Farewell To Hughes's

Subject: Farewell To Hughes's 
From: Rain Dog
Date: 18 Mar 25 - 08:55 AM

Shown last night in the UK on Sky Arts TV. I don't know if they have a catch up option to watch again.

They billed it as Brendan Gleeson's Farewell To Hughes's.

Some info and clips available on the following RTE link

Farewell To Hughes's: Brendan Gleeson's ode to a Dublin music pub

"An unassuming pub on a side street behind the Four Courts in Dublin City Centre was a mecca of traditional Irish music for musicians, dancers, singers and listeners for over 35 years.

In 2021, Hughes's pub closed its doors for the last time.

In January 2022, actor, talented fiddle player, and Hughes regular Brendan Gleeson met musicians, dancers and singers in and around the pub as they gather one last time to recreate the magic of Hughes’s and to commemorate its invaluable legacy.

Produced by the Irish Traditional Music Archive and Keynote Productions, Farewell To Hughes's features contributions from the Brooks Academy Set Dancers, musicians from the Fanny Power Sessions, the Sunday Night Sessions and others."

Subject: RE: Farewell To Hughes's 
From: GUEST,Steve Shaw
Date: 18 Mar 25 - 01:48 PM

In 2006 I actually got to play (very quietly!) a few tunes in Hughes's. I did stay on the periphery as the session was about the "purest" it could have been: no strummers, no bodhrans, just melodies on flutes, fiddles and pipes played by a bunch of guys who had nothing to prove and no big egos. I know that the piper was Gabriel McKeon. Dunno who the others were. I remember thinking that I would be lucky to see playing of their quality ever again.

I haven't been to Ireland since then. I did have a play (a bit more that time) at the Cobblestone too. I hope that's still thriving after it was threatened with redevelopment a few years ago. We met a lovely lady there called Marion McEvoy who invited me to her session the following evening and I had a great time there. Can't remember the name of that pub but it was up the road then round the corner from the Auld Triangle.

We were in Dublin for just four days but we packed a lot in. We also went to the Abbey Tavern in Howth but there was nowt going on there on that occasion!

Bad weather but happy days!