Elvis Christmas music in March
M. Toole | Mar 17, 2021 | Comments 0
(Connemara, County Mayo, Republic of Ireland) I generally don’t start drinking until 10:30 but I was on vacation. This looks like a nice pub. I smiled hello to two regulars named Sean and Rory and ordered a pint and a Powers. I have had the pleasure of tipping a few with characters like these two from town. They were like little children waiting for something to either break or talk to death.
“I just come back from Nashville,” said Fiona from behind the cherry wood at Griffin’s Pub in downtown Clifden on the Atlantic Coast of Connemara.
“Really. Who did you see? Where did you stay? What was the weather like in March?” I said.
Fiona went into a flurry of observation from Hank Williams to Minnie Pearl. She talked about the food and the Cadillacs and the cowboy hats. It was then that I heard it.
Elvis was on the sound system singing “Blue Christmas.”
Before long Sean and Rory heard it too. We looked at each other trying to appear shocked, even insulted by the unseasonable troubadour crooning and spooning about another lost love. Finally Rory spoke up:
What the hell are you doing with Elvis singing Blue Christmas in March? And you- the expert from Nashville and all…”
“I’m never coming into this pub again said Sean
“Good,” said Fiona.
“Neither am I,” teased Rory
“Fine. Drink up and get your arses out!”
“And you…she said, looking down at me…”Coming in here from over seas interfering with Irish culture and so early in the afternoon.
I was ashamed.
She let the entire song play and after it was all over put on some Christy Moore and then everyone settled in for the afternoon, on the merits of their recent victory over what is right and what is not.
“I thought you were leaving,” Fiona said to Sean
“No I think I’ll stay. I’m almost certain that Elvis is about to sing The Rose of Tralee.”
I got a smile from Sean and a wink from Rory and a kiss goodbye from Fiona. Not bad for a morning’s work. Now it’s time for lunch and a nap. How does one say siesta in Irish?
Clifden in the daytime. Mountains and the ocean.
Filed Under: Soft News
