Memories of the Reunion
Here is what some of the audience had to say about the concerts:
To Raglan Road
A merry dance you led us
All over Sydney Town
Sometimes you’d vanish in the mist
We always tracked you down
You’d pop up like shamrocks
Maybe somewhere in the Rocks
And the charming Irish music
Could be heard down at the docks
You sang the tragic rebel songs
That surely made us cry
And Irish songs we love so well
That lift our spirits high
Those sweaty nights at the
Old White Horse
The drunken jigs and reels
When Finnegan woke up at the wake
The laughter rang in peals
We sang the Lachlan Tigers
It’s plain to see we did
The chorus rang up through the roof
It would nearly lift the lid
Now the old triangle lies at rest
Those rare auld times no more
But Lord! To be there we were blessed
Now Raglan Road’s folklore
Composed on the night by Barbara Gaffney, Kate O’Connell, Monica Petersen, Alfredo Rejes, Gael & John Burford
Oh Raglan Road, At the Mercantile, Twas there we had our fill, Though years have cast them in the past, You know we love them still. One magic night we shared again. The joy along the way, With song and flair and Derry air, At the evening of the day. (Credit to Paddy Kavanagh)
A wonderful session at the Bowlo -- I loved the line about the 60-year-old sailor in the song seeming so much younger three decades later. All of us have our own special memories of the band and the music and Sydney in the rare oul times. I arrived in 1985 sorely missing the music of my homeland, and Raglan Road helped to fill the void then and over the years since. Thanks to Martin and Peter and John and all in the band -- we love you to pieces.
Slan go fail.
Seumas Phelan
“It was great to be at the RR reunion, to meet up with old friends, hear the band again – everyone was in good voice. The songs and music have stood the test of time and the band transported me back to those special Sunday nights at the White Horse pub in Surry Hills. At times the inspired combination of vocals and music nearly lifted the roof off the bowling club. The inclusion, for the first time of Martin Doherty singing Patrick Kavanagh’s ‘Raglan Road’, in his tribute to Tom Minogue, was one of the highlights of this special reunion as was the band’s rendition of ‘No more songs’ by Phil Ochs.”
Colleen Burke
"It was just a wonderful night! So full of memories... It was more than a band reunion, it was a folk reunion, and Raglan Road were as brilliant now as they were then. I was at the last concert and this one was every bit as good! Thanks so much, everyone! Cheers".
Judy Pinder
"I did enjoy the experience particularly as it forced me
to do some practice on the
old instruments.
And it was interesting to see how well the band meshed again after
so many years."
Tony Hystek