Oisin Mac Diarmada and Seamus Begley at KCT

Lovely concert on Friday night at the Katherine Cornell Theater in Vineyard Haven featuring Oisin Mac Diarmada and Seamus Begley. I saw Oisin in a solo performance on the same stage last year (reportedly, last night was his seventh time on the island), in which he charmed us all with stories and history, and oh yes, his amazing fiddle playing, and it was fun to see another, lighthearted side of Oisin last night. Of course it helped that Seamus is a very funny man, a brilliant joke-teller with a fondness for limericks (with a gorgeous singing voice as well).

Great music, and a great evening altogether.





X marks the spot.





Oisin's new fiddle.



Oisin, with Mary Wolverton and her assistants, Mattie and Sonny.



















Mattie, with fedora and friend.

Exile

I don't know why certain songs hit me in certain ways at certain times, but this one, which I heard today on Brian O'Donovan's A Celtic Sojourn, tweaked a nostalgic nerve. I just can't stop listening to it.



EXILE
(Kieran Wade)

1. Now the fire is burning low
And it will soon be time to go
As the night turns into dawn,
With the light I'll soon be gone
So kiss me once before I go
And say my name out soft and low
And as I turn on down the road,
Your kiss will lighten up my load

CHORUS: And though I know I never will return,
Inside the hope will always burn
That we may meet in some place once again
And you and I will still be friends.
The sun is shining brightly on the mountains and the sea
The waves run white round Inish Mór
The ship lies in the harbour waiting for the evening breeze
To take us to some foreign shore

2. The world we lived in now is past
And winds of change are coming fast
What once was holy now just seems
To be a world of broken dreams
So kiss me once and say goodbye
And we will try hard not to cry
These tumbling thoughts going through my head
Will stay forever left unsaid. CHORUS

3. Too many trials, too many tears,
Too many tired and hungry years
But I will not forget the land
Where you and I walked hand in hand
So kiss me once before I go
And say my name out soft and low
And as I turn on down the road,
Your kiss will lighten up my load. CHORUS

© Kieran Wade