The Buskers, August 2019

All things shall perish from under the sky
Music alone shall live, 

Music alone shall live
Music alone shall live
Never to die

~ German Folk Song (long borrowed by Girl Scouts and others)

One often sees street musicians around Ireland (especially at certain locations of special interest like the Cliffs of Moher or the Rock of Cashel) even when there is no festival. But a festival can both draws crowds and buskers to entertain them. We were lucky to see (and meet) a few on this trip. There should have been more.

Looking back it does seem that we were in too much of a hurry to really attend to and enjoy the street music we did hear. Did we plan too much? That would be my error. In the preparation my reach may have exceeded my grasp. I scheduled too many things in too short a time. And, while we skipped only one event for which we had tickets, we didn't have the "wandering" time we might have enjoyed.

Well, at least we have these representatives of the street musician to share with you. [I should note that I do ask before I snap photos.]

Michael Toomey and Dennis Cahill (professional musician) near the Dunne's Store, Kilkenny. Michael plays the mandolin, banjo, and guitar.

A group of friends from Tipperary performing on the streets of Kilkenny in the last days of the arts festival.

Dunne's Store is a popular location for busking.

This fellow was good and played with his eyes closed - lost in his own world.

These are student who perform in this location regularly. I suspected, but was not sure until I spoke with the lady on the left at one of the concerts for Masters of Tradition in Bantry.  I had been sitting near a group of women who were listening and, from time to time, taking videos of the performers. Yes - mothers are mothers the world over.

At the market square on Fridays you can find almost anything you might want or need - including some good music.

We are the music makers,

    And we are the dreamers of dreams,

Wandering by lone sea-breakers,

    And sitting by desolate streams; —

World-losers and world-forsakers,

    On whom the pale moon gleams:

Yet we are the movers and shakers

    Of the world for ever, it seems.

~ Arthur O'Shaughnessy, from Ode

POST SCRIPT:

We saw this movie crew as we walked along the River Nore in Kilkenny. I've no place else to put them (with the wonderful monument to Kilkenny hurling in the background - on our last night there Kilkenny]played Tipperary for the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. Kilkenny did not win the match.)

The movie crew