David Keenan's Tour Diary Part 6: Cleere’s Theatre, Kilkenny

I’m have many grace filled memories from time spent in Kilkenny, with people from Kilkenny, I have history with the ancient place.

Yesterday was one of those days, you know them well.
Slow, fluid and blissful
no rushing on this trip.
Sure isn’t rushing the worst sin of all ?
The sun guided our way, Kieran Mulvihill and I, coasting along a sparsely populated motorway, the wind carrying a warm breeze into the car as the sounds of Cat Palace boomed from the suspect stereo.

I was asked by the good people in Rollercoaster Records to drop by and play some songs in house for two o’clock.
Independent gems like this are rarities these days, precious establishments that act as hideaways for music junkies across the island, skulking in their corners we give thanks for the solace we uncover.
The late great Willy Meighan was the man behind its existence, his presence is still there in the atmosphere and in the faces of those who knew him and were touched by his warmth and generosity.
I’m saddened that we didn’t get the chance to meet, I think we would’ve got on.

Martin Bridgeman from KCLR radio was kind enough to invite myself and Mulvihill out to the station for some conversation over mugs of scald proceeded by some songs.
In keeping with my radio ritual I played a new one called “Automatic Writings” before which “Postcards from Catalonia” received its first piece of airplay.
The interview and songs shall be aired this Tuesday night on Martins show, tune all your dials to 96fm 10-Midnight!
Onwards to Cleeres !!!

I took the advice of a local witch doctor and consumed a bowl of their famous Stewp, there’s eating and drinking in it,
I was ready for battle !

The theatre is a room of exposed stone walls, the ideal setting for expressing.
Let us walk to Tara naked and take back what’s rightfully ours !

Kieran opened his lungs before I and shared his bardlings with the room.
Intricate songs and stories about youth, looking in and looking out.
Another salt of the earth expressionist and gentín who is a joy to be around.
He’s due to join me again along the road in the coming weeks armed with a mála full of his new record - Seek one out.

The beautiful bodies in the room emanated a warmth towards me, we sang in unison, we shared laughter, we sat, we stood, we listened and we applauded one another.

Ah Kilkenny, you have an area carved out in my heart.
Thank you, let us meet again soon.
Special thanks to Peter, Paul and all the other apostles who march under the Cleere’s banner and to my Subterranean sounds rock of Gibraltar Gar Kehoe.

Monroe’s of Galway is on the horizon,
I’ll be bringing a band of brothers with me, Gunslingers galore.

We won’t shed no tears for the good old days but for talk sake we could mourn them in a song.....X