David Keenan's Tour Diary Part 4: Salty Dog, Drogheda

I’ll stand on a fruit box in the middle of the town and call for the end of this so called Dundalk/Drogheda feudal War, an end to the jibes to the jokes, the taunts and the septic bad blood, solidarity is what we need across county Louth for this is exactly what was felt in the body of the Salty Dog Pub last night, a true sense of solidarity.

I am humbled by the pure understanding present in the rooms which I’ve frequented thus far on this tour, like minded souls are stepping out of the shadows and lending their presences to each place, rallying under the one banner, willing each other forward, laughing, nodding in recognition whilst singing in unison with emotional and passionate conversations being held after the flood.
Last night was immense, warm bodies huddled together.
I could see the whites of their eyes.

Young Harry Fennell opened up proceedings, a seventeen year old kid from Dublin who crossed my path late last year.
I was struck by his presence and blossoming ability, he has a true appreciation for the graft, for the craft and has all the eagerness to learn and grow in the universe.
He reverberated through the room, sounding colossal through the five monitors that rest on the stage.
The Salty Dog can boast a fine PA system and a sound head manning the ship in Niall.
My fellow Dundalk China David Bellew stood at the mast next, a musical magpie who proceeded to melt faces with his hyperactive guitar style and vocal wail.
A man on the cusp of releasing some music out into the ether, a man with a vocation, a lovable rogue who wouldn’t do what he was told !

I busied myself during moments in between playing games of chess in a disused section of the old bar, during which I was joined by a strange apparition who after beating me for the third consecutive game in a row then succeeded in selling me a walking stick with apparent mystical qualities.
See said stick above in the photograph captured by Gerry Kane !
The ghostly form quickly evaporated when I demanded he honour the laws of the round and make his call, I’ll get him in the long grass.

I thank every beautiful being present last night!
Special thanks to Zen master Harry Hoban for distributing good vibes.

Long story short, I enjoyed every moment.
Truth be told I’ve never felt more alive but I mustn’t ponder just now, onwards to Cork !
I’ll sleep when I’m dead.

David X