Hello and thanks for dropping by,
I was in New York earlier this week recording with Gabriel Donohue. All went well and I’m extremely happy with how the project is going. I caught the subway to my Aunt Marie’s place on Wednesday and was enjoying a coffee with her when the weather forecast came on the TV. It wasn’t looking good, but to make a long story short I got the last seat on the 6.00AM out of La Guardia yesterday morning. Everything was canceled after that…how lucky can a person be?
The mass of people at the airport at 4 in the morning was unbelievable… the humour wasn’t good and becoming more foul by the minute. I didn’t think I would make the flight because security was backed up but apparently there were many in the same situation so they whisked the six-am-ers off to a separate security checkpoint. I almost felt special! Any way I made it back to Savannah, via Atlanta, around noon.
Hey, does this sound familiar?
Loud Voice: “ Yeah, no we just landed. We’re taxiing to the gate,…about fifteen minutes. Bags probably didn’t make it though. Sure, I’ll call you when I get to baggage claim…no there’s no need, I said I’ll call you when I get to baggage”.
Or this?
Loud Voice (again): “Hi Tom, did you get that document? I faxed it before I left. Me? Just arrived in Atlanta…still on the plane…should be at our gate soon. Well look in your in file. If he doesn’t get that by ten it just won’t happen. No, she doesn’t have a clue on this one. Anyway let me get my gear and I’ll call you from baggage claim. Later”
Now multiply those sort of conversations by ten and you’ll understand that I was on a flight with some extremely important folks. I felt like asking for autographs!! Right about now you’re thinking, “I don’t give a sh!t about all this” and…well that’s my point exactly…neither do I. Whatever happened to the concept of being discreet? Sure, we live in this marvelous world of instant interaction and communication…but most of us still don’t want to know other people’s business or intimate details about their personal lives. We get to hear it anyway, on airplanes, trains, coffee shops, banks and if you’re lucky you might just pick up some juicy tidbits during a movie…who knows where or when?
Now, we’re all guilty but c’mon…can we wait those few extra minutes and look for a more private setting or at the very least lower our speaking volume and in doing so be more polite to our fellow…oops, hold on, I have a call coming in… “No, I’m just updating Ramblings and then I was going to meet Jim for a coffee and then if I have time I’ll head to…”
I feel purged.
We are still taking reservations for my 20th Anniversary Summer Tour to Ireland. If you haven’t done so you can look over the Tour flyer and itinerary here on the website on our Tour page. Just click the O’Donoghue Tours logo to the left on our main page.
Briefly, we’re meeting on July 22, we’ll spend eight nights in Ireland enjoying beautiful scenery, an easygoing sightseeing itinerary, lovely hotels and a lot of laughs, songs and stories. This is indeed my 20th Tour to Ireland and also my 30th year in the music business, so it will be a special time for us. Should you have any questions please email me at: hodmusic@aol.com
Through the years we’ve had wonderful people join us on these customized trips and we have made many lasting friendships. Again, if you are thinking of coming with us please get in touch.
There is also a Tour to Ireland on July 8 with Fr. Liam Collins and myself. Call for details.
This time of year is always a delight for me. I get to be involved with Irish Festivals, various Irish Nights, concerts in beautiful venues and a chance to interact with fellow musicians and audience members I don’t see nearly often enough.
I enjoyed my time at the Savannah and Beaufort Irish Festivals, working with Seamus Kennedy, Brendan Nolan, Legacy, Carroll Brown, Roger Drawdy, Sean McCabe, Gabriel Donohue, Henri’s Notions, the Savannah Dancers, Glor na hEireann Dance School, Celtic Traditions and more. It’s an honour to be included and to those who traveled to see these shows, thank you. I hope you had as good a time as I
Tomorrow I travel to Macon for the 20th Anniversary of Irish Night at St. Peter Claver Church. This is a yearly concert to benefit the school and it has become a hugely popular event.
Next week I’m at Katie O’Donalds, Bluffton, South Carolina on Wednesday, March 3 for two shows, one at 5.30 PM and the second at 7.30PM…then I’m off to the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Florida on Friday, March 5, followed my annual performance for St. Williams Catholic Church on St. Simon’s Island, Georgia on Saturday March 6.
It seems that I haven’t played in Kevin Barry’s for quite some time. That will be rectified on Monday, March 8 when I’m on stage for four nights…then it’s Tara Feis time in Savannah. This year we have my dear friend and talented vocalist Cathie Ryan and her band as headliners…if you can make it to town try to do just that. It’s a free event and weather obliging (!) will be a wonderful day out for family and friends. That’s on Saturday, March 13 in Emmet Park on Bay Street, downtown Savannah, from 11.00AM -5.00PM. Later that evening I have a short performance at the Trustees Theatre, Broughton St, Savannah as part of the Savannah Philharmonic’s Pops Concert. www.savannahphilharmonic.org
On March 16, I share the Kevin Barry’s stage with Frank Emerson and Carroll Brown. It should be a night of madness, especially later on when we all three perform together. It’s a tradition during the St. Patrick’s Day festivities.
March 17 will see me outside Katie O’Donald’s in the big top. Times have yet to be determined but my performances (2) will be late afternoon – early evening. We’ll post the correct times when they are finalized.
You can check my other comings and goings on the calendar page here on the website.
Should you want to book an O’Donoghue performance whether it be a concert, festival, house party or other private event please get in touch with me.
We do have a new line of T-shirts available here or at my shows.
Ladies black with green logo and lettering M, L
Ladies light blue with brown logo and lettering M, L
Mens’s military green with sandstone logo and lettering M, L, XL
Men’s sandstone with military green lettering M, L, XL
Men’s shirts are available with full logo on back or low profile (plain back)
All shirts ordered on the website include shipping and handling. Price: $20
Music
I have recently been working on a compilation album drawing from songs recorded on the CD’s It’ll be Alright on the Night, How’s It Goin’? and ‘Live from the ‘Boro. This new CD will omit the introductions, banter and audience enthusiasm, leaving just the songs and short applause. It will have 19 tracks and the title is: Live and Just as Well.
The product should be available by April and the old albums will no longer be available when remaining stock is gone.
My new and as yet untitled recording will have thirteen songs and should be available before early summer. It’s a work in progress but we’re getting close.
Music continued:
Bonny Prince Barley. Barleyjuice RYFOC015
Barleyjuice is considered a Celtic Rock band but judging by this recording they are so much more. Nice production here with none of the off key shouting style of many other bands in this genre. While some songs bring to mind the Pogues there is enough freshness included to make this an enjoyable listen.
Tune In. Nuala Kennedy. Compass Records 745342
Nuala is from Dundalk in Ireland but lives in Scotland. She includes many lovely original songs and tunes here and play flute nicely. She has a young folkie sound especially in her original songs.
Sailing Ships and Sailing Men. Seamus Kennedy. Gransha Records.
There is only one Seamus Kennedy, funny, talented, brash and fearless. Here he tackles the sea, but because his stage show is so funny, irreverent and energetic sometimes his musicianship is not appreciated as it should be. He is a master musician, writer and story teller and his full collection, including the endearing Sidekicks and Sagebrush is available…well just about everywhere.
Whew, there’s a lot in this one. Thanks for taking the time to spend here. I now have a Facebook page so you can check that out…but I still enjoy when people leave a message on our Guestbook here on the website so if you have a few extra moments..aaw, go on, you can do it…just a few words!!
Thanks for all your support and enjoy life as it comes…it passes so quickly.
|
Books 
