Meeting Mick Lavelle

While we were in Ireland we visited Matt Molloy's bar in Westport, County Galway. Matt Molloy is the flautist for the Chieftains and his bar is famous, with music every night. We were waiting in the bar for the doors to open up for the band that night when an 80-year old gentleman sat down next to us. We started chatting, and pretty soon he joined us at our table and began to sing. Really well. He claimed that he knew a thousand songs and I believe him. He would start singing and got everyone in the bar to sing along. In between he told a few off-color jokes. He mentioned something about pictures with him in it, but we had no idea what he was talking about and just let that comment slide by. It was extraordinary sitting with him.

The next day we were in Roundstone, checking out the bodhrans. We took a look at the posters and there was one called "Irish Pubs", with pictures of about 20 pubs. Naturally we had to look for Matt Molloy's. There it was...and there was Mick Lavelle in the picture! He is holding a fiddle. We had no idea!

Later, when I got home, I googled Mick Lavelle. He's something of a local celebrity, and also is the singer of a track on the CD "Music from Matt Molloy's". Unbelieveable.

The group we saw at Matt Molloy's was great, too. It was a memorable night.