More Small Town Pubs, Music and Countryside

 On one of our lazy days we drove around the countryside in the late afternoon headed to pubs in the evening for music. Found this pretty donkey in the field across from one pub on a country road.

We are really out in the country, as we sit on the Main Street of Strokestown in our car freeloading on the hotel’s Wi-Fi, lots of tractors and lorries zoom by with farm animals and hay. It looks like some people make a business of harvesting hay with combines.

We spent the evening at two pubs in Carrick-on-Shannon.  In the first pub we managed to get stools at the bar.  Of course I was sitting next to probably the drunkest man in the place. He kept talking to me almost nose to nose. Couldn’t understand a word he said. Thank god he smoked and frequently had to step out for a cigarette.

This first pub had a large group of musicians who seemed to be an organized group rather than a random bunch who showed up with instruments to play.

The second pub was definitely a “session” where various musicians kept showing up to play and the group expanded throughout the evening. There were many families with kids and the clients seemed to be there for the music - and no drunks in my vicinity.  The walls are full of photos with musicians who have played there throughout the years.

The Main Street (and maybe only major street) in town