Fine fare at Farmleigh

Managed to get a break from painting (bedrooms, not art) last night to attend the Writers Unplugged event at Farmleigh in Ferdia MacAnna's first gig as Writer in Residence there. And a great night it was too.
Dermot Bolger, one of my favourite poets, read some of his poetry and his two highly talented sons, Donnacha and Diarmuid, performed songs from their recently released CD.

As I watched them, I decided that both needed a haircut, which means I am now officially old.

Ferdia himself, formerly Rocky deValera, played some really good 12 bar blues and Helena Mulkearns from Caca Milis Cabaret down in Waterford put in an absolute terrific performance. Her Piaf number was brilliant but her interpretation of Kirsty McCall's In these shoes (with extra Spanish bits) was incredible.

Thomas McLoughlin, former frontman with Light a Big Fire and now a very successful playwright, showed his versatility, singing acapello (despite a very dodgy mike) and also playing guitar and delivering monologues. His humour is very close to the edge and dry and I thought he was hilarious, though at the back of my mind I wondered how the oul wans would take to him!

So back to the painting.