Josh Okeefe - "The Humours of Whiskey" (Live performance of "Paddy's Panacea")
Not too long ago, in the sway of County Clare's Wild Atlantic Way, a moment unfolded, suspended between reality and reverie. The untamed ocean, the embrace of fresh Eire, and a photograph to seize the essence. However, as I turned around from the scenery, confusion took hold. There, in front of me, stood The Quilty Tavern, its weathered facade whispering secrets of bygone days. A strange sense of déjà vu enveloped me, a puzzle in the breeze. Why was this place so hauntingly familiar? Had I walked through these doors in another life, or was it merely a dream?
As questions lingered, a familiar traditional tune played in the recesses of my mind - "Paddy's Panacea." A tune draped in nostalgia, so deeply ingrained, its origins elusive. Could this be the haunt I had seen hundreds of times before in that old video where Tom Lenihan, that brilliant balladeer from Milltown Malbay just down the road, once stirred souls with his voice and this song? Standing there, bewildered and bemused, I grappled with the uncanny feeling that time had folded upon itself.
No phone reception to validate my instincts, just the allure of the tavern pulling me in. The Quilty, a time capsule cradling echoes, awaited my discovery. A gamble, a hunch - I stepped inside. The tavern's interior, its patrons few, held no immediate answers. A lady behind the bar, an elderly patron at a stool - no recognition in their eyes. Persistence nudged me to ask, to dig deeper. "Am I in the right place?" I queried, hoping for a spark of recognition. Blank stares met my inquiry, until, at last, connected to the pub's internet, and the old video pulled up, the elderly man's eyes widened. As the video unfolded on my phone screen, his disbelief mirrored my own. The Quilty Tavern, the backdrop to the balladry, had been my chance find. His face lit up with memories, and laughter echoed through the pub as he corrected me, revealing that the singer was, indeed, Tom Lenihan-not Tom Lenihan. The funny revelation deepened our connection, and as we enjoyed a couple of pints together, he shared beautiful anecdotes about the people in the video, their lives, and the vibrant spirit of the time.
This chance encounter etched itself into my rambling journey. As I sing "Paddy's Panacea," or the more modern familiar "The Humours of Whiskey," I am transported back to that coastal nook, yearning to revisit. To share the craic once more with my new friend whose name escaped me - perhaps for the best, given my penchant for mangling monikers. So, God bless Quilty, its people and Tom Lenihan too.
#ireland #thehumoursofwhiskey #folkmusic
Upcoming "Bloomin' Ireland Winter 2024 Tour":
24th January 2024 - Katty Barry’s, Waterford (SOLD OUT)
25th January 2024 - The Parnell, Rathdrum
26th January 2024 - The Cobblestone, Dublin (SOLD OUT)
27th January 2024 - The Duncairn, Belfast
31st January 2024 - An Bodhrán, Cork City, Co. Cork
1st February 2024 - Arundel’s by the Pier (KIN), Ahakista, Co. Cork
2nd February 2024 - Parkers Pub, Kilflynn, Co. Kerry
3rd February 2024 - Tigh Uí Mhurchú, Ballyferriter, Co. Kerry
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