A Night in Killorglin: Our Traditional “Craic” with the Killorglin Men’s Social Club

Apr 28

We had only ended our concert with the Killorglin Men's Social Club Choir some 15 minutes earlier with a joint rendition of "Parting Glass, yet our hosts eagerly awaited us at O'Grady's pub down the street, ready to pour a "welcome glass" on the house.

SCCC baritone Brian Duffy describes leading "Wild Mountain Thyme" as a "magical moment."

A delightful medley of Irish and American accents buzzed from a tapestry of black and red concert garb, dotted with pints of Guinness and finger sandwiches. We chatted about Maryland and Killorglin life over stouts, Jamesons, and hors d’oeuvres, and once everyone was properly warm (in more ways than one), those with red jumpers called us to song with Shannon rugby anthem "There is an Isle." And thus began our impromptu, but thoroughly anticipated, sing-song for the night.

SCCC tossed back Americana tunes like "Nelly Bly" and "One Household High and Low" while the Men responded with classic Irish songs "Molly Malone" and "Wild Rover." One gentleman also snuck in an enrapturing comedy routine! Our two groups combined forces to sing beloved folk melodies "Wild Mountain Thyme," "Shenandoah," and "Danny Boy" as strangers once separated by ocean, now friends united in song.

As the clock approached midnight, it was time to say our goodbyes. The Men all rose to their feet and reverently offered the Irish National Anthem sung in the Irish language. Perhaps by accident or perhaps by fate, the final song we had in our back pocket was the SCCC mainstay "Stand By Me," with Moses Hogan's emotional arrangement providing a chorale-like wall of sound. The Killorglin chorister and comic, who jokingly kept score between our musical volleys, enthusiastically declared SCCC the winner: "Ireland 7, Maryland 10!" But of course the score doesn't matter because we were all winners that night.