Contact info: 708-334-3340
or email jktm444@yahoo.com
NEWS
After taking several months off I'll be playing again soon. I'm finally getting the itch to play some gigs. I'll be listing them on the "Calendar" page as soon they are confirmed.
Since I've last updated this sight there has been no shortage of bad news in the Irish music community. My sincere condolences to the friends and family of Mike Murphy on his tragic death several months ago. Mike was a talented multi-instumentalist for The Larkin and Moran Brothers.
Terry Horan is battling health problems and I wish him well. Terry was a member of the Irish Minstrels for many years. I did a gig with Terry at Quigley's South a couple of years back and got to hear some great war stories from his days with the Minstrels. For years they played six nights week down at the Emerlad Isle pub. I wish him all the best.
A friend called me recently and was thinking about trying his hand at playing a few gigs. I realized how lucky I was when I started gigging fifteen or so years ago. There was no shortage of places that would give you a chance to play. Very few of them have survived. I played The Forge for all the years Mary and Eileen Lacy owned it. My favorite gig every year was their "Irish New Year's Eve" party. The music started around 5:00pm as everyone gathered to ring in the New Year at 6:00pm our time which, of course, was midnight in Ireland. The dancing soon commenced and a great night was always in store. There are many pubs that have copied that idea, but I believe Mary and Eileen were the first. Another regular stop was Ruth Sheehan's Limerick Pub on Olde Western Avenue in Blue Island. Around that time the Kerry Piper opened in Willowbrook. Mike O'Shea was one of the owner's and booked all the music. It was great while it lasted. Where else could you play a gig on a Tuesday and have a good crowd? No television, no jukebox, and live Irish music five nights a week. It was too good to be true - and while it's still there - the original concept has been thrown in the trash heep. Through a series of disagreements Mike left and now The Kerry Piper is just another psuedo Irish/Sports bar. There's a jukebox on the stage and most of the music booked is not Irish.
See you soon...
OPENING SOON....
CHICAGO'S PREMIER IRISH PUB....
THE TWISTED SHAMROCK
65th & Central
Chicago
