.When writing reviews of the Cuckoo Fleadh Festivals, I have always found that, it is better to put pen to paper while the weekend is still fresh in your mind, or in the case of our young Cuckoo Virgin, Pale Higham, fresh in his stomach!. "Beer's a terrible thing", he thought, as the finest Guinness in the west kept reappearing for another encore. "Do you come from the land of Glossop, where women smile and men chuck up?" is the title of a new song Paul og is working on as we 'come down' from possibly the best Cuckoo yet.
With well over one hundred travelling with us from all over England, we knew there would be no shortage of audience, but, as a band, we have to say that, we really appreciate all those people making the effort to come to Kinvara and thank them all.
There is no better feeling than, walking down main street in Kinvara and hearing both locals and Glossopians shouting 'Come on the Curragh Boys,' or 'Welcome home lads,' because that is how Kinvara feels now, it is OUR home.ext.
Finnegan put in his third appearance in a row, while Macky from Kilmacow also lost his cherry this time around (if you will pardon the expression?) and who would have thought as we sat in Green's on the Saturday afternoon, that Brian Parker, my old mate from Longdendale High School and long lost buddy, Duck & Dive Maltby, would stroll in with a party of eighteen sporting their own limited edition Fleadh T -shirts. Top effort boys.
Mike Burke from the Pier Head once again did us proud, not only did he let us use one of the thatched cottages, but he kept us supplied with Arther's finest drop at every turn and his kitchen kept us topped up with lobster and big steaks. Thanks Mike.
As for gigs, well this year I think the band enjoyed them all equally, but personally, I would select the Sunday afternoon in the Pier Head and the second half in Sexton's on the Saturday evening, Ruth would have kept us topped up, if only she could have moved!. Three people were employed all night, simply pouring Guinness, and as we played we saw many a pint destined for us, go off in the other direction.
Wal just soaked up the atmosphere and I think just loves being part of the whole thing, as we all do, and even though young Higham struggled a little with a chest infection, anti-biotics, rumbling tum and a bottom like a bullet wound, I'm sure he'll be back fighting fit next time in a couple of months. Paul 'the' Newland was captivated by an Australian fiddle player, and once again had the Kinvara crowds singing his praises, and with regard to the Curraghs at the Cuckoo, Paul's one time comment still holds true, "We're not traditional, but traditionally, Kinvara loves our style."
So there you have it, another Cuckoo under our belt, and if you want to add to these memories with some of your own, get on the message board and tell it like it is.
