Pub and Clubs …

Pubs and clubs are underrated as far as I’m concerned. I met the poet laureate, Seamus Heaney, in a pub in Dublin. He is a lovely man and he thinks I’m nuts. I wonder why!

I also met Tommy Tiernan at a venue called Behan’s Bar. Sadly it is long gone and is now apartments. I also met Joe Rooney in the Mad Cow Comedy Club, Rich Hall and Dara O Briain at Murphys Laughter Lounge (Dara is a bit of a shite but there you go). I met all sorts of talented musicians and comics at all sorts of places. I feel extremely fortunate to have met all these wonderful people. Barry McGuigan near numbed my hand and so did Rob Brydon. They are a wee bit taller than me (4’ 11’’ but longer in heels) but they have handshakes like Titan’s.

I went on another jaunt to Belfast to see Cirque Eloise at the Grand Opera House. As the train got me there early I thought I’d visit the Crown. What a treat (and mistake Hic!). The bar staff are just fantastic. They wear neatly pressed shirts and precision ironed trousers … ties, waistcoats and aprons. Conor wears those lovely old fashioned shirt bands and has the most sparkly eyes. That’s probably not what they are known as but garter didn’t seem appropriate.

And wonders of wonders I met Dust Hagan. He’s a musician with a history that should be written down and possibly made into a movie. We had a great chat and it is an experience that will stay with me for ever. If only I could play and instrument or sing I could die happy. It’s not for the want of trying. I have no talent but I love music in all forms except that boom boom boom thumping disco sound that is just nauseating. Give me Jazz any day or David Bowie and Life on Mars. Weird choices but eclectically wonderful in my own opinion. Unfortunately I decided to give Dusty my rendition of Town Without Pity in the style of Eddie Reader and Me and Bobby McGee by Kris Kristofferson … I can’t sing to save my life and flat is my best key. Sorry Dusty. Hope you have stopped crying honey.  

So at 5 minutes to kick off I run like the clappers to the Opera House. I have to say I was gobsmacked. Never, ever have I seen anything like Cirque Eloise. Talk about bendy stretchy! We were all riveted by the performance. They are aliens I think. A cross between ballet dancers, athletes and double jointed peeps. AMAZING!

I had a wee bit of time to kill before the train home and decided to go Brennan’s. It will always be The Beaten Docket to me. I had the loveliest seafood chowder with wheaten bread. I’m thinking I may take a trip for lunch next week. It’s really handy to go to Great Victoria Street station. The Europa is a hop skip and jump away. The Crown and Brennan’s is across the road. There is a great Pizzeria nearby and Robinson’s have a late night disco. Sure what more could you ask for?  It’s also amazing the peeps one meets on a jaunt. That’s what life is all about. Get out there and live it up while you can … you never know who’ll you’ll meet.