This is a little story of a hidden Ireland. It’s not really hidden you just have to take the blinkers off every now and then and follow your nose. Sorry about the mixed metaphor.
I spend quite a bit of my time in County Clare just driving around some of my favourite places, the Burren, the coast around Spanish Point, the hills behind Doolin. Just looking. I love to head down a boreen I’ve never been or follow a hunch in the hope of finding something new.
As I was doing just this on a wet and not terribly inviting midweek day in July, I drove past the beautiful Kilshanny House just outside Ennistymon. A sign caught my eye. Music Today 3pm. How could I drive past that. I always have the fiddle with me. I live in hope.
I have been here many times. I know host Mary Butler and it is a great venue for a session though these day they happen rarely. But this was really unusual. Of course I went in. Mary explained that she was having a busload of visitors, from New York as it happened, and she was putting on a meal and entertainment, She was happy for me to stay and even to put up with me taking a few photos.
The coach arrives
What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon, As the bus pulled up driven by the irascible Gerry, the visitors entered Mary’s wonderful stone-walled and comfortable space, lined with books, ephemera and priceless reminders of Irish culture, heritage and especially music. And speaking of music They were greeted by fiddles and piano and songs provided by two Clare musicians of the highest quality, Sharon Howley who plays with the Kilfenora Ceili Band, probably the most famous Ceili Band in the world, and Therese McInerney, who has just released a cd.
Clare musicians, Therese McInerney and Sharon Howley
I watched as the guests took their seats and feasted on Mary’s wonderful food, home made Irish bread and a choice this day of fillet of salmon or loin of pork, fuelled by liberal supplies of Guinness and wine.
Host Mary Butler serves home made bread.
Your salmon sir.
Or the pork
Dinner in the library
Gerry, ever the perfect host turned out to be a great singer and he cajoled other singers from the floor including yours truly. I well and truly gate crashed the party and joined the musicians for a few tunes with my fiddle. Now that was fun.
The multi talented Gerry. Bus driver, singer and raconteur
Bliss
This is Ireland. An afternoon of pure music, food and good company that came out of nowhere. These tourists, who lingered over the meal for three hours, went away very happy and I am sure many will be back.
Music Today 3pm.
Singersong Blog 