Me 'n Cait, Dublin, Dec. 11 '07

[johnfoyle]

I'm just in from evening here in Dublin , starting with a film , ending with a concert - both in the company ( sort of) of Cait O'Riordan. Queuing to get into O'Donoghues Opera in the haphazard line in the packed foyer of the Irish Film Institute , someone behind me is greeted by a man to my left. The someone is Cait and they have a oud conversation about their activities. Standing as she was next to me I had a up-close look and very well she is looking, shiny hair, clear skin etc. Cait moves on into the crowd and manages to skip the line (grrr!) when the door opens.

I didn't spot her in the auditorium . Doubtlessly she enjoyed, along with rest of us this, 1960's curio, a 35 minute film featuring folk legends The Dubliners. The story centered around the ballad The Night Before Larry Was Stretched which, of course , Elvis Costello once recorded ; it's on the Rhino edition of Kojak Variety. Three of the group were there, including Ronnie Drew ( wrapped in a hat and scarf due to ongoing cancer treatment) , did a short q. and a. with actor Brendan Gleeson afterwards , finishing with a brief song.

By then it was 8.30 and I dashed around the corner to The Olympia Theatre , arriving in plenty of time for Squeeze. Difford and Tilbrook served up a superior cabaret version of their back catalogue, to the adulation of a packed venue. In my second row balcony seat I enjoyed it , particularly that amazing way Chris 'n Glenn's voices work so well together. A song or so in I happened to glance around and , yes, guess who was behind me , two rows back , to my left ? Ms Riordan. She and her friends were all smiles and having a ball of a time.

Tomorrow I go see Jens Lekman at Whelans - if she's there - well, it'll be all a matter!



O'Donoghues Opera
http://www.loopline.com/htm/08_odonoghues_opera.htm