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05 Mar 06 - 12:00 PM (#1685651) Subject: New French Quarter Irish-Pub Venue From: PoppaGator As some of you may already know, O'Flaherty's Irish Channel Pub on Toulouse Street in New Orleans has not reopened since Hurricane Katrina. This was the city's most prominent (if not its only) venue for strictly-traditional Celtic music, regularly featuring local and touring acts, often two-at-a-time in separate rooms on either side of a central courtyard. Just last week, I spotted a familiar row of Celtic-nations flags above a doorway on St. Louis St. between Bourbon and Royal, and heard the sounds of recorded squeezebox and pennywhistle coming out the door. The sign above the door read "Sean Kelly's Pub," and photos in the window identified The Maloneys and Beth Patterson as featured entertainers. I briefly stuck my head in the door and asked how long they'd been open, and was told "just two weeks." In other words, they got up and running just in time for Mardi Gras. The (spacious) interior looked pretty nice, with lots of natural-finish woodwork ~ too shiny and new to feel truly authentic, but a nice try that could eventually mellow into a comfortable environment. I have no idea whether or not there is a real person named "Sean Kelly," and don't know whether the place will turn out to be an obnoxious "theme" pub or a favorite hangout. It was daytime when I found it, and I didn't even check the price list, let alone stop for a pint. The place may be too close to the tourist-trasp environs of Bourbon Street to ever be as homey as O'Flaherty's was; time will tell. For now, the only thing we do know is that the place is offering employment to at least two excellent trad-style acts. If anyone knows about Danny O'Flaherty's situation, let us know. I know only that he's alive and well and occasionally appearing in New Orleans (at venues other than his own former business), but don't know where he has relocated, whether he'll ever reopen on Touloues Street, etc. |
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05 Mar 06 - 09:47 PM (#1686089) Subject: RE: New French Quarter Irish-Pub Venue From: JedMarum Tom - got yer email and PM. Thanks for starting this thread. O'Flaherty's, New Orleans and Danny himself were well represented this weekend at the North Texas Irish Festival (from whcih I have just returned). Danny called it quits and have moved to Texas. I have been n touch with him and will be doing some work with him in the near future, certainly for the Celtic Nations Heritage Festival, and with a bit of luck, perhaps some other events. I hope to be at Sean Kelly's sometime soon - so next time you stick your head in, please tell they NEED me there! I've been in touch with Pat and Rosie, and spent a good bit of time with Beth this weekend. I'm glad you're back in NOLA. I do expect to be back soon, if not at Kelly's, I'll find another place. |
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05 Mar 06 - 09:57 PM (#1686095) Subject: RE: New French Quarter Irish-Pub Venue From: Leadfingers Dont Lose that Confederacy Money Boy - New Orleans will rise again - wether it be Good Jazz or Celtic , or even Mud Catters !! |
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05 Mar 06 - 09:57 PM (#1686096) Subject: RE: New French Quarter Irish-Pub Venue From: GUEST,Mary Katherine Sorry to hear that O'Flaherty's is history. I saw Arhcie Fisher there about five years ago. PoppaGator, do you know what USED to be at the location where the new Sean Kelly's is now? It will help me "place" it. I'll be in New Orleans for my friend Stevenson's memorial at Snug Harbor on March 25, and will try to get by and check out the new place. Thanks! |
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06 Mar 06 - 04:28 AM (#1686252) Subject: RE: New French Quarter Irish-Pub Venue From: Ernest Hello Poppa Gator, sad to read that O`Flaherty`s may be gone for good, it seemed to be a nice place (for my little knowledge of it). I think we have seen the Pattersons briefly last year and they had an advertisement for Mazz O`Flaherty, a really nice singer/songwriteress I met in her native Dingle/Ireland. It is a pity when the good places close (had this here in Berlin too - even without hurricanes). At least there is hope that the new place will attract good musicians like Jed Marum and others. If they don`t have a Sean Kelly their chances are bad: there will be enough Sean Kellys to sue them for unrightful use of their name... ;0) " For there`s Kelly, the barman, Kelly the carman, Kelly the sailor who came from Donegal Kelly from Derry, Kelly from Kerry but the Kelly I was looking for I could not fond at all" Best wishes Ernest |
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06 Mar 06 - 04:34 AM (#1686254) Subject: RE: New French Quarter Irish-Pub Venue From: Gedpipes Best of luck in getting it all back together you guys Blue skies Ged |
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06 Mar 06 - 10:42 AM (#1686413) Subject: RE: New French Quarter Irish-Pub Venue From: Skipjack K8 I had the best night of my musical life, playin' fiddle out of my skin in O'Flaherty's, one hot, hot June night in 2002, sitting in with the house band. I hope it rises again, Poppagator. What a town! |
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06 Mar 06 - 12:18 PM (#1686483) Subject: RE: New French Quarter Irish-Pub Venue From: Effsee ....I have no idea whether or not there is a real person named "Sean Kelly," ....it may be named for the famous racing cyclist who retired just a few years ago. |
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09 Mar 06 - 01:23 PM (#1689370) Subject: RE: New French Quarter Irish-Pub Venue From: PoppaGator I have no idea what used to be in the building recently taken over by Sean Kelly (or is it Kelley?), but it's directly across the street from the very famous Antoine's Restaurant. |