Dear Cloverians, We have missed you! In getting ready for the trip in June 2025, we are all reading great works of Irish literature. We’ve been asked for reading recommendations. So, are there some great places to start? Does a bear wear a pointy hat? Does the pope poop in the woods? Wilde, Oscar Reading … Continue reading Irish Poets, Playwrights, And Authors Are Wild(e)!
The Kids Are Alright
Having spent a weekend in Ocala and Gainesville, I'm here to tell you that the kids are alright. The Alleged Band featuring John's daughter, Cec, as lead singer. I mean that in a general sense. Young musicians are working hard and they are really talented. Everything's fine, and I'm really not worried about them. Friday evening In Ocala, we played … Continue reading The Kids Are Alright
So Many Names, One Great Song
This is a story about different names. One time at band camp… No, jig school... It was early in our Irish music education when we learned that jigs, reels and other tunes have different names, meanings and lyrics in different parts of Ireland. This phenomenon doesn’t even happen county to county; tunes subtly change from … Continue reading So Many Names, One Great Song
2022, The Squelchiest, Dewiest, Falstaffian Of Years
It's the end of another fantastic year, so it seems like a perfect time to take a closer look at what made it so much fun. Since we can be a little nerdy, we're taking a different approach to this year's list: rather than using superlatives and terms like 'best' or 'greatest,' we've chosen more descriptive terms, for the … Continue reading 2022, The Squelchiest, Dewiest, Falstaffian Of Years
Scotland, By The Bullets
Scotland was an incredible experience. Here's the lowdown: It wasn't exactly what any of us expected, but then, travel rarely ever is. John spent five days of the excursion, ahem, away. Rumors mentioned a paddywagon and some angry men in orange vests. We all made some great friendships. Our travelers were as cool as we knew they … Continue reading Scotland, By The Bullets