Inniskeen Road: July Evening
The bicycles go by in twos and threes –
There’s a dance in Billy Brennan’s barn to-night,
And there’s the half-talk code of mysteries
And the wink-and-elbow language of delight.
Half-past eight and there is not a spot
Upon a mile of road, no shadow thrown
That might turn out a man or woman, not
A footfall tapping secrecies of stone.
I have what every poet hates in spite
Of all the solemn talk of contemplation.
Oh, Alexander Selkirk knew the plight
Of being king and government and nation.
A road, a mile of kingdom, I am king
Of banks and stones and every blooming thing.
Gigs coming up, like
June 2 CA, Poway – House Concert
June 24-29 CA, San Diego – A World of Music Summer Camp (ages 6 to 12)
July 8-14 NC, Swannanoa – Celtic Week
Aug 19-26 Alaska – Joanie Madden’s Alaskan Adventure
Sept 20-23 CO, La Veta – Celtic Music Fest
Oct 5 LA, West Monroe – NELACelticFest
Oct 16-18 NV, Las Vegas – IMEX America
Oct 18 – 21 TX, Midlothian – O’Flaherty Retreat
2019
May 12 – 19 NYC to Bermuda Joanie Madden’s Folk ‘n’ Irish Cruise
More or less info on all dates click here
Two exciting events by Máirtín in San Diego
Ages: 6-12 (as of September 1, 2018)
Location: UCSD campus, La Jolla
Dates: June 25-29
Time: 9am-3pm daily
Free performance for family and friends: June 29
Rate: $345
(Space is limited. Registration closes on June 13.) Rate includes daily lunch, t-shirt, materials, and a free performance at the end of the week. $25 deduction for each additional sibling.
Jeepers! Bus Tour 2018
As you know I brought a bus around Ireland for 8 days and it was fierce craic altogether. The photo above is the group of us in Gleann Cholm Cille with a monument behind us showing a map of the island using a stone from each county in Ireland. We had a most wonderful time, jeepers, the weather was smashing. I even had a 99.
I’m working on our next adventure already. Sometime in 2019 we will be singing our way around the island…will you be there singing along with us? Where would your dream be to visit in Ireland? Get in touch with me here today
Here is a great podcast I have been listening to
Be careful with this one you might get lost in it for a month, there is so much in it. Fin Dwyer is a great historian and I find his way of presenting Medieval Ireland fascinating. Let me know what you think. Check it all out by clicking here
He also leads walking tours around Dublin. I think I might take one myself the next time I’m up in the big schmoke.
Joanie gave me ‘The Call‘ again!
Well folks, I have been telling you that August will see me in Alaska with Joanie Madden and her Folk’n’Irish gang but she was onto me again say ‘I’ll see you in Bermuda’. Who am I to question things so wonderful? So here are the details and be sure to book your cabin today if you haven’t yet! www.JoanieMaddenCruise.com
The NCL with Escape you from NYC on May 12 and bring us all to Bermuda and back again by May 19. There will be no time for sleeping as the craic is givin’ out by the kilo! Last February was like a Floatin’ Fleadh, for a fortnight and we were only there for a week.
Call Kevin today and book your cabin! Make sure you tell him Máirtín sent you and to put my name at he top of your list! PHONE: 1-855-IRISH-CR (855-474-7427) • BOOKING INQUIRIES: BOOK@JOANIEMADDENCRUISE.COM • GENERAL INFORMATION: INFO@JOANIEMADDENCRUISE.COM
I’m doing a lot of teaching!
Just to give you the run down on what I am at with all the week long gigs, like.
June 24-29 CA, San Diego – A World of Music Summer Camp (ages 6 to 12)
As I was saying above this is a great week of singing and performance in San Diego with the San Diego Children’s Choir. I will be teaching Irish songs in English and as Gaeilge, dancing and some crafts!
July 8-14 NC, Swannanoa – Celtic Week
This will be my first venture into NC for the Swannanoa Gathering and I’ll be teaching Storytelling.
Aug 19-26 Alaska – Joanie Madden’s Alaskan Adventure
Craic gan stad!
Sept 20-23 CO, La Veta – Celtic Music Fest
La Veta is a lovely town in the Coloradan Spanish Peaks. They have me doing all sorts of things from Wed to Sun.
Oct 16-18 NV, Las Vegas – IMEX America
For the last few years Tourism Ireland has myself and a craic team working on selling Ireland. I’ll post a video come October. This is not open to the general public. Are you an IMEXer?
Oct 18 – 21 TX, Midlothian – O’Flaherty Retreat
It’s been a while but I am really looking forward to seeing what might come out of Texas this time! Ken has me teaching Set Dancing and I’m going to try and squeeze in a few céilí dances.
That’s enough for now. I get less time to work on emails and the website with Milo & Finn taking me on adventures and setting banana peels out for me to slip on all day and all night!! Hup! It IS a wonderful life, though.
See you all of a sudden, somewhere
le grá
Máirtín