The May Gab Mixtape in Callanan’s kicked off bang on time with Diarmuid O Drisceoil at the helm as FAT. The first teller, Deirdre O’Mahony, took us back to her teenage job as the relief milker for the summer on her family’s dairy farm. A fraught introduction to the milking parlour with her Dad as her boss. She was saving up to go to Dingle at the end of the summer but as well as money she was rewarded with a memorable bovine shower.
Next Liam O’Shaughnessy with a traditional tale about a princess who wonders about the 12 empty bedrooms in the castle, the 12 rusting swords and the 12 idle horses in the stable. Turns out her 12 brothers were living the goose life by day and having the craic as her brothers at nighttime. A great folk tale told in Liam’s inimitable style.
Daniel Galvin had to fight a man recently for a story, we’d love to have seen the other fella. He went on to tell us his mad take on the arrival of mobile saunas to Ireland, a phenomenon in the community that ended in a 3 day siege highlighting the contrast between an old and new Ireland.
Sorcha de Róiste brought us to the break with two beautiful sean nos songs “Raghadsa is mo Cheaití” from West Kerry followed by “Casam araon na Géanna Romhainn” from Cúil Aodha.
Despite it being 4 deep at the bar, Rob and Eileen had everyone watered in no time and we were back to the show in no time. Sorcha treated us to a Muskerry song rediscovered by Sean O Riada, “Aisling Gheal” followed by the beautiful “An Chúilfhionn”.
Colm Ryan was up next with an action packed chase of Carlos by his father the King. Carlos had an unusual talent but It wasn’t until he met Maria that his talent failed him. And thanks to Maria’s brother Pablo they all nearly lived happily ever after.
In her Cork colours, Anna O’Sullivan, enthralled us with her remembering her first trip to Croke Park as a youngster with her little brother Denis, her dad and her uncle Noel. A pilgrimage that has been repeated many times since but the first time is always very special.
The FAT, Diarmuid finished the stories for the night with his unusual discovery from the 1926 census and putative great grandfather Dan Sheehan, an “iar-snámhaí”, who may have swam all the way to America and came home with a small fortune.
As Diarmuid reminded us, we had a night of stories and songs, no special effects, no props, no lighting, no sound system, just the human voice and a wonderfully attentive audience. We all went home the better for the night.
Thanks as always to Rob and Eileen in Callanans, Max for these photos that get better and better each time, Deirdre for putting it all together, Paul on the door, all of the tellers and singers but most of all the listeners for their wonderful attention and encouragement.
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