CLEAR IS THE WATER
My Grandfather was Born in Dublin
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Dungarven is another tidal inlet and provides free parking by the tower on the waterfront. From there a short walk takes one into the very pleasant village. I went to the Information Centre to see if there were any pubs with open sessions. I chatted with a very interested and pleasant, short-sighted lady, at the desk. She came up with several possibilities. A couple running the hardware store confirmed that The Gow was the place with open sessions. I called in and found this to be true. After cooking an excellent meal of dried bacon steaks and vegetables I journeyed up the hill to the pub. The group was called, “The Old Rogues”. I added flute parts to their songs and they had me sing many songs from my repertoire. What a night we had! It was as good as it comes and the members of the band were so accepting and friendly. Ritchie, a splendid singer finished with “The Parting Glass”, sung superbly, unaccompanied. He told me of the Marine Bar on the road to Cork, so I had a port of call for the Saturday night. He added that there was a great yard to camp in for the night.
Select Format
Book Details
About the Book
This book began as an account written during my long journey in 2011 around Ireland with a visit to Berlin. Later, stories from my two previous journeys, 2009 and 2010 were added, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany and England. The book tells of extraordinary meetings with people, unbelievable coincidences and my being welcomed to perform Irish music, improvise on flutes and whistles and play with great bands. The magic also occurred in Berlin and a reader’s imagination will be stretched to embrace some of the experiences I am able to relate. In my first paragraph I speak of miracles, defining such, “as an act of selfless kindness, or an event that is such a coincidence, as to be hard to believe”. Just imagine, the River Boyne flows next to the Bounty Bar (Trim) where I attracted the attention of a band waiting to drive to a late night “gig”. I sang “Red is the Rose”, which highlights the River Boyne and the band invited me to perform with them at their “gig” and in particular to sing that song. “Clear is the water” comes from the chorus of that song. When I first performed for an hour in the Bounty Bar I had no idea that it was voted the best pub in Ireland for music ( 2003) and had hanging on the wall, just above where I sang, a ship’s wheel, a thank you gift to Billy Wilson, the publican, from “The Dubliners”.