Wedding in music venue steeped in history!

My cousin, Paul, tied the knot yesterday to his lovely wife Maria in a really intimate setting of Fallon’s in Kilcullen. I have no idea how we fitted The Black Knights into the room!

The even more surprising thing was what I learned about the venue. It was previously “Bernie’s of Kilcullen” which, in the 80s, was one of the most famous venues in Ireland. Bands like Bagatelle and Aslan were often in concert in this venue. And what a fabulous setting it must have been!

Small intimate venues like this are really special and what a great choice for Paul and Maria to party the night away!

Drinks Reception @ Moyvalley

A great shot from Tadhg at www.photographicmemory.ie taken at Saturday’s wedding in Moyvalley Hotel. Almost 250 guests rocked the night away (and most of the morning!) with their bride and groom Monica and Wesley.

Check out some of the outstanding images from Tadhg’s Wedding Portfolio by visiting his website or click here to go straight to the gallery.

 

What a hectic few months!

Wow – it’s been such a busy few months with The Black Knights, wedding fairs etc. There is no doubt that the turn of the year saw a serious change in everyone’s outlook on life, the economy and their future. People are so much more positive. I think we were all expecting Ireland to return to the stone age!

The latest, most exciting development for us has been the launch of The Wedding Lounge which will be sweeping the nation this year in some of Ireland’s most exclusive wedding venues. It’s a night out for a couple who are planning their wedding. It’s much easier to put together your wedding when you’re relaxed and in the mood for wedding planning. That’s what the lounge is all about!

Check out the launch…

The latest video from The Black Knights shoot in November…

The latest video from The Black Knights shoot in November…

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

In November this year I was working on a new Promo Video for The Black Knights, my events band. During the afternoon, after sound checks etc, we had some time to have a little fun!

The camera crew were all set to go, so Linda and I decided we would record something as a little ‘Merry Christmas’ to all the facebook followers of the band. What transpired was the result of a quick arrangement ‘converstation’, one play through and then we recorded. This was the first take and Linda just nailed the vocal.

Since it was launched on facebook, it has been shared, tweeted and emailed and it should reach 1000 views before the end of 2011! So here it is…

Carols by Candlelight – Ballykane

After a conversation with a very good friend who’s Dad passed away earlier in the year, she decided to have an evening of Carols to raise some funds for an ‘End of Life’ room at Naas Hospital. The room will a space for a family to be together in some comfort, without disturbing other patients, during the final days of their loved one’s life.

I’m always a sucker for a Christmas concert in the church, so we set a date of Wednesday 14th December in Ballykane Church in Naas, just around the corner from the hospital itself.

What is really special about this church is that it is set in the round. In other words, the seating is all around the altar. While it was always going to be a challenge for sound and lighting, the intimacy of the concert was something that I was really looking forward to.

Geraldine Sweeney from Newbridge started to gather a choir of hand picked singers, and soprano Celine Byrne also agreed to perform one or two songs on the night.

I just couldn’t leave the piano at home… It had to come in! It was a nightmare getting it in and out, but it really did look the part. Once the candles were lit, the house lights were turned off and Martin White’s expert hands took to the lighting, it set the mood for what was an uplifting, intimate evening of music. Just the thing to remind me that I haven’t started the Christmas shopping yet….!

Staging: The Black Knights Promo Video

Somehow, between now and tomorrow afternoon, this venue is going to be transformed into the sound stage for The Black Knights promo.

At least now we have a photo of what it should look like when we take it all back down again!

First Post!

So here it is, the new blog site!

So much going on at the moment. Working on some songs for an album which will be recorded next spring. Plus, I hope to have a song or two up here before christmas.

None of which I’m going to get done if I’m blogging all day!

Catch you all later. a