LAST Saturday 25, the tenth annual Robbie Burns Night took place in the aptly named surroundings of Bobby Byrne’s Bar on O’Connell Avenue as fans and enthusiasts of the legendary Scottish poet and lyricist gathered to play tribute with a special night of celebration.
Robbie Burns enthusiasts and event organisers, Noel Flannery and Michael Potter who acted as MC and was dressed in full Scottish attire, welcomed guests with a night of music, poetry, story telling and haggis!
The evening began with a special address to the haggis, a nod to the poem Burns wrote to celebrate his appreciation of the Haggis – a tradition that is carried out at the beginning of many Burns suppers throughout the world. Robert Byrne of Bobby Byrne’s carried the haggis in on a silver salver with piper Michael Egan performing a rousing accompaniment on the bag pipes. Noel Flannery then recited the poem before the ceremonial cutting of the haggis.
Michael then explained that the meat for the haggis had been supplied by prestigious butcher Pat O’Doherty’s in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh. This is the butcher who supplied meat to the G8 summit that took place in Northern Ireland last year; he has a contract with Harrods of London and has supplied meat to Buckingham Palace.
Entertainment on the night was in plentiful supply with Mharhi Bhaird who, like the famous poet, hails from Ayrshire in Scotland. She performed Robert Burns’ poem ‘Tam o’Shanter’ in Scots dialect and she finished off with a rendition of Burn’s ‘Auld Lang Syne’.
Mary Donoghue and her daughters Katie and Laura – cousins of Michael Potter – and friends from Killaloe performed some fantastic traditional music on the fiddle and violin. Pat O’Neill, Dave Gaynor and friends from Caherconlish also performed trade music while Derek Patterson sang a few Scotch songs such as ‘Peggy Gordon’.
Paul Russell, Michael Donnellan, Jodie Power and Bridget Gleeson all sang on the night and City historian Dr Matthew Potter entertained everyone with a pithy outline of royal lineage by way of a series of King James’s.
Mayor Kathleen Leddin attended and said a few words as did David Shines who spoke about the history behind Robbie Burns.
Other highlights included plenty of refreshments keeping with the theme of the night, including sandwiches, shortbread, neaps and tatties and Scotch whiskey. It made for a superb night of celebration for the special tenth anniversary.
