Great pub for music on Friday and Saturday nights. On Friday nights it's run by Paddy O'Hare and Fra McIlduff. Paddy just lost out to Isaac Alderson in the All Ireland Senior pipes this year while Francis, together with his brother Jack, are two of Belfast's finest and jazziest pipers, up there with John McSherry. Add some great local players and you're in for a very fast, very Northern session. Anyone who saw us down in Miltown in the back room of the Central Hotel, where we took up residence for the week, will get an idea of what to expect. I turn up from London sometimes to make up the numbers.
Saturdays are a slightly diferent vibe. The music is slower (but not much) and is driven by the powerhouse playing of Jason O'Ruairc on concertina, Aiden Walsh and Stevie Dunn on banjo and the odd appearance from Ruairidh O'Kane (of Oige) and Donal O'Connor (son of Gerry) on fiddle.
Get here before 11.45 at night and you'll get a drink until 1AM
Hope to see you there
It's been a while since I was there last but on that occasion the noise was deafening and you could hardly hear the other side of the session - has it improved since then?
I agree that young Patrick is a fine piper - used to play in a band with his da when Patrick was only a wee blond curly haired pup!
Saturday night sounds tasty - Jason is one of the finest concertina players around. He has a great wee web site which I will add to the links section.
I am concerned, however, that you describe the Saturday session as being slower than the Friday one, since I've played a few tunes with Jason in the past. What speed does it move at?? zoooooooooooom!!!
The Herc
Great pub for music on Friday and Saturday nights. On Friday nights it's run by Paddy O'Hare and Fra McIlduff. Paddy just lost out to Isaac Alderson in the All Ireland Senior pipes this year while Francis, together with his brother Jack, are two of Belfast's finest and jazziest pipers, up there with John McSherry. Add some great local players and you're in for a very fast, very Northern session. Anyone who saw us down in Miltown in the back room of the Central Hotel, where we took up residence for the week, will get an idea of what to expect. I turn up from London sometimes to make up the numbers.
Saturdays are a slightly diferent vibe. The music is slower (but not much) and is driven by the powerhouse playing of Jason O'Ruairc on concertina, Aiden Walsh and Stevie Dunn on banjo and the odd appearance from Ruairidh O'Kane (of Oige) and Donal O'Connor (son of Gerry) on fiddle.
Get here before 11.45 at night and you'll get a drink until 1AM
Hope to see you there
Conán
# Posted on September 2nd 2002 by Conán McDonnell
Gettign heard at the herc
It's been a while since I was there last but on that occasion the noise was deafening and you could hardly hear the other side of the session - has it improved since then?
I agree that young Patrick is a fine piper - used to play in a band with his da when Patrick was only a wee blond curly haired pup!
Saturday night sounds tasty - Jason is one of the finest concertina players around. He has a great wee web site which I will add to the links section.
I am concerned, however, that you describe the Saturday session as being slower than the Friday one, since I've played a few tunes with Jason in the past. What speed does it move at?? zoooooooooooom!!!
# Posted on September 5th 2002 by breandan
Herc
Yeah, they've moved the session to the back of the pub so it's easier to hear the music. Not so good for the punters, though.
Friday night can get a bit hectic in terms of the speed but it's still great music - honest!
See you there some time.
Conán
# Posted on September 11th 2002 by Conán McDonnell
Should have deleted this a long time ago; as far as I know it has folded.
# Posted on March 30th 2007 by Conán McDonnell
Still Going Conan,
Flute: Desy Adams
Guitar: Stevie Dunne
Box: Jason O'Rourke
Loads of others dropping in, great music
# Posted on November 21st 2008 by Andyras1