David Keenan: Dispatches from the Bóthar - Clonakilty

"There's Carnegie Hall, The Royal Albert, Sydney Opera House and then there's De Barra's" - Christy Moore.

After a pit stop at Galway Bay fm to plug the Roisin Dubh show on the 18 it was for West Cork's musical mecca De Barra's. Christy references it in the above quote and for good reason, there's nowhere like it. The people make a place but so does the way they leave their traces behind and when you sit in the front bar and wonder at the relics on show or the wall of gig posters plastered over one another or the exotic masks from unknown tribes and trips taken internally and externally you get the sense of what could happen when the lights are lowered and the music starts to swell.

Gig two: The room rocks like an old boat, stained glass shines in the corner making it all seem like a musical mass without the condescension... it happens to be Good Friday and I swear to wise up on the third day in my opening song 'Love in a Snug' but not before Evan Crowley sings with a voice like Cuchulainn with a hangover, it's barbed and powerful, he sings the Foggy dew and all is still and we're reminded of the Easter weekend that's in it.

Local legend Barth Harrington joins me for 'El Paso', adding that song to our ever expanding cannon having played The Friary together there late last year.

I'd play here every week if I could, maybe someday I will, the thought did cross my mind as I busked in the round at the gig's end before we all cleared out onto the main street of Clonakilty to sing 'Evidence of Living' as venue wizard Ray diverted traffic to our left, another magical image I won't ever forget. In the chats that followed I heard that Deirdre drove from Sligo to Mayo to Clon for the gigs, some people came on a first date or innumerable date while others came to support the new record and there were those too who have been with me for a while now.

De Barra's outside- Thady Trá

I disappeared for bed soon after to O'Donovan's Hotel, a history trinket lovers dream and I thought of the gigs to come and how blessed I am to be greeted by the open-hearted, full bodied voices and listeners that turn up to join me in song and I gave thanks for the music and how it continues to carry me along.

I'm playing at the Zermatt festival near the Matterhorn this week, Aldi ski gear at the ready!

• Next stop on the Irish tour is Whelan's April 14 and 15, Roisin Dubh 18 & Dolan's 19.