I've written posts here, here, and here about a great session at Ballyeamon Barn on Saturday night, June 27. Eileen McIwaine, a regular on Saturday nights and at the weekly writer's group also held at the barn, thought it was a great session, too. She wrote the poem below in praise of it. Thank you, Eileen!
Do you play an instrument, sing a song, or tell a yarn?
Then the place to be on a Saturday night is Ballyeamon Barn
Originally from the Land of O’Cahan there’s Martin O’Kane
Sure there’s music and song in the sound of his name
He plays banjo, sings, and does recitations too
And shares witty ditties, like the “beast” he bought from Micky Dubh.
If a song you’re after, Charlie McDonnell is your man
He’ll sing the haunting “Galway Bay” or the humorous “Transit Van”
And if there’s a lull in the proceedings between the music and the craic
I’m sure he’ll entertain you with the lively “Rosie Black”!
Young Bernadette Crawley has a fine singing voice
She’ll sing in Irish or English, whatever your choice.
To get to the Barn Tony Magill doesn’t have to come very far
You’d travel for miles to hear him recite “Our Wullie’s Motor Car”!
There’s another Ravel-Glen man, Mr. Alex Fyfe
Who sometimes brings Patricia, his own charming wife.
To any musician Alex could give them and their money a run
As he sings “The Blue Hills of Antrim”, or strums “Cushendun”.
Another man with talent it soon becomes clear,
Is composer and versifier, Mr. Hugh Speer
Once you’ve hear Hugh’s compositions, “Rathlin Island” or the “Old Homestead”
You could go home happy and get ready for bed.
Not forgetting Cathal Carey who has links to Loughgiel
With his playing and singing the music scene he could steal.
Any James Taylor song on his guitar he can hack
Go for it, Cathal, you’re the new man in black!
Jonnie and Diane play both saw and guitar
To hear this talented duo you’d travel near and far.
There’s the Dall’s own very funny Feargal Lynn
How do I describe him, how do I begin?
Suffice it to say, and this is all I will say
If he’s going to Morrow he’ll want to go today!
If you’ve listened to the rendition of the Four Farrellys by the famous Wilson Logan
You’d never again go to hear Daniel O’Donnell or John Hogan.
Tonight we also had a very talented storyteller, another Liz by name
Whose poem about St. Brigid made our patron saint one hell of a dame.
I’d like to pay tribute to the one and only Declan Forde
A man in a million, of whom you’d never get bored
Long may your songs and stories bring laughter and joy
What can I say but “Boys a boys!”
Last, but not least, mine host and seanchai supreme, Liz Weir
To say she’ll make you more than welcome is the understatement of the year
She’ll give you endless cups of tea, biscuits and sometimes tray-bakes
And tell lots of stories and recitations from “ Marble Halls” to “St Patrick and the Snakes”.
To those I’ve forgotten to mention and whose names I don’t know
Please forgive me, the old grey matter’s getting slow!
So if you want to listen to music, you don’t need to sing or tell a yarn
You know you’ll be more than welcome at Ballyeamon Barn.
Leave a Reply