HARRY BRADLEY & LEONARD BARRY TAKE THE KINGDOM OF MOYLURG

Kerry County refers to itself as 'The Kingdom', We in Eastersnow have no such delusions of grandeur but when the blood is up.....

Many thanks to Matthew Gammon for taking some photos.

Our lovely pal Harry Bradley used to live up the road from us here but like all true minstrels, 'tis hard to keep them to ourselves and since he was awarded The Gradam in 2014 he's been hard to track down.

In the meantime, one lovely night in The Dock in Carrick-on-Shannon after a performance of  'The Pipes, The Pipes' we were introduced to Leonard Barry an 'outrageous' Piper from Kerry.

There are few people who appeal to both My Reason For Living and myself simultaneously but Mr Barry was unique in that regard.  His interest and knowledge of Gaelic football almost led to a domestic as we vied for his attention and when he spoke fondly of "Our" Harry he was 'made up' in our eyes.

After a memorable night of tunes in Cryan's with Tommie Guihan, Mick Mulvey and Leonard, Mick enquired if we were having another house concert soon and I invited Mick to organise one himself and asked Leonard if he'd be up for giving one a go.

Leonard Barry
Picture by Matthew Gammon

And so, the weekend after Roscommon GAA unbelievably won a senior league match in Kerry, against Kerry; Leonard arrived with "Our"Harry to Knockroe and thus began an intense and compelling night of music.

Leonard's 'outrageous' piping and Harry 'The Compressor' Bradley took no prisoners.  Rhythmic, pronounced and filled with the fine lace detail of ornamentation the two players were perfectly matched.

Some of the company who were sitting around the wall in the kitchen had various ailments; bad backs, injured feet and walking aids were strewn in the hallway and at one stage they were so intent on the music that they looked for all the world like a pew of penitents in a prayer circle and were just short of holding hands and roaring Hallelujah!


A slow air by Leonard silenced the house and as the last note hung in the air there was a lot of clearing of throats and blowing of noses.

Harry Bradley
Picture by Matthew Gammon

A short reprise and then off in a gallop with some exuberant reels. It's difficult to connect the words exuberant and control in the same sentance but musically that's what I could hear as  I foosthered in the kitchen; Leonard mentioned Kerry and in a fit of what I can only describe as euphoria I shouted 'Up Roscommon!' to the amusement of our guests and the loudest guffaw of laughter from My Reason For Living who knows that I have always supported my County of birth,  Dublin, for football and Rugby.

Harry gave us a solo run and I watched Tommy Guihan feel every note, breath and octave as the music cascaded over us all and I thought to myself that somehow our former Kindom of Moylurg had retained some of its glory with the visitation of the men of Ulster & Munster.

To complete the evening, we rambled to the last bastion of social civility in our parish; Dickie Beirne's Emporium at Eastersnow.

Picture by Matthew Gammon

More tunes intersperced with creamy pints, sandwiches and the perfect encore of Eastersnow was requested by The Lady of The House.

As we meandered over the top road home by the lake I was filled with contentment and murmered 'Up The Kingdom' into the starry sky and welcomed the thought of my warm bed.