In 36 hours time My wife and I will be landing at Cork airport. We’ll queue for ages to pick up our hire car, and head west to The Kingdom Of Kerry. A couple of hours later we’ll drive over ‘Puck’s Bridge’ into the small town of Killorglin, head out towards Caragh Lake, and turn left into the entrance to Carrig House. The tiny, 16 room hotel has been owned and run by Frank & Mary Slattery for over 20 years. We’ve been going to this tiny bit of heaven for 18 years, since our honeymoon.
I have bloody earned this trip.
My 40 year battle against depression has taken a new turn since I asked for help, 7 weeks ago. The anti-depressants have really helped and the therapy is working wonders. Early days but I feel better than I have in many, many years.
This song, with Davy Spillane’s haunting pipes, transports me to that Kerry hotel, on the edge of the lake, with the mountains on the other side, anytime I want.
And I really, really want.
Have a great time, Niall. It looks like a lovely place.
That song is perhaps, no, IS the best piece of uillean piping I know, a piece of music I always draw out if I am in charge of background music at gatherings, it never failing to stop the chatter, as the mix of Winwoods consummate vocal and Spillane”s heavenly tones compete for the greater tug on your heart.
Niall, do you know the sister piece on Spillane’s solo album, ‘A Place Among the Stones’, with Winwood this time the guest musician?
Forever Frozen
I know it well. I have lots of Davy’s stuff and we had him as the background during the wedding ceremony. He’s very special to us.
The second clip has the more interesting tune.
A great musical pairing.
Lovely album, and Davy Spillane is a great player. he and Kathryn Tickell are my favourite folk musicians.
This is another of Davy’s we love. When his Dad died he found out that the old boy used to go for midnight walks along the cliff tops. Did it for years but never told his family. I love that.
We’ll be in Connemara for a chunk of August, and a friend from there is coming over to stay with us next week. I’ll play him that tune after a few glasses. Tears will flow. Much love to you Niall.
Thank you my friend. I’m so excited about next week but, for once, also about the weeks and months ahead. I shall do my usual next week – anytime any of my 4 brothers and I are in Ireland we buy a Guinness for our late Dad. We write ‘Dad x’ on a piece of paper and put it on top of the pint, and leave it on the bar. We tell the barman to leave it for 10 minutes as we leave, and then to give it to one of the locals. Irish bar-staff love it and it feels like a really nice thing to do.
My favourite time doing it was in the Gresham Hotel on O’Connell Street in Dublin. 3 of my brothers were with me and we did it in the posh bar. I went over to the barman and told him. “Sure, that’s a lovely thing to do,” he said. I smiled and said, “especially as they spent the first night of their honeymoon in this hotel, and probably had a glass or two in this very bar. Mum just passed away, that’s why we’re here.” “In that case, I am honoured,” he said.
That is indeed an absolutely lovely thing to do. Something in my eye and all that. Have a great time in Ireland – it’s such a special country.
Away wid’ya, ye’ll make me weep, so you will.
Happy holidays, Niall.
The Scottish Highlands do it for me. Mrs F was lucky enough to be born in the Cairngorms. If we could get jobs in Ballater, we’d move there tomorrow.
I love that area too.
Well, I was within 5 miles of Killorgin just last week, travelling back from our few days in Dingle, Co. Kerry. Lovely area! We had fantastic weather for almost the whole week in Ireland. Hope you get the same.
Thank you. As long as it’s not raining in the pub I’ll be fine*
*especially Murphy’s in Dingle 😉
Enjoy Niall along with the Mrs Niall.
Mrs Niall (Janet) has gone to bed, ‘ never to sleep ‘. Too excited.
At Crewe Station on the notice board as my youngest daughter and I left this evening:
“Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many.”
My best friend died of cancer 3 years ago. I miss him. I think of the loss and tonight I think of the privilege.
The Irish Dancer
I am of Ireland
And of the holy land
Of Ireland.
Good sir, I pray thee,
For holy charity,
Come and dance with me
In Ireland.
Dance Niall and never stop.
Sitting in the airport lounge. Gone.
Thank you.
Good for you Niall. I have taken the lovely Mrs. T and my demons off to rural France for a week to chill and calm the incessant babble in my head, especially at 4am. All chilled so far.
I thought about you last night actually – Mrs T had retired and I was nursing a glass of thick red wine and listening to the Frankie Miller duets album which you reviewed ages ago. I was unfairly dismissive of it at the time but I reread the review recently when it popped up on the Reviews headlines and downloaded it from Spotty. Actually you were right and I was wrong, and how great to hear that voice again.
Loving the story about the dad’s pint. My brother and I try to get together on my dad’s birthday -16th June – and raise a large Glenfiddich. He wasn’t a great drinker but that was his tipple. We’ve missed a few years due to life getting in the way, but he passed 20 years ago this year and I still miss him every day. Tears will be shed, I am confident. You don’t get over it so you.
Thank you my friend. You’re right, it’s Frankie’s voice that makes it. Taking your demons away is always a good thing. Look after yourself.