North West tip of Ireland. This remote area was stunningly beautiful. That evening we headed back for a session in Louisburgh where the guys played traditional Irish music with the locals until the bar closed! (too bad my camera battery died) Today we had a day off for more sightseeing. Patricia and I went to Croag Patrick. There is a yearly pilgrimage that attracts thousands to honor St. Patrick by scaling the 2750 meter mountain to a church at the top. Will post those pictures when I can.

Tomorrow we head off to see more of south Ireland before heading back to Dublin for the weekend's gigs.

Steve and Patricia

The Green and Red of Mayo

We drove to the cliffs of Achill island yesterday for some sight seeing. Lots of sheep along the way. Lots of bog lands. Lots of wind and a little sun. The landscape is just spectacular out here, especially from the top of the cliffs. I'm sure Steve or someone will follow up with some pictures. Like an idiot I got myself to a pub with internet but I forgot my camera so I can't upload any.

There were some crazy bastards surfing in the ocean when we got to the island. We stood there on the shore bundled up in our arctic gear gawking at them and scratching our heads for a while before moving on. We also found a coffee shop that served some great espresso which really hit the spot for me.

Everywhere we go I have the Saw Doctors Song with the title of this entry ringing in my head on an endless loop. We keep seeing all the stuff in the lyrics. We also came across a Red Rose Cafe. . . . that was kind of a trip. Everywhere we go I can smell the turf burning in people's fireplaces. It's a rather unique smell. I had no idea that they dug up their bogs, dried out the muck and then burned it like firewood. Of course there aren't many trees around here so I suppose it comes as no surprise.

The crew all went to a pub last night to jam with the locals. I was tired, a little under the weather and I needed to babysit my video battery charger because it is acting flaky so I stayed behind and got some rest. Who needs a drummer with nothing but beer glasses to beat on during an Irish session anyway? No good can come of it...

Today some of us are taking it easy and others are out sight seeing in various places. Steve and Patricia left me to surf the web in this pub while they are out looking at some monument or something. Meanwhile I am babysitting his laptop as it downloads episodes of Family Guy. The espresso is good here too. Not very Irish of me. . . but what the heck. . . I'm an elitist. I need my espressos and cappuccinos or I start acting like Joe The Plumber.. . .

Good fun all in all. Till next time. . .

Roy

The Kilkenny Gig and the Trip to Mayo

Greetings everyone!
We are headed into our second week here in Ireland and what a great time it has been so far.
Our gig Saturday went well. Despite some technical challenges with the house PA system we had a good time playing for our new and old friends. Sunday we made the long drive from Kilkenny west to Mayo. Although the drive was long, the countryside was stunning. The house Lee Ann arranged has a great ocean view. Being so near the ocean, the weather is very wild with driving rain and high winds but the sun still seems to break through from time to time. I may not be back online until Thursday when we return to the Dublin area for our last 3 gigs.
Cheers!
Steve

Roy's Vlog

Just some thoughts from the cyber pub. It's cold and windy in Mayo. The house is beautiful with a fantastic view. The road coming in offered a spectacular view of the fjord where the ocean slips in between the mountains. I don't know if it's some kind of weird Irish effect that happens here. . but I can't seem to drink enough to actually get drunk . . . I guess if at first you don't succeed. . . .



**NOTE: The video seems to be taking it's time becoming available. I don't know that I have time to sit in this cyber pub paying for access long enough to make sure it posts so forgive me if it never shows up. I'll check it again when I'm back in internet range.

I think we're on day 4 but it's hard to tell it's been such a blur so far. As you've seen from the pictures, we arrived and jumped right into an overly ambitious schedule with BalconyTV, a photo shoot at the Brazen Head, Clonmel song contest and topped off with one mighty session at the hotel here in Kilkenny. I think the hotel staff are reconsidering the wisdom in their choice to allow 30 people to book in under the name The Brazen Heads....we kept them up in the residents bar (no closing time for paid guests) until well after 5AM.

The song contest--okay we didn't win but have to admit it was for good reason. The quality of each contestant was like watching American Idol. They were so good we had to pick our chins up off the floor and wonder aloud how we ever made the final at all. The top 2 places went to Irish contestants and the third place went to a rather colorful lad from Wales. All in all, we were humbled and very happy to be there. We did also manage to video tape a bunch of it so hopefully in the next day or two some of that will be showing up on the blog.

Kilkenny Sat 8th November. Tonight is the big gig here in Kilkenny and with the warm up we had last night with our wee small party of 30, we're adding to that number by about 12 so the gig should be off the scale. Lucky for us the pub is only a block away from the hotel so unless we get arrested for SWI (stumbling while intoxicated) we should have a good night.

Tomorrow we are off to County Mayo....will write and post more pictures as sobriety allows.

Day 3 in Ireland - The Clonmel Song Contest Day

Today started early with an hour drive from Dublin to Kilkenny where we met up with Liam's friend and former band mate Martin. We headed over for a live interview at KCLR radio and then drove to Clonmel for the contest. The contest was fun. We did not place but we met a lot of great people and enjoyed some awesome music.
Tonight is our first pub gig here in Kilkenny.
Should be a hoot!