My recent post about the upcoming Horslips gig in Glasgow has drawn in a huge amount of hits. A guy called Sean contacted me about it, and kindly gave me permission to reproduce this story he posted on the Horslips forums:
Hi
just felt the need to put this into words – I`ll try to keep it real brief.
I`m 45, born in England to Irish parents. I`ve spent a fair bit of time in Ireland over the years, but as a child most summers we would go to stay with my Granny in Longford for a couple of weeks.I`ve a cousin in Longford (Chico ya legend!)who was an absolute Horslips nut and sometime during the mid seveties introduced myself and my older brother to the incredible music of this band.
We ended up bringing a lot of records back to England, but never got to see them live. That was until 8th August 1980. My dad drove the family from Longford up to Bundoran, I was 14 years old and my first `real` gig would be Horslips – so excited!!
Well the gig started and can remember it as if it was yesterday, just standing there gobsmacked a matter of feet away from the band playing all these tunes I`d had in my head for the last few years.
Then, I can`t recall how far into the gig, but my father appeared next to me. They were meant to meet us after the gig. There was some kind of problem in the town and we had to leave the gig early. When we got outside everything became apparent. There was the most horrendous fire in the Central Hotel. Can`t remember how far from the gig it was but I`ll never forget watching it burn and actually hearing people screaming from inside the building. Ten people lost their lives in that fire, just awful, still upsets me when I think of it.
Anyways, as the band called it a day, I thought that I`d never see them again. I had almost become obsessed by the music and had never stopped listening (along with RUSH, who I`ve seen live 23 times).
Years later, Rollback appears. I purchased a copy in Killarney while visiting my brother and his family who had sinced moved from England to the other side of Killorglin in Kerry. That disc never came out of the player in the hire car all holiday. When the Belfast and Dublin gigs were announced, there was just no way I could make it – I was pissed off to say the least!
Then this year Cork was announced. I wasn`t going to miss this!! I have alot of family in Cork and go there quite regular. Tickets, flights and hotel all booked, you know what happened next. Oh well we still had a good craic in Cork that weekend and I knew it`s now just a matter of time until I will see the Lips again.
Fast forward to November and we fly into Cork, drive up to Killarney and check in at The Brehon Hotel.
This is it. It`s going to happen and nothing can stop it now. Friday afternoon and Im ordering a Murphys at the bar and Charles appears next to me. I shake his hand and mention the fact that I`d waited a long time and travelled a long way to see them.
He genuinely seemed amazed the we had come over just for the gig. he asked if he could join me and the misses at our table – like I`m going to say no!!!!
Then he called Jim over and we`re just sitting, chatting and drinking like old friends – I can`t beleive this is happening.
I won`t bore you with all the details, but over the weekend we spent a fair bit of time chatting even going through the set list with Barry on Saturday morning – I was in my element.
At lunchtime I ask what time they were going to soundcheck – about 2:30 – come over says Barry. Are you serious!! Didn`t want to be a pain in the arse, but I wasn`t going to miss this either.
I had bought tickets for my brother, his wife and his youngest son Joe. The lads singned a CD for Joe, he`s chuffed to bits.
Then after a few pints it`s showtime. 30 years on and me and my brother are standing watching Horslips. I actually had tears in my eyes. What a night – what a weekend.
I bid farewell to the boys on Sunday morning in the hotel lobby. Those of you aware of the `problem` after the Killarney show, well thank God everything seems fine. I can`t make the other 3 shows, but I don`t mind. I`ve had a great time, what more could I ask for and I know we`ll meet again sometime soon.
I think we will all agree that you would strugle to find a better band of musicians (along with RUSH obviously!!) but I KNOW you would strugle to find a group of gentlemen as gracious as these guys I cannot thank them enough for the memories I have of our weekend in Killarney.
Now I`ve tickets, flights and hotel booked for Glasgow. It just gets better.
There are a few shots taken at the Killarney soundcheck below. I didn`t want to be a pain in the arse and I felt it would have been plain rude to take a camera or video, so just discreet shots from the phone. Shite quality I know, but something to remind me forever!!Thanks again guys. May God bless you all and allow you to continue to produce the sweetest, most melodic music that I am so privilleged to have in my posession.
GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE THAT WAIT.
There are some photos on the forum, as well. This is a brilliant story from a really lucky guy.
I also offer all due credits to the Horslips Fantasia forum this is reproduced from.