It is hard to believe how much music a person can actually pack into an autumn evening in Co. Clare if they wish to do so. My day had started with an early gym class that had left no limb or joint unturned! I hobbled to Kilrush to recommence the Embrace workshops at a day centre there. The Embrace scheme run by Clare Arts Office is an arts and disability programme and I have been fortunate to be involved with it for several years now. I had also been very lucky with the help of Clare Arts Office to acquire the use of a gigantic electronic keyboard through Music Generation for my workshops. My guess is that many of the Kilrush participants had never touched a keyboard before and the look of delight and amazement on their faces as they pressed the keys, changed the sounds and bashed away on the Yamaha piano was a sight to behold. Then it was back to Miltown to begin teaching piano, flute and tin whistle lessons for the new term.

By 7pm, I was ready for the leaba, but more caffeine was imbibed, the boots were put on and off I zoomed to Ennis for the third episode of the series “The West’s Awake”, a live hour long monthly music programme which is based around performances and interviews with new and established artists. The idea, conceived by Ennis singer songwriter Laura Mulcahy showcases pairings of singers, songwriters and musicians. Last Wednesday night proved no exception to the fantastic music that has been put on so far by Laura and her team. This month’s musical menu featured Clare Sands, singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Cork and Eoin Butler, guitarist and singer from Limerick.
Clare transported us from Lahinch to the streets of Scilily, as she brought us with her on a journey through a world of musical genres and different languages on guitars and fiddle. I loved the “realness” of her music. The West’s Awake also features a Q & A sessions with the featured artist and is always just as captivating as the musical performance as we hear about the inspiration and creative processes behind the songs. Clare proved no exception to the rule, with well-thought questions posed by the one and only Anne Rynne. Next up was Eoin Butler a virtuoso guitar player and singer from Limerick who wowed us with his guitar skills and I sang along to every line of his great rendition of Martha by Tom Waits.

Then Three Women Sing –  Anne Rynne, Shona Blake and myself, got to do our thing with the lovely Damien from Cuppa Tea TV who recorded three of our songs and interviewed us for an episode of his Youtube programme.

A visit to Friel’s was suggested since “we were out anyway” so a convoy of cars hit back home through the drizzling rain to Miltown Malbay to catch Bruce Foley and Mary Coogan’s Wednesday songs session. A gorgeous welcome awaited us and we sang some more and heard the beautiful “A Winter’s Tear” from Tim Dennihy, the gorgeous song, Willie Clancy and the Pipes from Bruce Foley – a beautiful song written by songwriter Maurice Mc Grath, who I was delighted to meet this summer along with Niamh Parsons in Kilshanny House at the monthly Song Circle there run by Noirín Lynch. Bruce’s songs were ably accompanied by Mary Coogan on mandolin and there were “stop-you-in-your-tracks” whistle and flute tunes from Joanie Madden.

I was tucked up in bed by 1.30am with tunes and song words floating around in my head. I am so thankful for this musical community that I am part of and this gorgeous place I live in. It’s amazing what you can pack into one autumn Wednesday in Clare.