Trafalgar Square; St. Patrick’s celebration.

Well what a day out we had in London lads for the big St. Patrick’s day celebrations; 3 days before the day itself, like. There were up to 20,000 people gathered there for the Irish celebrations. I suppose they haven’t the day off in England like so they have to do it on the weekend. I was booked by Gary Dunne of the Camden Irish Centre to do a half an hour slot, and to lead the sing-song at the end with the LONDON IRISH PENSIONERS CHOIR. Also on the bill were FOUR MEN AND A DOG, CAMILLE O’ SULLIVAN, KILA, MUNDY, THE CORONAS, BI-POLAR EMPIRE, DANCERS AND COMHALTAS MUSICIANS. The Coronas ROCKED that square and my own slot went very well I thought, I did 3 or 4 of my own songs - IRELAND FREE, CHERRY TREES, HEY DREAMER, but I kind of kicked for touch by tearing into ÓRÓ SÉ DO BHEATHA ABHAILE, TRASNA NA DTONNTA, and a few of the IRISH SONGS WE LEARNED AT SCHOOL. I always find it scary doing those big outdoor shows, but this one wasn’t too bad; maybe I’m finally getting the hang of it, or maybe it’s just cos there was a very good atmosphere there, people smiling and all that. Anyway, there was a GREAT atmosphere and everyone had a good gig. HECTOR was M.C. and he was just brilliant at getting the crowd going, roaring and shouting like, flag waving and all that. Anyway the crisis came when MUNDY failed to show up, a delay in the flight from New York, like, and then, next thing HECTOR was calling for me – GET THE GUITAR JOHN, KEEP THE BALL ROLLING! So up I leapt and myself and Hector tore into a load of well known Irish ballads, getting the crowd to sing along like, MOLLY MALONE, THE WILD ROVER, THE BANKS OF MY OWN LOVELY LEE, I KNOW MY LOVE, THE BOYS OF FAIR HILL, A WEELA WEELA WAUILA! It was quite mad. It felt like SOMEONE HAD TO DO IT! In fairness it was a great buzz. Then Camille and Kila done excellent gigs and then there I was on again for the GRAND FINALE featuring some of Kila and various musosand singers like and especially  THE LONDON IRISH PENSIONERS CHOIR! Well they quite something, all turned out in their lovely green jackets, and yards of shamrock hangin off em like, and we then tore into THE WILD ROVER (again), WILL YA GO LASSIE GO, and THE FIELDS OF ATHENRYE. The words were coming up on the big screen and the 20,00owere singing their heads off. It was like a football match! VERY MOVING i have to say, especially cos of the pensioners and they singing it out so PROUD and FREE. Yes very emotional there at the end! and that my friends is the story of the big day out in London Town, Trafalgar Square, Four massive Lions lying around the corners and Admiral Nelson Lording it down from above! Cheers lads, thanks,
john!