Hey guys, welcome back! Today is St. Patrick’s Day and I have to say, it is a favorite holiday of mine. While I can’t celebrate like I used to, I still continue some traditions of my own and love to look back at past celebrations as well.

My past is a strange one. For example, if one was to look at my resume, it would read more like a ‘what’s what’ than anything else. However, I’ve had some amazing experiences in my life and one was working for a professional theater. Why do I mention this? Patience grasshoppers.

Working at that theater had been a dream job for me. When I was 11 years old, I saw a production of Annie there and I vowed to myself that I would one day work in that space. Many years later, not only did I get the opportunity, but I actually got to meet/work with/take over for the girl who played Annie in the production I had seen! She was my age and it was so surreal when not only did I get the chance to get to know her, but when she left her backstage position for an acting role in another state, I got to take over for her. It still amazes me that I had been able to do this.

I was a theater major in school and learned a great deal working both on and backstage. So to be able to take what I knew and not only put it to use, but to do it in the theater I had wanted to work at? Priceless.

Our place performed not only Broadway caliber shows, but on ‘dark nights’ (night where the main stage shows weren’t used) we’d have specials: Comedians, music groups, etc. We also did a lot of seasonal shows as well and I’d try to work as many as I could, not just for the experience to learn more, but to also meet some great acts. (I actually got to work with the comedian I had seen years before on my prom night in NYC…talk about surreal.)

For St. Patrick’s Day, they always booked Irish acts and I was more than ecstatic when the Clancy Brothers were to appear. I am part Irish and grew up knowing more about my Irish heritage than anything else really. My great grandmother was from Dublin and even passed away on St. Patrick’s Day. I knew the Clancy’s music well and remember the days that my aunt would have them playing in her house. So when they needed someone to do multiple roles for their evening(s), I jumped at the chance!

I was more than fortunate enough to work several of their gigs. I got to know them, got to help load their stuff in, worked the spotlight and made sure they were comfortable backstage among other duties. When the shows were over though, that’s when the fun really began!

We’d hang out for hours afterwards. They’d tell story after story while the drinks were flowing and the laughs were never ending. I was very young back then, barely in my 20’s and being that I’m under 5ft tall, they kind of adopted me. I was all for it. The late and wonderful Liam called me his ‘Little Leprechaun’ and whenever I’d work a show for him, he was always the first to greet me with a monster hug.

Years after I had not only left the theater, but also the state, I went to see them perform there again. This time, it was nice to be in the audience. Hoisting a beer with the crowd during Wild Rover, singing along to Jug of Punch and tearing up to Will Ye’ Go Lassie Go and The Parting Glass (Go Lassie Go was also sung at Liam’s gravesite during his burial).

My friend who was hosting that night gave us house seats and I took a chance and sent a note backstage. I didn’t know if they’d remember me at all, but I figured, let me try. Sure enough, I get a message back saying that I’d better get backstage after the show to have a drink with them. The friend I had brought with me, very Irish himself, was in shock and the time we had with them after the show was one I have always treasured. I didn’t have to work, I didn’t have to clean up the stage or anything. I got to just relax and enjoy and be one of them for the night. They even teased the hell out of me because when I did work their shows and was working the spotlight, the light always shook as I laughed during their nephew Robbie’s song, Sr. Josephine. Truly, a damned funny song and I’ll link it under this post.

It was a special time for me and as the years went by, I mourned every one of their passings. As he was the one I was the closest with, I watched the footage of Liam’s funeral and both laughed and cried horribly. Thanks to the internet, I got to see interviews he did, talking about his friendship with Bob Dylan. Then watched a Dylan interview with his side of things. They all lived incredible lives and I was more than honored to have worked and played with them. Even if it was only four or five nights out of my lifetime, they are nights I will never forget.

Speaking of never forgetting…while the Clancy’s were fun and more lighthearted, another Irish band I worked with and who’s name I’ll keep hidden for now, were more political and let’s just say, ‘spirited.’ I had a great time with them as well.

The first time I met them, they were having a fist fight amongst themselves near our dressing rooms. Apparently the argument they were having in the car spilled over and they decided to fight it out more physically when they arrived. I don’t know what I was thinking, but I got between them and thankfully they stopped the punches. I guess having a rather small female suddenly jump between three burly guys was enough to stop it. We laughed and then we had to stop some bleeding before they went onstage. Throughout the show, all you could hear in our headsets was stuff like, “um, we need more napkins for their heads” or “do we have any bandages around? The blood is still dripping.”

After the show, you’d never know anything had happened and they invited me out drinking with them at a local pub. I spent a good portion of that night hearing stories and shooting darts with them and of course the best question of the night, “what the f**k were you thinking jumping between us like that?” To this day, I don’t know how I did it, just that I did it. (After many many shots, the rest of that night is a blur.) It is still a hilarious memory that comes around this time of year, every year and I have to say, fighting or not, they put on a hell of a show. It was a fun and crazy night and I still thank them for the invite afterwards.

As I got older and found the group of friends I’ve had for the last twenty years (holy crap twenty!) we would have our ‘second Christmas’ on our city’s parade day. Parade Day here in town is a sacred one for many of us. We’d start early, pregaming before the parade even began with pints and yards of green beer and shots of Jameson flowing morning til close. Most days we’d stay at one spot but there were the occasional PD’s where we’d hop back and forth to our favorite spots on the street to make sure we saw everyone. From our local Hibernian’s club to three pubs that we frequented, we were never having a bad time.

We’d be treated to music all day from the bagpiper’s from local firehouses going from bar to bar to play inside for those in attendance to the music from whoever was performing on stage. I always call Parade Days ‘homecoming’ because some friends who had moved away would come back to town for the day’s events. Basically, they were awesome times spent with awesome people.

They still go on of course, unfortunately I had to miss this year’s because of health reasons. However thanks to social media, I was able to live vicariously through pics and stories. I miss the old days though. So much crazy fun and laughter that would make your stomach hurt for days afterwards. I miss those times. But that’s why we have memories, right?

Being at home these days, I still celebrate a bit. I do an annual Father Ted marathon…and if you don’t know what that is, Father Ted is a classic and totally irreverent Irish comedy show that ran in the 90’s and never gets old. (It’s on the free Tubi app btw.) I wear green, either my Irish shirt or one of my St. Patrick’s Yankees shirts, I listen to the Clancy’s and have a drink or two to celebrate the day. While it may not sound as exciting as the past days have been, (and it’s not), I still honor the day with great love and lots of laughs thinking of past celebrations. There were a whole lot of good times revolving around this day in my life and I am grateful for every damned one of them.

And that is where I will leave you for today. I know this wasn’t a ‘normal’ post for me, but that’s good! I need to get away from my usual stuff now and then. I just hope you enjoyed this post. I’ll put some links below to a few things I mentioned in this post for you to enjoy. 🙂

Until next time folks…Sláinte!

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These Clancy links are from around the time I knew the boys. 

To hear Sister Josephine, click: HERE

To hear Wild Rover (intro by Liam) click: HERE

For this concert in its entirety, click: HERE

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For the first episode of Father Ted, click: HERE

(Please note, if you get offended easily, this show is not for you. It’s a comedy about priests who do not act like priests and it just gets shamelessly silly. You have been warned.)

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If you’ve made it this far, I thank you and will see you soon!