Keith Roberts

Vocals - Acoustic Guitar

Stuff | Road Stories | Photos

This years Ireland tour (2011)

Lets all take a deep breath

Jan 19th, 2011

So 2011 was starting off quite nicely for us this year. Bookings are flying in, tours are filling up and new song ideas are sprouting out of me again. My son is turning eight in a few days and I also have a birthday although no reason to dwell on a specific number. Needless to say its a bit more then eight and considerably less then fifty. Anyway, I was feeling pretty good about the world when, as usual, sh*t hit the fan.

It always seems to happen right around the New Year. The worst of course was the Sunami when a tragedy occurred of such magnitude that it almost seemed unbelievable. Then we had Haiti and a similar catastrophic event too huge to fathom. The event this year (at least up until now) was a lot smaller in size but just as tragic for those involved. As you all know last week a crazed gunman shot and killed six people and critically wounded Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Now as the dust has settled it seems that he acted alone and was not influenced (at least not directly) by any of the nastiness that has swallowed up the Political agenda these past few months if not years. However it certainly sparked the debate and finally got people really looking at how they treat each other based on their Political beliefs.

It's a terrible new trend in this country and one that I witnessed first hand during Gorges W Bush's second election victory. Now let me remind you all that I am an Irish Citizen and so I can't even vote in this country. This is just a commentary on what I have seen and heard over the past few years and why I find it troubling. I made a critical mistake over that time period and I have regretted it ever since. Passions were running high during that election and I unfortunately got caught up in the moment and made a stupid statement from the stage about how much I didn't want President Bush to get re elected. Right after I said it about 1500 people stood up and left the outdoor show in CA leaving about another 1500 cheering me on. I split our fan base right down the middle. After the show an angry audience member actually came at me at the merch booth and had to be restrained. Wow, I was shocked. Could one simple statement create that much animosity? Yes it could.

Now don't get me wrong. I am not sorry that I exercised free speech. What I am sorry about is that I was insensitive to the fans of our band that were supporters of the President and it was the absolute wrong place to voice my opinion. Things had become so polarized that it seemed like I was staging a full frontal attack on people I had no quarrel with and who had shown great support for our band. It was simply inappropriate due to the times we were living. And thats the saddest point of all. I have a degree in Political Science from University College Dublin and I LOVE political debate. However thats what it is to me, debate. It was always fun to have a good old argument with someone who's political beliefs are not yours but when its over, no matter how heated it gets, you're still friends, acquaintances, co workers, family members and you get back to being that. What happened to civility and "live and let live". Why can't we agree to disagree. I get email from fans around the US who often disagree with my politics and we have enjoyed years of back and forth debate without ever losing our friendship. Of all those people who walked out of that show I bet most share many beliefs with me, but not liking their President and verbalizing it was a reason to disown me and the band and to never come back (we have never been invited back to play that event despite three years of packing them in before this slip up).

I can honestly say I love this country and have nothing but gratitude for what I have been able to accomplish over here. And so it pains me to see you at each others throats over politics. Lets get back to making good arguments for what we believe should be happening and winning that way. Have a better idea and solution to a problem instead of just slamming the others guys views. Personal attacks and refusing to hear another side to the story is not the way to move forward and may actually move society dangerously backwards.

Thats all I wanted to say. May Republicans, Democrats or whomever continue to argue for the good of the country and to fight (verbally !) for what they believe in but at the end of the day come and jump around at a Young Dubs gig together and have a pint. Its a lot healthier. The Paddy will now shut up :)

Happy to be here

Nov 28th 2010

I've been planning on writing so called "blogs" for years but am only getting around to it now. Not sure what made me suddenly want to do it but I think maybe the beginning of the festive season made me want to interact with my fellow man and do a little "sharing" as the over the top, feely touchy people say!

Anyway, the point is I have a lot to say just about everything and as those who know me will tell you, yapping is what I do. So I am now going to yap via the internet whether ya like it or not.

In this "blog" I am going to tell you about the weird stuff that happened while we were making Saints and Sinners. Over the last couple of years I have had a few mishaps during the making of albums but this was the big one. This one actually almost put a stop to me altogether.

We had just started the process of writing the album when my first problem arrived. My Mum was on holiday in LA (where I used to live) and we had just finished a great family dinner out on the back patio. Everyone was leaving and I was in the process of turning everything off outside when my Mum started to head inside. There were three steps that led up into the house and she was just getting to the top one when I saw her start to fall backwards. It all happened so fast as I realized that if she fell backwards down the stairs it would be very, very bad. I ran over to catch her and failed miserably. Instead I fell down on the ground underneath her and at least managed to give her a nice soft landing, Not so for me. I twisted my knee and ended up with a broken kneecap, torn ACL and multiple ripped ligaments. Disaster. My poor Mum was so upset that she had hurt me. I ended up on crutches for the next two months and had to hop into rehearsals for the rest of the writing sessions. Pretty funny when I think back on it but not so at the time I can tell you.

The weird thing was that I was given so many vicodins to help with the pain that I can't really remember writing half of the lyrics. During an interview following the release of the album I was asked where I was when I wrote the words to IN THE END. Although I completely recall why I wrote it and what I was trying to say I can't actually remember doing it. Thank you Vykees.

So that was the first thing I dealt with during the process of making the album. The second thing was far more important and a lot scarier. I have never spoken of this publicly as I didn't want it to be seen as some sort of "publicity stunt" when the album came out but now I think it might be important to talk about it in the hope that others will gain some sort of encouragement from my story.

For about a year before the album began I had noticed a new mole on my arm. I have many so I wasn't at all concerned but it was in a place on my arm that meant I saw it in every picture of me singing. Now we get a lot of pictures of us playing from folks around the world and one in particular from a Norwegian fan made me take a second look. I was holding the microphone and you could clearly see this mole. And it looked like it was getting bigger. Now I was freaking out a bit so I decided it was time to have a Doc take a look.

Off I went to see my GP. Like most men, I hate going to the doctor but I was fairly sure it would be nothing and he would send me packing forthwith so I wasn't too worried. He looked at it, measured it and told me it was probably nothing to worry about. He did however suggest that I go to a dermatologist 'just in case'. I tried to make an appointment with them but another six months went by before I actually got to see them.

That's when my world changed quite a bit. The minute he saw it he knew it was a melanoma. However he would have to cut it off and send it for tests before he would know just how serious it was. Turns out it was pretty serious. I got the call on Christmas eve. It was a late stage melanoma and I would have to have surgery. They would have to take a chunk off my arm and remove eight lymph nodes as well to make sure it hadn't spread. I was definitely shocked and freaked out that Christmas day. I hugged my little boy more then usual which drove him nuts I'm sure. On top of that the vicodins were starting to make me a little loopy and over emotional about every little thing. AND I was trying to make an Album!

I know the band was freaked out to. We had just started recording the album and everyone was obviously wishing me well but also wondering what the future held for all of us. If there was even going to be a future. That's how bad it was. I felt awful for putting everyone through that.

Throughout it all we kept recording and even did a few gigs. No one knew what was going on outside the inner circle and most presumed that the torn ACL was the only issue I was dealing with. I liked it like that. I really didnŐt want what I was going through to be the focus of attention.

Anyway, a month later I had the operation and it turned out that we had caught it in the nick of time. It had not spread and all was left with was a big scar on my arm. It was actually supposed to be a far worse looking cut but the surgeon was brilliant and now it looks ok. I sometimes wonder how many of you have noticed it and thought it was an old drinking injury. Come on, admit it! Now I must endure a quite embarrassing full body screening every six months but it could have been so much worse. My doctor is my hero and the visits have become routine. It remains the biggest scare I have ever had and a huge eye opener.

So why tell this story now? A while ago I met a lovely couple in Denver. They had written to me telling me of her skin cancer battle. I was surprised as they had no way of knowing it had happened to me too. When I got the email I immediately wrote back and told her of my experience. I then met them both at the next Denver gig and we took pictures and compared scars. It was a great night

A few months later she passed away. I was devastated when I heard the news. I was heart broken for her husband and family. She was a lovely woman and I'm so glad I met her. I have seen her husband once since it happened. He told me it had helped her to talk to someone else going through the same thing but that in her case they had just caught it too late. My thoughts are always with him and his family and I send them my love and best wishes.

Please don't wait if you have any questions about marks on your skin. It can be such an easy thing to deal with when caught in time. Pick up the phone and make that appointment with your dermatologist. If anyone is going through this and needs some advice or info or anything at all just write to me and I will gladly tell you what I know. I have been clear now for over three years and consider myself one of the lucky ones for sure. Saints and Sinners will always be a reminder.

I hope the next album has a lot less injuries..and that I can remember where I was when I wrote the lyrics.

UPDATE June 6th 2011. I have been delighted with the emails I got from this post. Turns out there are lots of us out there. A few people told me they would get check ups on things that have been bugging them for ages. Good, good, good. A few of you are going through treatment right now. Thanks for the updates and know that we are all in your corner. Prayers and love, much love. Keith

Email me at keith@youngdubs.com

Keith now plays Sierra Guitars!

Here's the news today from Sierra Guitars...

5/28/2010

Sierra Guitars is happy to announce guitarist and singer-songwriter Keith Roberts, Lead Singer and Guitarist as the newest endorser of Sierra Guitars! Keith Roberts plays the Sierra Sunrise SA28CETBL in Transparent Blue.

After officially signing an agreement with Sierra Guitars earlier this month Keith Roberts stated, "I first played a Sierra guitar at the 2010 NAMM Show and even with the craziness of that event I was pleasantly surprised by the feel and sound of the guitar. Once I had the chance to plug it in at a show, I was sold on the sound of the pickup and the overall comfort of the guitar. Now I have a fancy blue one and there's no stopping me!"

...you can see more of this story and their products at the website: www.sierraguitars.net

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[previous road stories]

The Scandinavian tour

I am writing this note on a ferry bringing us from Bergen in Norway to the Vikodal Festival. It is a 2 hour ride through amazing scenery of mountains and forests. This is an unbelievable part of the world and I only wish the freakin weather could be better.

Yes, as is the usual thing with the Young Dubs, it has rained everywhere. EVERYWHERE!!!. We arrived in Denmark on June 27th and the tour and rain began in perfect harmony. Our good pals at British airways lost all 10 bags we had and we had to wait until about 1 hour before the show to get 8 of them back. the other two are still missing almost 3 weeks later. Last we heard they were in Milan , Italy. I hope they are having a good time and getting some good pictures. Hopefully we will reunite before tours end so we can share stories!

Other then that it has been a great tour. The gigs have all been big and well received. The festivals are all really well attended despite the shite weather. In fact they almost seem to enjoy the mudbaths that appear all over the place. Luckily we are usually looked after with a dressing room and hotels etc but even the short walk from the band room to the stage can get you covered in mud.

When we arrived at the airport our fearless translator, confidant and driver Jorgen was standing by to whisk us off on our month long voyage. Our first show was the Kloften Festival and it was a great success. The rain stopped briefly to allow us to get a great crowd and we rocked them as hard as we could. The papers the next day listed us as a highlight with a cool pic of Chassie rockin out.

The following day we went to Faaborg for a small club date. We met the promoter at a show on the last tour and he decided to bring us to this quaint little town in Southern Denmark. It was a good house and again the show went well. However jet lag had gripped us tightly and I think every one was wrecked. After the show we headed back to our hotel in Odense and crashed hard.

The next day we left for a summer house in Fredericia. This was organized by our Danish agent Thomas (or Buks as everyone calls him). He found a beautiful beach front location for us with about 10 rooms. Perfect for the boys to spread out and get out of each others hair for a while. The weather sucked but every now and again there was a little sunshine. We spent most of the time walking and enjoying home cooked meals provided by our tour manager Adam. It was a great break.

Back to work then with 5 gigs in a row. The first was the only dodgy show of the tour. We had been asked to play a private show for the volunteers working at the Nibe Festival. I suppose we thought it would be a club of some sort but it turned out to be another mudfest of tents in the middle of the vast festival grounds. Dont get me wrong, everyone treated us a wonderfully as always but the conditions and size of the venue were messy. Nonetheless we rocked as hard as we could for 2 shows and made it a rehearsal for the upcoming shows.

Our actual Nibe show was the following day and it was crackin. I really enjoyed the show as there were loads of kids rockin out mixed in with an all ages audience. It was another step forward in our plan to break Denmark. Of course it was raining and muddy so the only thing to do after the show was enjoy the beers provided back stage

TANGENT The beer is great over here. Even if you are normally a a wine or hard liquor man you have to hand it to Scandinavia, they have tasty beer. A good deal stronger then the US so be advised you may be speaking in tongues a little sooner the you might usually be so proceed with caution.

After Nibe we went to what would be one of the biggest shows of the trip. Skagen. We were to play directly before Runrig, one of the most successful Celtic rock bands in Denmark (even though they are Scottish) 3000 people packed into the venue while the opener, Beggars Row got the crowd going. We went on and worked hard at lifting the show up to the highest point. By all reports we succeeded and our Danish record label seemed very pleased. I was personally delighted when that one was over as it had been a milestone in the tour. We never met Runrig which was a pity but for some reason they were very much keeping to themselves. They escaped a night on the tear with the Young Dubs, maybe it was for the best, for them!

To finish off the week we headed for one of the most remote shows of the trip. Tuno Island. The island is about as big as a golf course with hardly any actual residents (less then 150) However when the festival comes to town thousands head out to watch the bands (in a big tent thank God as the rain continued) This may have been our best performance of the tour and I really enjoyed it. We were all in a great mood after the show as we had survived 4 in a row spread all over the country. Some drinks were had!!!

Signing off now. I will continue after Berlin!!!

Im Back.

The next day the inevitable headache arrived to remind me that there is a reason not to drink nasty Danish shots with your pint! This was to be the most challenging day for me personally as I was on a mission to meet my pals in Berlin for a bachelor party. I ended up on just about every type of transport known to man on this day. It started with a trip on a small boat to get off the island. Then our driver Jorgen drove us to Odense. The boys were all staying at a hotel there for the 4 days off. I however jumped a train to Copenhagen and then on to the airport. When I got there I found that my flight was delayed for 4 hours!! Pain in the arse. I made the most of it by sitting at the bar and meeting folks coming and going from all the world. Quite an interesting bar actually.

Finally at 11.30 pm the plane took off. I arrived at the hotel in Berlin at 1.30 am. Not to worry, its Berlin and so the festivities continued into the morning.

After my little excursion to Germany I rejoined the band in Copenhagen and we headed to Norway the following day. Unbelievable. Bergen is a beautiful city and right away we knew this would be a good place for us.

Both club dates were well attended and we had great shows. The highlight however was the final show at Vicodal Roots festival. The crowd proved that they are Celtic Rock fans to the core. We went on at 1 am and the place was packed. Thousands of Norwegians sang along and rocked out for our hour long set. What a great place. The Jam session after the gig with two Norwegian bands back stage was also a major highlight.

Then it was back to Denmark for the last week of shows. It began with a TV appearance on TV2 ( a live set with Bob , Chas and I). Then we headed to Randers for a club night. Despite the fact that we had never been there we had a great crowd and we had a rockin show. Then it was back on a boat to Samso island for yet another big festival. This might have been the best show we did all tour but it was 3 pm and the sun had finally shown its face, right into ours!. I forgot to put sun block on and I was roasted. Still the gig was massive with a huge audience. The food afterwards was phenomenal, compliments to the organizers of Samso, they throw a hell of a party.

Our last show turned out to be the mother of all shows. Quite possibly my favorite Young Dub show of all time (see video to be posted very soon). It helped that we were in one of the coolest parts of the world I have ever been, The Faroe Islands. For only 5 years now they have been hosting the G Festival. It is undoubtedly the most amazing show we have played. We went on at 2am, yes folks 2AM!!! We were the last band on the main stage and it was brilliant. Thousands of people were on hand and they acted like we were their favorite band of all time. What a response. That made us play a rollicking 90 minute set while the sun rose over the water ( remember there is only about 2 hours of darkness in this part of the world during the summer).

It was the perfect way to finish off the Scandinavian Tour. We have now officially added Denmark and Norway to our list of fav places to play, with the Faroe islands getting a most favored nation score on every bodies books.

I am writing this on the plane as we head back to North America to start our US summer tour. I have forgotten so many cool details which hopefully I will write about next time. A big thanks to Thomas Hansen and Jorgen for another well organized and fun filled trip. It has been a wonderful tour and we are looking forward to returning next spring. Until then Scandinavia..........

Keith

IRELAND 2006

A TALE OF FOUR CITIES, 70 AMERICANS, 5 BAND MEMBERS, 2 CREW MEMBERS
AND STEVE!!

A LETTER WRITTEN ON THE PLANE TO IRELAND, NOV 2006

Just left on our sort of European tour, Ireland and Denmark at least!! It was the toughest goodbye I have had with my family. Not because of the length of the tour or even the distance. Mostly because the little man is now starting to fully understand that Daddy is going away and wont be there to tuck him in tonight.

He knows what I do for a living, God knows he has seen a lot more rock and roll shows then most kids his age, and I think he digs it. But the sad part is also sinking in now, rock and roll means going away sometimes and that part is hard for him. I wish it could be done some other way but it cant. A band has to tour sometimes.

Anyway, I may be over emphasizing his sadness, its probably more my sadness. Maybe Daddy now fully realizes that he has to go away and leave them from time to time and he doesnt want to miss a moment of the little mans growing up.

So I have taken steps to lessen the blow. We now have two computers that have isights. For you non Mac users that is what we call cameras. I can now see and talk to Jake live from any country I am in, very cool. Will try it out for the first time in Ennis tomorrow. Fingers crossed that they have good internet at the hotel!!!

The airport was nuts as usual today. We have so much crap to fly with that we had to enlist the help of some of the folks that are following us on tour. It was quite the sight to see Wally and Francine (long time Dub fans) checking in cymbals and a bag of merch. Those rockers!!!

Once we got that nightmare out of the way it was up to the international bar for a pint and a burger. Diets are usually the first casualty of a tour. First the bad food moves in and then comes the lazy days where you really intended to run for a while or even a fast walk but ya just couldnt quite get your butt out of bed. Doing gigs late at night and then enjoying some 'refreshments' afterwards is not conducive with a healthy lifestyle. It just isnt!!!

Now that I am on the plane I have met a great bunch of travelers who are all coming with us on the first half of this voyage. 10 dates in Ireland. Right now we have people on flights from Los Angeles, Chicago and New York all coming to join us in Ireland for an adventure. That is a very cool thing. Everyone on this plane seems excited to kick it off. I hope they all nap a bit because when we get to Ireland it is already morning and the day has begun. I will be going straight to the hotel and back to bed but they will see the Blarney Castle........oh yeh, they will be tired tonight

Thats all from day one............talk soon....

K

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I wrote the above on the first day of our trip with the idea that I would write a few paragraphs everyday. It is now over two weeks later and I am finally getting back to this, what a putz!!

What can I say, things in Europe are fast and furious and you don't always have time to think nevermind write. Anyhow, here are my recollections of the trip so far.

Day two we landed in Dublin for a brief stop over and then headed for Shannon. But not before we had the first creamy pint of Guinness on Irish soil, the first of many I am sorry to say... As we arrived in Shannon the weather was remarkably mild as it was to be for the whole Irish trip. Sun was shining and it was almost warm!!! Further prove that there is something wrong with the world temperatures right now. I remember Nov being rainy and freezing when I was growing up. One of the main reasons I was late for school.

We met up with Steve our trusty driver for the adventure and headed off to the first hotel. Like all the rest of them it was a beauty. Nice rooms, friendly staff (although none from Ireland, immigration is booming in the emerald isle). We had decided to stay at the hotel bar for the first night so everyone could get to know each other. At once it was apparent that we had a hell of a group. It was like a party where everyone already knew everyone. I could tell that we were going to have a great time from that night on.

The first show was the following night in Westport. Another fine hotel and a show at Matt Molloys. It is a small little place so we decided to play acoustic, sitting down. The place was packed with our group and curious Irish. I also had a few friends drive down from Dublin and the guest of honor, my Mum!!

We went on a little late (no, not the Dubs, on late, never!!) as I had left my guitar in the hotel room, nice, what a plonker. I raced back and grabbed it and we hit the stage by 10.30pm. It was a wonderful night to start off the trip as everyone sang along and danced for the duration of the show. Afterwards it was back to the hotel bar for another all nighter. My God there were a lot of all nighters.

The next day was a day off in Westport. I spent the afternoon with my Mum while the rest of the band and crew milled around town eating and drinking and even taking in a movie. It was a good chance for me to catch up on family matters and afterwards I met up with the gang in town. There is something magical about a night out in Ireland. I can never quite put my finger on it but I'm sure all those that were there would agree. You sort of float through the night from pub to pub. You always meet a few characters as you go. I was happy to bump into some Irish folks who had seen the show and loved it, first timers. I told them to spread the word in Galway where they were from and that we would be back again soon.

Getting up in the morning is never easy in Ireland. At least the band could make it a little later then the rest as we were not touring the countryside. The group however were up and at it by 8am usually as they took in the beautiful scenery through bloodshot, hungover eyes (some worse then others). My heart went out to them as I awoke at the crack of noon and headed down for our van.

Off to Derry today, across the border into what is still technically the UK. Dave was astounded to hear that his Euro was no good here. Having just mastered the coins and notes of Southern Ireland we now had to master her Majesties currency, the pound. We stopped right at the border and exchanged our cashola and then raced on to the hotel. I really liked that hotel, another top class gaff. You can see all the hotels on our home page. It was another night off for us and a big dinner was planned for everyone in the restaurant. There were 4 group dinners included in the trip and I managed to make two of them, one more then last year. Well done me!!

After dinner a few of us headed off to see the club we were playing at the following night. I had found Sandinos on the web and it turned out to be a great choice. From the place itself to the staff it was probably my favorite venue of the whole tour. We had a few pints there that night and then returned to rock the place the night after. This time it was full on rock show and it felt good to let loose again. As usual the Americans sang along as the curious Derry folk joined in. Back to the hotel and more liver abuse......

I saw a few very funny shirts over the trip. One said the Liver is evil and must be punished and one was worn by our driver Steve. It said. alcohol is my religion, will you join me in a prayer, nice!!

We left Derry the following morning and headed for the most spectacular location of the journey, Newcastle. Still in Northern Ireland it lies at the base of the Mountains of Mourne. The hotel was stunning, my favorite of the bunch.

Unfortunately during soundcheck the previous night I had inadvertently stabbed myself in the eye with a guitar string. What a gobshite. We had chosen not to bring a guitar tech on this tour to save a bit of moola and now I was seriously regretting the decision. After I did it I really felt very little pain but the next morning all hell broke loose. For the entire drive it weeped and hurt like a bugger. I could not open it in the light at all. As soon as we arrived in Newcastle I went to an eye doctor. He confirmed that I had ripped the protective cover off the eyeball and that it was now becoming infected. Bollox I thought, a one eyed front man. Had it been done before. Would I now need to invest in a parrot and a wooden leg?

All kidding aside I was freakin out. He gave me some anti biotics and told me to see another doctor in Dublin if it got any worse. I was well pissed off. Here I was in a beautiful setting that I could not even look at without an aching feeling in my eye. I went back to the hotel room totally bummed out and proceeded to pour the medicine into the injured curry pie (slang for eye in case anyone is paying attention).

By showtime it had not improved. Word had spread that I had damaged myself (mostly because I was telling everyone) and my one eye looked like I had been on heroin all week. I decided to wear my sun glasses to help with the lights. Im sure many thought I was just trying to look cool but I assure you that was not the plan that night.

Thanks to the help of some serious pain killers and adrenaline the show was actually a success and I returned to the room to celebrate by pouring more gunk into my eyeball, and a pint or two at the hotel bar for medicinal purposes only of course.

Miracle, the next morning I was actually feeling better. The aching had gone and I could actually open the eye in daylight. I immediately returned the parrot and the eye patch, took off the pirate outfit and we headed for home, Dublin City!!!

This was was a big night, Whelans was the venue, well known rock spot and loads of family and friends on the guest list. I was so relieved that the eye was better but nights of talking , singing, boozing and the rest had taken its toll on the old vocal chords. I didnt care. We just got up there and did the best show of the tour. My Mum was there again as was Brens. Brothers and sisters and friends galore were in attendance and we had a blast. The Americans in the group did us proud as usual and packed the place singing and roaring along to every song. I was delighted to say the least. Always a great feeling when you arrive back to the place you were born and show that the last 15 years have not been a complete waste of time. Jubilant is the word. There was only one thing to do, back to the Burlington hotel bar for an all nighter!!!

Wow, the last day. Woke up quite a lot later then usual. It was big relief that all had gone so well on the trip but a little sad that it was almost over. Everyone seemed to get along famously and besides the dodgy eye incidence, all was well. I had promised a pub crawl in Dublin for the last night and was somewhat apprehensive as I was not feeling the May West (slang for best, are ya with me?). But the show must go on so I bravely dragged my lazy arse out of the bed and prepared for one last knees up.

We started at the bar my Father had frequented for over 30 years before he passed away last year. By the time we got there we had regrettably lost a few along the way to other bars but most made it in and joined me in a toast to my Dad. It was a moment. Enough said.

After that we crawled all the way back to the hotel, stopping at ODonoghues, OBriens and a few more on the way before settling in at the hotel bar again for a farewell pint.

It was a sad farewell. Many new lifelong friendships were made and everyone seemed to have had the time of their life. I am glad and proud that we were able to accommodate.

That following morning the group flew back to the US while we headed for Denmark and the start of another adventure......more on that later.

K

P.S. The computer worked amazingly well and I was able to see the family live almost everyday. Well worth the investment for you travellers.

P.S. The next Ireland trip is roughly scheduled for March 2008.....

THE AMAZING HOTELS WE STAYED IN ON THE IRISH TRIP

The Woodstock Hotel. Ennis http://www.www.thewoodstockhotel.com

Hotel Westport. Westport. http:// www.hotelwestport.ie

Great Southern City Hotel. Derry http://www.greatsouthernhotels.com

Slieve Donard Hotel. Newcastle http://www.hastingshotels.com

Burlington Hotel. Dublin http://www.jurysdoyle.com

THE DANISH CONNECTION

For information on booking the Young Dubliners in Europe contact Thomas H Hansen. BUKS Int. Gunloegsgade 15, 2300 Copenhagen S. Denmark. +45ć 3296 1092. buks@worldonline.dk