Balancing work and play can be a challenge, especially when, like me, you take the two so very seriously. A few years ago I started attending "pub night" at the Irish Heritage Center of Cincinnati, irishcenterofcincinnati.com a sort of open-mic event hosted by the gifted Mick McEvilley. I was surprised to find the number of performers, traditional and otherwise, donating their talents to the event. It was great to have a context for meeting musicians both local and national, like singer, bodhranist, dancer and Sligo native, Mai Hernon. You can catch her on Youtube and elsewhere. She and Mick were always very welcoming and supportive.
As time went on, though, my day job (or night job as the case was) placed new demands on me and my pub night attendance was placed upon the sacrificial altar. Fortunately for me, this too, took a turn a few months ago and I found myself wanting to return to my old haunt. But everything changes and, although pub night is now a much more attended event, some of my friends have moved on and even passed on.
Last night saw the return of Mick, Mai and myself as well as some new people attending the event for the first time. If you haven't been to pub night at the Irish Heritage Center of Cincinnati then maybe you should stop by.
