The
car was loaded. Musical instruments, P.A. system, CDs, posters,
clothes et al. Hollyhead here I come. I could'nt help but
wonder just how a travelling musician managed before cars,
mobile phones and the speed and comfort of the HSS Stena
ferry.
When
I came to England in 1972 the boat was the only affordable
method of travelling between the two islands. The cost of
air travel was prohibitive. The ferry was the life line
for families taking the children back for holidays or making
the sad journey to say farewell to loved ones. The now much
improved road to Hollyhead is a welcome change and the fast
loading and unloading of the ferry is also a big help.
Every time I disembark in Dun Laoghaire I am reminded of
an old friend who once told me that he arrived there after
a long absence away and as he drove off the ferry he got
quite emotional and with a tear in his eye he turned to
his wife and said "we are home love". My visit
to Ireland, though always a pleasure, was in fact job related.
My new CD Distant Memories was about to be released
and various radio interviews and gigs throughout the country
awaited me.
Regional
radio stations in Ireland are a revelation. Most are now
housed in ultra modern buildings with the latest state of
the art equipment and in the main are staffed by professional,
enthusiastic and knowledgeable presenters. Speaking as a
folk singer my only gripe would be that not enought attention
or time is devoted to our rich musical heritage. I have
spoken to many people from around the world who have been
disappointed by the lack of Irish music on Irish radio.
Perhaps presenters are not given enough freedom?. I have
always maintained that visitors to Ireland come for the
whole package i.e. the scenery, the music and the hospitality.
The uncertain weather can be passed off as part of the charm
and just a small price to pay for the lush green countryside
and the beautiful lakes. Speaking of lakes I was fortunate
enought to travel through many counties where lakes abound.
I could happily live near any lake. Perhaps being born and
reared in a small village by the banks of the Liffey in
Co. Kildare accounts for my desire to be near water. Well
that is my excuse anyway.
In
Creeslough in Co. Donegal I met two lovely Italian families
who were on a short visit. They expressed surprise at how
modern Ireland now seems and how prosperous we appear to
be. They were heading for Galway where indeed I found myself
a couple of weeks later. Galway Bay FM is a fine radio station
with a deservedly huge audience. A stroll through the very
busy city showed no shortage of visitors from around the
world.
One
of the advantages of playing music for a living is that
you get to visit some places you would not normally go.
I can honestly say that I am on first name terms with the
various N roads, M roads and R roads around the country
and I have more than a nodding aquaintance with signposts
to places I had never previously heard of. If you can't
find some place just ask me. I'm yer man. Late one night
in Co. Clare I came upon a sign 'The Cross of Spancil Hill'.
I have been singing about it for years and suddenly there
it was glowing in front of me in the headlights. The song
took on a whole new dimension for me.
It
is many years since I took the short ferry ride from Tarbert
to Killimer. I had the perfect excuse of doing a radio interview
in Tralee and then a gig in Spanish Point. The ferry was
the obvious route. That is my story and I am sticking to
it. I had been to Spanish Point before but I will be back.
It has a lovely unspoilt beach. The same can be said for
Carrig-on-Bannow in Co. Wexford. Just more places to visit
again.
On
one of my journeys back from Donegal I took a wrong turn
and found myself heading for Enniskillen instead of Sligo.
This was a real discovery. It was a beautiful day and the
drive took me along the road by Lough Erne. You just can't
keep me away from the lakes.
It
is very easy to forget what a beautiful country Ireland
is or indeed just to take it for granted. For example I
had forgotten how lovely the town of Adare in Co. Limerick
is.
Tipperary
on a sunny day is gorgeous and Belfast is a changed place
from the 70's. It is friendly and vibrant with a real buzz.
A drive across The Curragh in Co. Kildare can make me homesick
just at the thoughts of leaving it.
On
this trip I drove 6000 miles in six weeks through 25 counties.
I did 23 radio interviews and 20 gigs. Met some old friends
and made some new friends. Saw some beautiful sights and
stored some more precious memories. Sang my songs and hopefully
got ideas for some more.
Sitting
in the car at Dun Laoghaire waiting for the HSS Stena fast
ferry to come in I was already planning my next visit. Somebody
once said that it is better to travel than to arrive. I
cannot agree. Driving off the ferry on to Irish soil is
a feeling that is hard to beat.
Home
again.
This article
appeared in The Irish World, October 2003. www.theirishworld.com
