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Midnite Cafe in full flight on the stage at Kirby’s Brogue Inn on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
WHILE The new Brogue Inn may have opened its doors on Thursday morning, it was on Friday night that the real celebrations began with a performance by old favourites, Midnite Cafe.
The bar was packed to capacity on the night for a performance by a band with a long association with the bar. We asked drummer, Damian Greer how he felt when he heard the bar was reopening.
“I couldn’t wait for it to open and I’m glad it was the Kirbys who bought it. There’s great history between Midnite Cafe and Bill Kirby especially, God rest him. He actually kickstarted our career all those years ago,” said Damian.
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“We started here when we were kids. Bill would buy our sound equipment and we’d pay it off through gigs. That helped us big time to get started,” he said.
I asked Fiona Kirby if, considering the history between the bar and band, the decision to ask them to play the first gig was a no-brainer.
“Oh absolutely, Midnite Cafe have played in the Brogue for the past, oh I don’t know, 20 to 25 years? So we’ve always had fantastic nights with them,” she said.
“Also the fact that three of them [the McCord brothers, Noel and Sean and Damian Greer] are from the Rock is a big part of the connection here. I suppose we’ll allow Mike Leahy as well because he’s involved with Horan’s Health Food Store across the road,” joked Fiona.
“I’m absolutely delighted they’re here and I’m sure they’ll rock the house tonight,” she added.
And rock it they did to a packed crowd with songs from Bon Jovi, U2, Crowded House and many more from the 80s through to the Noughties.
I’m sure it’ll be the first of many memorable nights in the new Brogue.
• See video below of the band playing the first song of the night and then scroll further down for photos…
Enjoying the Midnite Cafe gig at Kirby’s Brogue Inn on Friday night were, Eoin Wren, Patrick O’Driscoll, Sophie Broughton, John A Curtin, Maryann Scanlon, Nicholas Gogarty, Conor Carty and Aisling Neville. Photo by Dermot Crean
Fiona Kirby (centre) of Kirby’s Brogue Inn with Grainne Kirby and Mags O’Regan at the Midnite Cafe gig at the venue on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
DJ Cronin, Helen Baily, Jackie Cooney and James Breen at the Midnite Cafe gig at Kirby’s Brogue Inn on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Enjoying the Midnite Cafe gig at Kirby’s Brogue Inn on Friday night were, Nicole Patton, Deirdre Donovan and Jade Cooney. Photo by Dermot Crean
Vera Power, Tom Hardiman (who worked as a chef in The Brogue between 1979-1983), Lavinia Prendergast, Mary Hardiman and Janice Quirke enjoying the Midnite Cafe gig at Kirby’s Brogue Inn on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Friends wishing Fiona Kirby (second from left) the best on Friday night. From left; Margaret Raggett, Fiona Kirby, Brenda and Jimmy Litchfield and Lesley Harris. Photo by Dermot Crean
Midnite Cafe’s Sean McCord poses for a photo with Eileen Cooper before taking to the stage for their gig at Kirby’s Brogue Inn on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Kenneth O’Sullivan Carrie Hennessey, James Mahony and Simone Hennessy enjoying the Midnite Cafe gig at Kirby’s Brogue Inn on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Enjoying the Midnite Cafe gig at Kirby’s Brogue Inn on Friday night were, Aiden Kelliher, Aoife Connolly, Kieran Kelliher, Michelle Kelliher, Eleanor and Johnny Kelliher. Photo by Dermot Crean
Johnny and Barbara O’Callaghan at the Midnite Cafe gig at Kirby’s Brogue Inn on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
John O’Herlihy, Tom O’Connor, Tim O’Connor, Caroline O’Connor, Marian O’Connor, Siobhan O’Herlihy, Jackie Linnane, Gemma Moore and Jerome Linnane at Kirby’s Brogue Inn on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Yvonne Cronin and Margaret Scanlon at the Midnite Cafe gig at Kirby’s Brogue Inn on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
I must b gone from tralee longer than I thought as I don’t recognise anyone in d pics