I got longer stories to read if you like it...
Barry McCabe in Ballyshannon 2007
It was a nice flight to Dublin and thereafter almost 5 hours in the
bus,with stunning views over the green landscapes.
After the stop in Cavan it started to rain,the video-screen in the
front of the bus showed the now dark and wet road ahead,through
mostly narrow and winding lanes with trees on both sides bending in
the wind....it looked like the cover of
an Elizabeth George or Ruth Rendell novel.
Late in the afternoon we arrived in Ballyshannon,with St.Anne's
silhouette on the skyline,build on the grave-mound of that
Ancient King.I checked in at my room near the Rory Gallagher place
and went into town where I met Ray on the bridge and
Leiv and his gang later on the Gables where Pure Instinct
played....and it was very nice to see each other again!
It didn't get quiet until early in the mornin' in the street outside
my room,because it was in the centre of all the action....
Friday I checked-out some sites of Historic Ballyshannon that I
missed the two previous visits....First I made a long walk to
Abbey Assaroe Graveyard,lying on the remains of an Abbey built by
Cistercian-monks in the 12th century.One part of the graveyard is
being used nowadays,another part has very-old graves,a big statue of
Jesus with open arms guarded this beautiful and peaceful place where
I spent some time and met an English couple that were searching for
an ancestors grave.
I left the graveyard and walked-on....past the oldest bridge of
Ireland, also built by those monks,and St.Patrick's
Well was lying in the deep....I didn't dare to go too close near the
edge.The Abbey Mill was closed....a lady who was in charge showed me
the way to Catsby Cave,where Mass was said secretly during penal
times.It was a hundred metres walk further
along the riverbank over wet and slippery stones....there was nobody
nearby...and it seemed dangerous to go there alone...
So I let the mysterious Catsby Cave for what it was and walked back
to city.
After some rest in my room I went outside in the busy street,Johnny
Gallagher and Boxtie were playing at the Bridge End
nearby,they played 'Freebird' at that moment.....what a melancholic
song....it gave me a big pang in the heart...
In the evening I went to see the Slumming Angels in the Lantern
Bar...a young band,you could ask them
to play your favourite Rory-song and I asked them for 'A Million
Miles Away'...and they played it...thank you boys....very well done!
On Saturday we saw Onya and the Heads,the only woman playing at this
man-dominated festival,so I had to see that...
She walked barefoot,like a fairy....had a tattoo on her ankle,multi-
coloured hair ...and a very good voice.
She did some songs of Roy and also some of her own,one was
called 'I'm a Nymphomaniac'...hey,that's a very good title!
She had a group of boys in front of her,fans I assume,who sang along
every word of that song,with funny expressions,haha!
Then to the Gables where we saw Pat McManus play,Barry's nephew...I
had the chance to greet him and to tell him
we were fans of Barry,and he was pleased to hear that.He amazed the
public with his skills on the guitar and the violin.
After that we hurried to see our Barry and his Band play at the
Rory Gallagher Place.
The songs were:
In the dead of night
Pick a bale of cotton
You don't love me
Crazy love
It takes time
Adam and Eve
One of these days
Fine,fine,fine...
Some kind of wonderful
Never say die
The peace within'
The audience didn't mind the rain and enjoyed Barry's powerful
music...Several boys had climbed on a roof,and stood there
singin' along and dancin' in their unbalanced and drunken
trance,beneath them was an iron fence with sharp points...
but luckily they got away with it!
More of Barry we could witness in the evening in the Lantern
Bar...many fans filled the cosy space,where he did two acoustic
sets alone with his guitar:
The streets of London
Louise
Adam and Eve
The joker
I wonder
Alberta
Brown Eyed Girl
Welcome to part two of your nightmare Barry said:
Crazy Love
Mountains of Mourn
Do right by your woman
Sheilagh
Johnny Nobody
Knockin' on heaven's door
The river
Ride with your daddy
Barry sat there opposite to us,playing and singing in the agreeable
half-dark on one of the shabby couches....
and it was really awesome and special....The Springsteen and the
Bob Dylan songs were very surprising!
In the night a guy with a trumpet played in the streets till half
past three,'the last post' and so on....Later on I read on the
site of the Festival that he continued his actions after that by
blowing the reveille on the camping-site...
After the short rest I went to St.Anne's Church
to see the interior,It rained again as I walked uphill....There was
a christening..a nice surprise...there was a good
atmosphere,everyone was smiling around the beautiful baby,
she was carried past the people by her
mother and god-mother to present her,and looked back at me very
awake,as if she was clearly aware of the meaning of her role in
centre of the ritual and she didn't cry when the water flowed over
her forehead...I hope she will have a good life in this
valley of tears...
Sunday...the last day...In the afternoon Barry played on the
Gables,an hour later than expected...this was called 'Irish Time'!
A big crowd had gathered and part of them sat peacefully down before
the stage-truck,a few boys had very muddy clothes from the camping-
site,and plastic bags in their shoes,some sight to see...Probably
this was the best time of the day to perform,while every visitor was
still sober,and could remember their name and where they came
from..as Onya said the day before,haha! The people got what they
wanted with Barry and his thightplaying Band,and the last sleepy
heads got fully awake in no time and were moving along on the
irresistable rock and blues rhythms,and blended with some romantic
ballads there was a good contrast...
In the dead of night
Pick a bale of cotton
You don't love me
Kissing in your sleep
Lonely road
Johnny Nobody
It takes time
I wonder
Alberta
One of these days
Fine,fine,fine
Some kind of wonderful
Never Say Die
The peace within...
Then it was over...I took some pictures of Barry and the fans....we
stood there talking for a while...realising we had to go our
seperate ways in a few minutes...and sincerely hoping we would meet
again at next years Ballyshannon Festival....
Thursday,Amsterdam Airport....
In the bus....
Friday,Abbey Assaroe Graveyard....
Remains of the Abbey....
Johnny Gallagher....
The Slumming Angels....
Saturday....Leiv...
Hi Guys...(Ray in the middle)
Onya and the Heads...
Her fans singing:' Í'm a nymphomaniac.....'
Pat McManus...
Barry....saturday-afternoon...
That evening in The Lantern....
Sunday...in St.Anne's Church....
in the afternoon on the Gables.
Theo and Anja...
with Gordon...
with Ray and Leiv....
I just whisper something in Barry's ear,haha...
Barry with a norwegian fan....
The streets....early monday-morning....
and look under my window....it was a very good party!
Author
[