I might add that there will be opening sets tonight from Rachel McCarron, Joe Boe and Nicky Snell. A fine night is more or less guaranteed assuming The Narrator doesn't get sea-sick...

Meanwhile, here's the words to Riverdance, originally penned by Mr Ron Baxter to the tune of Paddy McGinty's Goat but subsequently modified by Mr Insane Beard to the tune of The Limerick Rake...

Oh, come all you good people - and hark unto me
and I'll tell you a tale of a ship on the sea;
a ship on the sea that from Erin did come
- and Riverdance they were her a callin'.
She was taking containers to Heysham's fair port
when by a great wave she was heftily caught
they first heard a crash and the cargo did shift
- and Riverdance, she was a listing

The ship's Master he said - Feck, we're in a mess
I think now is a good time to dial SOS;
and he asked for a lifeboat, and if you don't mind,
- a helicopter too would do nicely.
So the coastguard sent out their best boat from the shore,
and to keep it good company, sent out one more
and they raced though the waves though the wind blew force nine
- or force ten if you want to be picky

So the helicopters came from as far as Dublin
and they dropped off their strops and the rescue began
They flew them to land and the crew paid no fair
- Ryanair it could hardly be cheaper!
But the poor Riverdance by the force of the sea
was soon listing to starboard by sixty degrees;
and by the gales she was blown on Anchorsholme sands
- it may be that they never will shift her.

And the people they came from near and from far
to gaze at the marvellous sight on the shore;
and the gulls feasted well at the cargo she dropped
- of McVities Chocolate Digestives.
And in Cleveleys the takings were up they did say
one hundred percent on the same time last year;
and the local fish restauranteers still pray
that it won't so long til the next one!

Though this song is light hearted - give hearty good cheer
for those in the storm - the worst seen in years;
let's raise up a glass for the men and their boats,
- though in truth it seems one was a woman.
And let's shout out a toast for those airmen so brave
who flew through the storm to pluck them from the waves
They're all of them heroes, for risking their lives
- so disaster, in truth, was averted.

For more on the Riverdance saga, see Here