Gaughan's Irish tour Epistle, Part the Fifth
Galway, 4.30pm, Monday 15th Oct 2001

Andy Irvine and Chris Wood was a fascinating combination. Turned out it was only the second or third time they'd ever played together so they did a fair bit of solo stuff but that was fine by me and the rest of the audience. I really enjoyed it.

I hadn't seen Andy for several years and we ended up having the same conversation we've been having for about 15 years about how we should make another album together. We talked a bit about Parallel Lines (made back in 1981) and ended up falling about remembering some of the hilarity involved. I'll never forget when Andy hit me with the arrangement he'd done for "Captain Thunderbolt" for that album. I had never heard anything quite as complex with such insane chord progressions and it stretched my playing probably more than anything before or since. I'd really like to do another one; could call it "Concentric Circles" or something.

The waitress at breakfast this morning was obviously not having the best of days and appeared to take an instant deep resentment at my daring to inconvenience her by wishing to eat. Breakfast was advertised as being available between 7 and 10am. I had wandered into the large dining room around 9.30 and, there being nobody around to suggest where I should sit and half the tables already set for lunch, I helped myself to some orange juice and cereal from the self-service counter and sat down where I reckoned I wouldn't be in anyone's way. Out she came and glowered at me as if I'd committed some unspeakable atrocity.

"You'll need to move to another table", she said impatiently, "I'm busy setting that one for lunch".

"Certainly, anywhere in particular you'd like me to sit?"

The look of irritation grew darker and she waved vaguely at the other side of the room.

"Could I have some coffee and .... "
She cut across me, making it plain she was not employed to take any nonsense from anyone and regarded politeness as an old-fashioned affectation.

"I'll come back", she snapped and stormed off, lightning bolts crackling in her hair. Back she came about five minutes later so I gave her my most practised menacing smile over the top of the Irish Times and asked, "Now, is there anything else you'd like me to do before I order breakfast?"

She had enough sense to back off and I got my eggs, coffee and toast without any more drama. Then a couple came in and she glared pointedly at her watch and growled, "Cutting it a bit fine, aren't you?"

Attila the Hun is alive and well and working in the Ambassador Hotel in Cork.

So now I'm in Galway, after an uneventful journey shared between bright sunlight and heavy rain, looking forward to a couple of nights at the Roisin Dubh.

25th January 2005

Tour Dates - last update 30 August 2005

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