Opinion: You can't beat the blues in Flannery's

On a Monday night, two weeks ago, a rare opportunity presented itself for me to sample the night of blues music in local pub Flannery’s.

As I generally work late on Monday nights, such an option is almost always out of bounds.

And as Flannery’s is right beside the Westmeath Independent offices, those of us working late on Monday nights can sometimes hear the music wafting through the air. It can have a taunting effect.

That Monday, free from the shackles of work, I had the chance to actually enter the premises on Sean Costello Street.

The star of the show was Eamon Hatton. Martin and Gerry (apologies, their surnames escape me) provided suitable accompaniment on banjo and guitar.

I didn’t know many of the songs that were played. My knowledge of blues music would be very limited to say the least. Yet such considerations mattered little.

A marvellous cover of the Neil Young classic 'Old Man’ was just one example of the delights that were played.

If you were for some reason momentarily struck deaf on the night, I reckon you would still have been entertained.

The sight of Eamon, particularly when playing the harmonica, was something to behold. With his long hair flailing behind him and his eyes closed, his hands were moving frenetically.

Eddie Keenan, a man well capable of cooking up a musical storm himself, remarked that Eamon seemed to be almost like a Shaman.

Eamon appeared utterly consumed by the music and he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself. Those listening were certainly sharing in the enjoyment.

On the night, proprietor Ann Flannery handed out a free round of whiskey shots in memory of the recently deceased Noel Sheriff.

I didn’t know Noel personally but the tributes paid to him, since his passing, show he was a very popular figure.

This piece is accompanied (top right) by a wonderful photo of Ann Flannery and her beloved dog Molly inside the pub. It’s worth checking out, as is the blues night on Mondays - if you can make it, that is.