Roaring for Rory
So, it’s the last day at the Rory Gallagher Festival in
Ballyshannon so we need to get in early to make the most of it, but we’ve got
the bus times wrong again or they’re running on Irish times! Anyway, taxi
sorted with another group of festival goers and it’s up to “The Gables” to
watch Pat McManus play on the back of an artic at the edge of the main street
into town. The day is gloriously hot, everyone is dancing, drinking and
enjoying the music. There are young families there with children in pushchairs,
old blokes and women sat on chairs in the middle of the road, hippies obviously
stoned but very happy all clapping in time to the music and all the time the
cars weave their way down the street.
Very hot and thirsty it’s time to cool down in Owen Roe’s
Bar and as one local says “take a load off me brains” but out side there’s a
band starting up, all local musicians who only get together for this festival, “In
your Town” They only play covers of songs
and one obligatory Rory tune, but they are brilliant and soon have the crowd
singing along and jumping. Time for a break back in Bundoran and a Sunday roast
in McGarrigles opposite our apartment followed by a wee snooze before the
evening’s entertainment. We reach the big top in time to hear Wilko Johnson
followed by the excellent Band of Friends who have everyone jumping, singing
and clapping in time to their set. I’m exhausted, the old feet are suffering
from all this punishment but there’s one band left, Brian Downey’s Alive &
Dangerous, and they don’t start till 12.30am, that’s Monday morning by my
reckoning!!! Hope the bus stops and turfs me off in Bundoran…
So, it’s the last day at the Rory Gallagher Festival in
Ballyshannon so we need to get in early to make the most of it, but we’ve got
the bus times wrong again or they’re running on Irish times! Anyway, taxi
sorted with another group of festival goers and it’s up to “The Gables” to
watch Pat McManus play on the back of an artic at the edge of the main street
into town. The day is gloriously hot, everyone is dancing, drinking and
enjoying the music. There are young families there with children in pushchairs,
old blokes and women sat on chairs in the middle of the road, hippies obviously
stoned but very happy all clapping in time to the music and all the time the
cars weave their way down the street.
Very hot and thirsty it’s time to cool down in Owen Roe’s
Bar and as one local says “take a load off me brains” but out side there’s a
band starting up, all local musicians who only get together for this festival, “In
your Town” They only play covers of songs
and one obligatory Rory tune, but they are brilliant and soon have the crowd
singing along and jumping. Time for a break back in Bundoran and a Sunday roast
in McGarrigles opposite our apartment followed by a wee snooze before the
evening’s entertainment. We reach the big top in time to hear Wilko Johnson
followed by the excellent Band of Friends who have everyone jumping, singing
and clapping in time to their set. I’m exhausted, the old feet are suffering
from all this punishment but there’s one band left, Brian Downey’s Alive &
Dangerous, and they don’t start till 12.30am, that’s Monday morning by my
reckoning!!! Hope the bus stops and turfs me off in Bundoran…
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