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January 02, 2010 ...... So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell, blue skies from pain.  Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail?  A smile from a veil?  Do you think you can tell?  And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?  Hot ashes for trees?  Hot air for a cool breeze?  Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?  How I wish, how I wish you were here.  We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year, running over the same old ground.   What have you found? The same old fears.  Wish you were here.   (Waters/Gilmour)
And on that sombre note, let me wish you all the compliments of the season, whether it be in Doha or Fota, Ticnoc or Ticknock Way, sweet home Alabama, Perth or, God forbid, Midleton.  As we enter the Bowler's 61st year on the planet, let's hope it's a good un.  At least the gang from NC are due in the summer so we have something to look forward to.  So - how was your New Year?  Jan 10 ....  Cobh comes to a halt as a quarter of an inch of snow brings panic and silly driving to the area !!  Hot toddies for all - yaahay !!!  Jan 12 ....  Well, that didn't last long, did it ??  Lat night everything had frozen over and by this morning fallen trees and floods were the norm !!  Anyone, besides you hurler, have a pic of the sun as I've forgotten what it looks like ... Jan 13 ....  Ah, black ice - where would we be without it?  Can't figure out the weather at the mo.   Many thanks to Mickley Bickley for forwarding a pic of the sun taken at some ungodly hour of the morning in Doha - last time I was up that early I was on the way home from Motty & Olga's !!  Jan 17 ....  Our thoughts are with ya, Motty.  Jan  28 ....  Anyone come across an ol' credit card lately, in a camel coloured jacket ??   Jan  29 ....  Happy Birthday, Dogster.  Feb 02 ....  Well the good news is that Kavs is making a recovery and, if all goes well, he should be back dancing by the weekend.  Take care, Pete.  In the meantime, the other Pete got his coat back!  Mark Feb 19th in your diary as this year's  Lollipop Day fundraiser consists of a Music Quiz run by none other than the best bass guitarist in the Donkey, young Barry O Mahony.  Entry is only a fiver and kicks off at 8 o clock.  All proceeds for the Oesophageal Cancer Fund.  Poster available here.  Feb 16 ....  Kavs is back in full flight again - rumour has it that it would take more than a blocked artery to keep him away from the Lollipop Music Quiz !!!   I hope Barry turns up, cos I've kinda mislaid all his answers - sure we can always make them up, I suppose.   Greetings to young Tom Kuhn - good to hear from ya and, as you can see, we're all doing mighty fine.  The excitement is building up for Friday's quiz - at least 'tis for me anyways - hadn't a mad night out in ages, so beware!  As ye know, all monies raised is for the Oesophageal Cancer Fund and if ye can't make it keep an eye out for Lollipop Day and please contribute then.  Feb 20 ... You'll be glad to hear that the ol' quiz went very well -  an international audience were kept in suspense for the night as a multitude of questions were put to the masses on various musichordiological questions that provided an array of answers that stretched from the factual to the downright fictional.  The quiz questions were put to the amateur and somewhat animated audience who tended to try and boost their scoring by offering sexual favours, alcohol beverages and more sexual favours in that order to reach the exalted throne of Quizwinnership !!  Thankfully, both the quizmaster, and the official scorekeeper, were,  and indeed are, as honest as a Fianna Fail politician, or indeed any Irish feicin politician, so the results were a true and honest reflection of the events that happened on the night - if you leave aside the scoring, like.    Lastly, fair dues to Bucks for flying in 'specially to take in the quiz, flying out first thing in the morning again - nice one, Mick.  At work today, I mentioned the quiz, in jest, to a colleague and, sure enough, he turned up at the event (initially, for 30 minutes, last seen trying to get a taxi back to Aghada at some ungodly hour) thanks to Mel Little and I hope you got to work on time on Saturday morning !!  Mar 18 ... A fairly lengthy session last night - musical, that is!   Near seven hours worth, everything from Pink Floyd to Keith Floyd!  Hail glorious St Patrick.  Pic of the month comes from Alabama - reg plate is from a Honda that Dave has just purchased - seemingly Ticknock wouldn't fit !!!  England's draw with Scotland last weekend provided Sir Norman, Cahilly and the Baker with a few extra bob for the coffers.  Mar 23 (early) ... Can't believe I missed another West Cork Rally - ah, the joys of being in Mayo - makes a change from being across the water !!!  I missed the East Cork Cinema's Club showing tonight -   a bit annoyed over that, I had completely forgotten about it.  Next date is Monday Apr 19th and I'm sure they'd love you to be present at it - once a month at the Community Centre.  And Finnybogs thinks I've forgotten her ..... Mar 24 ... C Horslips for the Marquee - June 26th, yippee. ... Apr 05 .. OK Finnybogs, I'll do it tomorrow!! Apr 14 .. At long last, I've managed to put up some pics from the Lollipop Day Quiz.  Finnybogs, again, expresses her thanks and she has managed to raise about 2000 yoyos for the OCF.   Oh yeah, the pics are here.  Apr 18 .. It's hard to believe that the Dogster's sixth anniversary is today.  They'll be one or two raised in your honour later.  Nothing but fond memories. .. Apr 22 ..  Going back to March, I had left a few people puzzled when I mentioned the Baker winning a few bob on the Eng/Sco match - apologies, I feiced up here -  there was, is and will never be another Baker like the one we knew and he'd never bet on an Irish match, anyway!   However, the SconeMason was the fella who won the few bob with Norm & Cahilly ... Anyway, tunes galore tonight - tunes and songs and dancin' and all that kind of stuff.   Good news from Tir na nOg is that the live album recorded in Sirius is due for release in June.  Look forward to that ....  May 06 ..  A bit more on the Tir na nOg album - seems like it may not be ready for the intended date, looks like the website I found the info on might be a bit 'wishful thinking' where my new information is straight from the horse's mouth, FACT, like.  I'm sworn to secrecy on this, but all is progressing nicely with everyone delighted with the quality - sounds feicin' marvellous, like.  Alabama dave is due soon, with a minder this time to ensure he doesn't stray too far!!  he just missed the 60 year olds birthday on Monday, as did everyone as the sixty year old toddles off to Prague - with the Icelandic ash he might be celebrating his 61st over there too!   Reminder about a few nice gigs coming up in Sirius including Freddie White and Randall 'Big Daddy' Webster in June and the North Carolinars, North Carolinians, North Caroliners, the gang from North Carolina in July.  And there's a super dooper quiz on the 27th May in the Donk, more on that soon and the Donkey Grand Prix in August.  Phew .....  May 14 .. O K - this may be dangerous! - First of all, Gail will be glad to know that Dave is behaving himself and Lichie & myself were minding him tonight!  Alas, we haven't met his minder, yet, but we are led to believe she witnessed the 'Wednesday night session' last night which included a verse or two from the bould Jimmy Crowley himself - now, to the uninitiated that may seem boring, but you haven't met Jimmy !!!  My thanks to Dave who, thro' the guestbook promised me he'd bring a DVD copy of the 25th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert held in 2009 - I thinkk that was the name of it, anyway.  This is where the problem starts - I've put it into the PC and I don't think I'll leave it until it stops - which will be about 6am, anyway - in my wisdom, I've decided to open a bottle of Vina Decana Collapso to help me thro' this - so, I'm at the start - just had a lovely bit of Crosby, Stills & Nash and here's Bonnie Raitt now coming on stage - if I have any sense I'll sign off now ...... 

Ok this might be a very long session - Jackson Browne has since come on and now CS&N are doing harmonies with James Taylor - feic it, have a second glass, biy - OK, Stevie Wonder is on now so, while I think of it, I must get around to asking JC, Jim, Barry & Martin to free a date for Ticksgiving.  A bit early for Ticksgiving, I hear you say, but it turns out that after a successful visit for DD last year, when he joined the NightOwls in a 'Sweet Home Alabama' blast, the Admiral wants to partake in the celebrities this year.  I can only hope hat a suitable date can be found and I'm sure we'll be able to manage it!!  Paul Simon now - some gig, like. Seemingly, a group from Alaska, or was it Alabama, are planning a trip to Ticksgiving this year!  Here Comes the Sun with CS&N and Paul Simon now - jeez, that's some gig, Dave!   May 18 .. Have to stay away from that wine after a night's Guinness!!  Before I go, don't forget the Music Quiz in the Donk on Thurs 27th - book you place now.  Hope ye arrived home safely, Dave.  May 24 .. All set for the sooperdooper Music(ish) Quiz on Thursday night @ 20.30 for 21.00 hours.  This one is a fundraiser for a project Ger Brannigan is going working on in Kenya this October.  All monies raised are going to  Friends of Londiani.  So remember Thursday 27th May, 8.30pm, The Roaring Donkey, €10.00 p.p., 4 per table.  Usual professional manner guaranteed!  May 28 (early) .. Good turnout last night, in all fairness.  13/14 tables I'd say - a huge number for one of my ones!  Anyways, Table no. 2 won it on a tie breaker - the excitement was something else, like!  Scoring and results were available fairly fast - fair dues to Richie & Richie for the excellent service - in all fairness, like - well done everyone, well done.   Was a bit worried at the start of the night as about 95% of the peoples there would be newcomers to 'my type' of quiz!  They were fierce serious for a while, but, I think, they soon realised that this was, probably, the most mega serious quiz they ever entered - 'specially when we started docking points for getting questions right !  For those who couldn't make it ( 'specially those with feeble excuses like "I'm working in Doha at the moment and can't get time off" or "This is really a busy time for us here in Margaret River") I have decided to put the said quiz available here - or, at least, most of it.  Round 10 is corrupted, a bit like meself!  Answers will be available freely, though not before May 30th, 2030.  If you want the answers before that - you can donate a few bob to Ger's site here.  On proof of donation I might send ya the answers - please read the small print for Terms & Conditions.!  May 28 (daylight).. I noticed, in the changeover, that there is a couple of anomalies in the quiz, but feic it shur.  Some of the ceisteanna have merged together, blah, blah, blah ...... June 04, ..  Jeez lads, in all fairness like, there's a fair bit of music to suit all tastes in and about the place at the mo' ... Weds night you had ' Big Daddy' Webster in the Sirius, Jimmy Crowley turnin' up in the Donk,  Dr Dec & the Side Effects in the Rob tonight, The Big band on Sunday in the Pirates, the Allister Bos in concert at the same venue next Friday, classical guitarist Agustin Maruri in concert inn Sirius on Tuesday the 8th, then Freddie on the 10th and Pat & Kay on July 1st.  Horslips on the 26ht, but that's personal!  The Big Band are also playing for the Rushbrooke Rowing Club anniversary, but more about that soon.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHNNY GILLEY - though I may have the date wrong!!  All set for young Lichie's wedding? - mean looking band booked, looking forward to that!!!  Anyways ...... June 10, ..  A reminder that Freddie White is doing a fundraiser tonight in Sirius.   Check out Freddie's band, The Road, here - there's even a free download.  Always a good gig so looking forward to that.  The Davs and Lady Captain have become grandparents to a little girl, Elaina - our congrats to them and to parents Emma & Alfonso.  Entries are coming in thick and fast for the 5th Donkey Grand Prix - this year to be held on Aug 27th.  Don't forget the Pirates gig tomorrow night featuring the 'world renowned' Dirty Secret.  June 13 ..... 15 years gone tomorrow - what a legend ....

June 16 ..... Pic of the month is courtesy of Dave, That's a good one, Dave.  Rehearsals complete and all ready fro Lichie's offspring's wedding tomorrow.  Might be 'out' of the picture for a few days, but what else is new.  Best wishes to Brendan & Tania for a happy & prosperous future and birthday greetings to Tania on Friday which coincides with Sinead ni Dhomhnaill's birthday also.  We won't mention how old Sinead is but she'll be 41 this time next year!  July 03 ..... So we had Lichie jnrs wedding (what a day(s) !!), Tania's birthday, Sinead's birthday, the return and departure of the adder, the disappearance of the sniper rat, the arrival and performances of PeeHead, KayBob & Milan accompanied by Melanie & Mary and God only knows what else since last I was here.  I'll have a batch of new pics to upload soon but in the meantime .......  Milan, Mel & Mary look to be heading off in the Bentley tomorrow for a tour of the Great Island before they head off on Sunday.  We'll have to get a copy of his Spike Island Blues before he heads off on Sunday, and a copy of Saving up for a Cadillac.  A mean guitarist if ever I saw one!!  The seventh pic of 2010 is of the revered and infamous Rochie - Jaaack!!  A Top o' the Hill icon, if ever there was one!  July 06 ..... All good things must pass and the gang from NC have begun to depart - Milan, Melanie & Mary head back today while PeeHead & KayBob are in the Donk for one more night only.  In all fairness some might music was heard over the last few days and we'll be sad to see them go, in all fairness like.  July 14 ... Things are, just about, getting back to some sense of normality.  It was bloody marvellous to have the gang from NC & Nashville over again and a feast of music was the norm during their stay.  Some brilliant sessions and a lovely performance in Sirius, as usual.  There's one or two pics here, if you want a sconce!  July 19 ... RIP, Lil.  July 22 ... I seem to have lost the Links Page, computer gremlins and all that.  Will try to get around fixing that, sometime!  The Donkey GP looks like having a full entry with only 6 places left and a month to go.  July 29 ... Tommy took time away from the swing to take the Volvo out on a Vintage Rally last Sat - a nice steady run thro North Cork with some nice machinery as Model Ts, a 1909 Minerva, a beauty Renault Alpine A110 and other such exotics!!  Even managed to bring a pot back - a good navigator, I'd say!!  Recently missed out on Hally & Joanne's engagement do, and I was missed!!!  Congrats to both - a very patient woman, Joanne is!!  Dirty's Secret return to the Pirates this Sunday night.  This Friday night The Cork Hospital's Children's Club have a BBQ in the Donks.   A tenner donation is requested - bi ann gan teip!  Aug 09 ... The bones of 1200 yoyos were raised by the BBQ - which included an apprentice chef - more on that soon !!!  We've nearly a full entry list for this years Donkey GP on Fri Aug 27th.  The knives are being sharpened, as we speak !!! Aug 17 ... The guestbook has been hit by a virus - a relatively unknown one called 'The Lichie Pony' - seemingly this virus attaches itself to Guestbooks when regular contributors try to surpass themselves by making attempts at posting something that makes sense !!  Stick to the blaas!  On a musical note some fine gigs again coming up in Sirius - North Cregg, Eleanor McEvoy, Sean Tyrell & Kieran Goss all return over the next few months.  Well worth the support.   Aug 18 ... Overheard (and slightly involved in) a conversation tonight about sporting things like Tally going to Villa, the recent medal collection in Barcelona, Rushbrooke Rowing Club's success in the All-Irelands, McIlroy in the PGA when we was met with "Sport psychology is gone beyond the realm" - I mean, in all fairness like, there was at least three words in that sentence that the regular Donc punter would not comprehend.  To make matters worse the landlord and landlady were galavanting in Cape Clear so a translation was unavailable - ffs like!  Lichie, you went home too early, biy!!  Aug 18 ... 5 different winners in 5 years - just proves that the Donkey GP has nothing whatsoever to do with driving!  A delighted Terence Murphy took the honours this year - in his victory speech he recalled how, as a young boy, he dreamed of being on the podium collecting the coveted Donkey GP Trophy.  Eleven seconds behind came Ivan while last years winner Ted Sull pipped Barbara for third by just .37 of a sec.  Sep 12 ... Wanted;  small scaffold or hop-up to ensure gents window can be secured safely and without injury to the landlord.  It's just as well you've two hands, Micka, or you might have to use a straw!  Any truth in the rumour that you were trying to climb back in???  Sep 15 ... Welcome back to 'Alabama' Dave  who has returned to celebrate his birthday.  In honour of this occasion, it has been decided to hold a 'surprise' birthday celebration for him - so, if you're reading this, Dave, act surprised when you walk in the door!!!  In typical Donkey form the party is Friday, even though the birthday is tomorrow.  Bring a guitar on Friday (if you can play one !!) and expect the bizarre !!! Sep 20 ... Well as Alabama Dave heads home we hope he had an enjoyable stay and his conferring was up to standard.  A pic or two has been placed on the 'Pictures' link, so have a sconce and see what you think.  A special thanks to all who made it work including all the musicheads, Bob the Chef, humerus Mick and all the photographers.  Dave also managed to get to Thomond Park for the Munster match so, all in all, it proved to be a very cultural holiday.  See ya for Ticksgiving.  Sep 22 ... CSI Ticknock are continuing investigations into the recent injury to the landlady's current husband.  Details are sketchy, the exact location of the incident is being kept secret, though recent CSI work in the gent loo makes one think that this could be the area where the incident occurred - allegedly.   They are also investigating the immediate aftermath of the incident - despite First Responders, EMTs, doctors and Health & Safety type persons making up some of the clientele none of these were sought for assistance and the injured party 'kept it in the family' with little information being relayed.  It is good to see a recovery, albeit a slow and painful one, taking place and a brief appearance at the University on Saturday relayed fears that he was confined to quarters watching re-runs of Tolka Row and The Riordans.  Oct 04 ... Now with most of Ireland on Google Maps, good ol' hurler will be able to walk around Top o' the Hill again!  Good gig next Thursday in Sirius with North Cregg.  Look forward to that.  And I see a poster in the Donks for Tom Murray in Sirius soon - must have a look at that again as there's nothing on the Sirius website about.  And Mick Regan is back for a gig in December. Oct 29 ... Jeez - it's becoming like a monthly update now. ..... Anyways - Wild Voices at Sirius last weekend was a good un - good ol' Tomás Murray brought a bunch of his buddies from Germany to provide an excellent night of acapella music ranging from  Green Day to Billy Joel and even a version of 'Parting Glass' and 'Whiskey in the Jar' - it really was a pleasure to be there with further music on the night provided by the hotel choir and Oileán, (de hurler is wondering who the hell Oileán are but, suffice to say, that Jack & Jenny's daughters are following in their parent's footsteps!).  Wild Voices have a website here - so you can check them out!  Of course, not content with their fine gig in Sirius they also had to wonder further afield and guess where they ended up?   (NOTE TO HUDSON - ERIC BIBB).  Anyways carrying on the tradition of supporting local musicians Mick Regan returns to Sirius on Dec 3rd (a Friday !!!!) - mark it down, like!  A reminder for TICKSGIVING which happens on Dec 10th - usual admission, your help!   Hadn't the pleasure of MickleyBickley's company for a drink or ten when he was home but I'm sure we'll make up for it  - met him in a sober situation but it wasn't the same!  And, before I go, Daragh McGann plays a gig in Sirius tonight - among his repertoire are a couple of songs written by Chet Atkins, Josh Groban and a couple from NightOwls guitarist John Crone.  Nov 03 ... . It has been confirmed, not though we already knew, that Neil Prendeville is a wanker.  Dec 04 ... . The updates are a bloody disgrace on this page - who's responsible for this debacle??  Is there any accountability?  Heads must roll, we won't take this anymore!!!  Fire the webmaster, I say - give him a gold watch and send him on his merry way!   Anyways,  Mick Regan's gig in Sirius last night was cancelled as he was snowbound in ukland and couldn't travel - the gig is reset for Friday, Jan 21st.  Another gig in Sirius worth a look should be Amy Frahill's set on Thursday 16th, look forward to that one also.  However the most important gig of the year takes place next Friday the 10th - Ticksgiving 2010 returns for the umpteenth year with monies raised going to Enable Ireland, a charity which provides  free services to children & adults with disabilities.  A wrapped Christmas gift for boy or girl is the usual entry fee.  Music, as always, is supplied by the recently formed Nightowls - in all fairness to John, Jim, Barry & Martin (and guests) they've always managed to get the house a rockin'.  Prof. Daithi O Daglaoich has already arrived for the event and, after his impromptu rendering of 'Sweet Home Alabama' in 2009 rumour has it that he has actually learnt the words for it this year!   Informed sources also state that Lichie has new aftershave for the night !! Dec 16 ... . Ticksgiving 2010 managed the impressive sum of 1500 yoyos which will benefit Enable Ireland this year.  Take a bow, ladies and gentlemen - again managing to surpass yourselves.  A special thanks to the Three Wise Men who travelled from afar to be present on the night.  I know one of ye returned home to Alabama safe & sound and hope the other two reached home in a sober state!!  One hundred bags of kids toys were also collected and these have been passed on for distribution by the bearded one!   Well done to one and all and thanks to the NightOwls for, once again, reforming and allowing Barry's world debut of him playing lead on Apache - I heard Hank Marvin is trembling in his boots!!!  Best wishes to Jim and we hope the pain is subsiding a wee bit and you'll be back to full health soon.  Lichie has promised me pics of this year's event ...... and of last year's event which he realised were still on the camera!  Dec 21 ... .Not easy for those trying to get home at the mo' and a lot of people stuck throughout Europe hoping to catch a flight home - here's hoping you all make it.  One person who did was Mickley Bickley - he'd have been in some trouble if he didn't and I'm sure Joanne wouldn't have been too happy if he missed her wedding next Monday!!  As can be seen form the thirteenth pic this year the snow reappeared in the bar in the form of a broken winged pigeon with a 'sling' (subtle use of the imagination may be needed!!). Dec 26 ... . Hope the festivities were good to ye all and the day was spent in good company.  It was strange to look out the window this morning and see black tar and green grass again - I thought the white stuff and the ice was here for good!  Not a full thaw yet but we're getting there and it's just in time for Joanne & Gordon's wedding tomorrow - let the celebrations continue !!!!