Star Performers

Along with about 12-1300 others, we were in St Peter & St Paul’s Cathedral in Ennis on Wednesday night for the Chieftains concert. They may have been doing this for 48 years but the performance was just as fresh and lively as it was when I first saw them many, many years ago. We had joined the queue (with our cushions) early and managed to get some seats near the front so we could see the stage clearly. As usual the Chieftains were accompanied by some very accomplished guest musicians – both foreign and local and for the finale they managed to include a pipe band complete with a full complement of drummers! Had to fall into James Moroney’s grocers shop on the way home for a Guinness or two and some more music. It’s very different from the LSO at the Barbican but …
On Saturday afternoon we were in town to catch some of the acts performing on the stage in O’Connell Square and I spent a happy time – in the warm sunshine – watching the ‘Hounds of Ulster’ who are a pipe and drum band (flutes and fifes) from Belfast. They gave a great show which was welcomed enthusiastically by the crowd which may be a great indication – despite the actions of a few murderous nutters – that Ireland really does want to put all the historic enmity division behind us.