Why is it that musicians are always the last to leave the pub?
Having owned a bar for several years, I've seen both sides of the fence. The most amazing clearance I ever saw was in O'Donohues, Dublin, back in the early seventies. There were four individuals sitting at a table which seemed to be always covered with empty bottles and glasses. I was facing them whilst playing and remarked more than once that they didn't seem to be actually drinking very much. When 'last orders' had finished, one of them stood up and made as if to be sick on the table. He had an open can of something like Mulligatawny soup in his inside jacket pocket which spilled out onto the table. The other three then proceeded to take spoons out of their pockets and eat the soup...............
Any theories or anecdotes?
Ian, I used to play in sessions in O'Donohues myself, in the late 70s & at that time, as I remember it, we always played around the table, just to the right of the doorway. From there, I don't think it was possible to see any of the other tables, so are you sure you didn't just dream this event? I mean we all have our own strange fantasies, don't we?
In my time Johnny Keenan was always sitting in the same spot at that table. I'm not sure that 'he' ever actually left the pub at all, or even had a home to go to?
Have you considered the possibility Ian, that it was indeed old vomit which was in that can, all the time?
Either way, I'm glad I ate my Sunday lunch soup before reading your story!
You probably don't know me but I remember your time in Derry with Quilty etc. Had many a session with Malcolm and Kevin D. before I moved across the pond.
Pass my regards to the lads when you're next chatting.
I'm always amazed how after 4 or 5 hours of playing we still feel like we haven't played enough. This happens a lot, but having said that, I have seen my musical pals tear themselves away from the session out of self preservation in an effort to prevent the pain of getting up and going to work the next morning. But even when that happens you can usually find me hanging around and chatting till closing and having "one for the road."
Here in the US I see a big distinction between the bars and something like an Irish pub. I don't know what they're like around other parts of the country, but here in SF it's more like a community living room. Plus, the atmosphere that results from a session is completely different than being in a place where a jukebox is blaring or a loud band is bashing out music from the stage. Very often there's no jukebox at the end of the night at our local pub on session nights. This is when I like it the best -- it reminds me of some of the pubs I visited in Ireland where all you heard was the gentle murmur of conversation.
We enjoy that ".. gentle murmur of conversation" at one of our weekly sessions here, but sadly, at t'other, the minute we stop playing loud disco music is switched on & most of us immediately *bale out!
It is so much more civilised to be able to wind down with perhaps a last drink & a relaxed chat before we hit the road, or dander next door for a greasy chip!
Ptar. This would have been 1972/3 and to be honest I have never played in the front room. The session was an open one but I suppose the backbone was really the "McKenna Brothers", Ted Furey, Moose, Frank Jeal et al.
The Front room was usually John Kelly, Sean Ryan and sometimes Barney McKenna, but not too often on the same night.
The other great clearance of a bar was one in Derry in '76. A couple of dozen of us stood outside with our pints and watched it blow up........
The "greasy chip" just reminded me of Dickies Fish and Chip shop at the entry to the bogside. The greatest "Red Fish Supper" (Smoked Cod and Chips, for the uninitiated) in Ulster and probably the world. Sadly long gone.......
"The "greasy chip" just reminded me of Dickies Fish and Chip shop at the entry to the bogside. The greatest "Red Fish Supper" (Smoked Cod and Chips, for the uninitiated) in Ulster and probably the world. Sadly long gone......."
Ah!! Dickie Gallaghers Fish shop, I knew it well. Always worth a visit after a good session. The "old style" booths were a meeting place for all and sundry.
I was in O donaghues yesterday from 5.30 till close - I was drinking tea all day - how commendable is that.
it can be realy good but can be really horrible.
As I recall, this was one of the few remotely friendly things that John Hemus the owner of the King's Arms in Bangor, North Wales used to say to us after last orders. He'd have been right sad if we had.
Have you no homes to go to?
Have you no homes to go to?
Why is it that musicians are always the last to leave the pub?
Having owned a bar for several years, I've seen both sides of the fence. The most amazing clearance I ever saw was in O'Donohues, Dublin, back in the early seventies. There were four individuals sitting at a table which seemed to be always covered with empty bottles and glasses. I was facing them whilst playing and remarked more than once that they didn't seem to be actually drinking very much. When 'last orders' had finished, one of them stood up and made as if to be sick on the table. He had an open can of something like Mulligatawny soup in his inside jacket pocket which spilled out onto the table. The other three then proceeded to take spoons out of their pockets and eat the soup...............
Any theories or anecdotes?
# Posted on March 5th 2006 by Ian Stevenson
Re: Have you no homes to go to?
Ian, I used to play in sessions in O'Donohues myself, in the late 70s & at that time, as I remember it, we always played around the table, just to the right of the doorway. From there, I don't think it was possible to see any of the other tables, so are you sure you didn't just dream this event? I mean we all have our own strange fantasies, don't we?
In my time Johnny Keenan was always sitting in the same spot at that table. I'm not sure that 'he' ever actually left the pub at all, or even had a home to go to?
Have you considered the possibility Ian, that it was indeed old vomit which was in that can, all the time?
Either way, I'm glad I ate my Sunday lunch soup before reading your story!
# Posted on March 5th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Have you no homes to go to?
Ian, how's it going ?
You probably don't know me but I remember your time in Derry with Quilty etc. Had many a session with Malcolm and Kevin D. before I moved across the pond.
Pass my regards to the lads when you're next chatting.
# Posted on March 5th 2006 by Strathfoyle
Re: Have you no homes to go to?
I'm always amazed how after 4 or 5 hours of playing we still feel like we haven't played enough. This happens a lot, but having said that, I have seen my musical pals tear themselves away from the session out of self preservation in an effort to prevent the pain of getting up and going to work the next morning. But even when that happens you can usually find me hanging around and chatting till closing and having "one for the road."
Here in the US I see a big distinction between the bars and something like an Irish pub. I don't know what they're like around other parts of the country, but here in SF it's more like a community living room. Plus, the atmosphere that results from a session is completely different than being in a place where a jukebox is blaring or a loud band is bashing out music from the stage. Very often there's no jukebox at the end of the night at our local pub on session nights. This is when I like it the best -- it reminds me of some of the pubs I visited in Ireland where all you heard was the gentle murmur of conversation.
# Posted on March 5th 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Have you no homes to go to?
We enjoy that ".. gentle murmur of conversation" at one of our weekly sessions here, but sadly, at t'other, the minute we stop playing loud disco music is switched on & most of us immediately *bale out!
It is so much more civilised to be able to wind down with perhaps a last drink & a relaxed chat before we hit the road, or dander next door for a greasy chip!
* - http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-bai2.htm
# Posted on March 5th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Have you no homes to go to?
So, Ptarm - which session is that, if you don't mind - I don't want to go to that one when I'm over in May - run out by disco!
# Posted on March 5th 2006 by RickD
Re: Have you no homes to go to?
Ptar. This would have been 1972/3 and to be honest I have never played in the front room. The session was an open one but I suppose the backbone was really the "McKenna Brothers", Ted Furey, Moose, Frank Jeal et al.
The Front room was usually John Kelly, Sean Ryan and sometimes Barney McKenna, but not too often on the same night.
The other great clearance of a bar was one in Derry in '76. A couple of dozen of us stood outside with our pints and watched it blow up........
# Posted on March 6th 2006 by Ian Stevenson
Re: Have you no homes to go to?
The "greasy chip" just reminded me of Dickies Fish and Chip shop at the entry to the bogside. The greatest "Red Fish Supper" (Smoked Cod and Chips, for the uninitiated) in Ulster and probably the world. Sadly long gone.......
# Posted on March 6th 2006 by Ian Stevenson
Re: Have you no homes to go to?
"The "greasy chip" just reminded me of Dickies Fish and Chip shop at the entry to the bogside. The greatest "Red Fish Supper" (Smoked Cod and Chips, for the uninitiated) in Ulster and probably the world. Sadly long gone......."
Ah!! Dickie Gallaghers Fish shop, I knew it well. Always worth a visit after a good session. The "old style" booths were a meeting place for all and sundry.
I miss the "Red Fish" and the likes of "Dickies".
# Posted on March 6th 2006 by Strathfoyle
Re: Have you no homes to go to?
I was in O donaghues yesterday from 5.30 till close - I was drinking tea all day - how commendable is that.
it can be realy good but can be really horrible.
# Posted on March 6th 2006 by Hugo Chavez
Re: Have you no homes to go to?
Yeah, Yeah, very nice, but come on, tell us, did you get a greasy chip afterwards?
# Posted on March 6th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Have you no homes to go to?
Ptarnmigan me old mate, Dickie could serve up the best @ 10d a bag.....a bargain and a half ?And cut out your "yeah,yeahs"
# Posted on March 7th 2006 by Strathfoyle
Re: Have you no homes to go to?
Surely Strathfoyle, you mean, "Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out"
Rock on Tommy!
# Posted on March 7th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Have you no homes to go to?
ha - nope - straight home in the car.
# Posted on March 7th 2006 by Hugo Chavez
Re: Have you no homes to go to?
As I recall, this was one of the few remotely friendly things that John Hemus the owner of the King's Arms in Bangor, North Wales used to say to us after last orders. He'd have been right sad if we had.
Paul.
# Posted on April 23rd 2006 by Snuitje