There’s an old Irish quote that says "For of saint charity, come dance with me in Ireland." And there’s a touch of Dublin swaying away at the end of a photo-lined hotel corridor called the Dubh Linn Gate that lets you go Irish every day of the week.
With alternating house bands like Leanne and Kyla, and visitors Murphy’s Lagh and this week’s band the Ecclestons from Vancouver, Celtic favourites and originals are on tap every day of the week.
Murphy’s Lagh, led by Belfast-born Damien Brennan, includes Doug Riecken on banjo, guitar and mandolin, and Chris O"Brien on fiddle. They play originals like Donegal Danny, Mary Mack, and Farewell to Nova Scotia, appropriate to the Maritime tradition of Celtic music at the pub. However, Riecken draws on hometown roots in Saskatchewan. He was born into an Irish community that inspired the song Roddy MacNeil, recorded live at the Foggy Dew in 1999.
Leanne and Kyla have continue their long standing act that features guitar and vocals from Leanne, and fiddle playing from Kyla. The emphasis is on the sound and notes of individual instruments and telling stories of Irish lore and tradition. The duo also perform originals from their CD Full Tilt, recorded locally at One Drop Studios in Black Tusk.
This week the Ecclestons and the Rob Thompson Duo entertain at the Gate, continuing the tradition of daily live Irish ditties.
