July 3, 2026
Mother Nature has proscribed some down time for us. How might this have occurred you ask? We got a nasty little cold that’s going around. James was feeling a bit snuffly but seemed to have shaken it. I felt a scratchy throat, so immediately went into “go away” mode, gargling with salt water, dosing up with vitamin C and zinc, getting extra sleep, etc. While James, Bridget, Morgan and most of the instrument makers went to a fancy restaurant Tuesday night I stayed home hoping to minimize the illness. Wednesday I felt like I was going to escape the worst of it. Noel Burke had purchased a block of seats for an evening concert featuring Seamus and Caoimhe Ui Fhlatharta (Seamus and Kweeva O’Flaherty). They grew up in the Sean Nos (oldest original style of Irish song) in Connemara. Their vocal blend is ethereal, precise and altogether beguiling. Seamus played harp, guitar, bodhran and low whistle and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he plays other instruments. Caoimhe sings beautifully and played fiddle very prettily. Look them up where you stream your music and if you like it please support them by purchasing their album. During the concert I managed to sneeze only once but things weren’t feeling grand. Noel wanted to go to Ma Murphy’s for a few session tunes. The door was locked, it was 11:30 after all, but Noel and Noemie talked us in. I would have honestly preferred going back to our home but did my best to hang in there. The next morning I had a full blown cold. Then James’s came back and now Morgan has it as well. Forced rest, like it or not.
Yesterday we drove to Skibereen via Ballydehob then on to Clonakilty. The car full of us snuffling and coughing. Brothers and sister in sickness or in health. Skibereen had a good pharmacy where we availed ourselves of numerous remedies. Then on to Clonakilty because it has a distillery that makes some fine whiskey. We discovered it on our last trip because we rented a house in nearby Inchydoney. We have Jamesons for hot whiskies (medicinal purposes only, and by God it feels good on a suffering chest) but the Clonakilty is for pure enjoyment. We picked up dinner ingredients and James rose to the occasion and made us chicken vegetable soup. By the time we finished dinner we were all done in, useless for tunes, so we went to bed.