The beautiful outdoor courtyard at the back of McHugh’s Traditional Pub and Restaurant on the Tuam Road was the setting for our first ‘BBQ an tSamhraidh’ in partnership with An Bruach Thoir on Saturday.

Because the weather was kind to us, were were able to hold the entire event outdoors in a pub which has had strong links with Irish-speaking communities across Co. Galway for generations.

It was great to see up to 70 people from Gaeltacht an Eachréidh and An Bruach Thoir coming together for an evening of conversation, craic, ceol, and storytelling on the Tuam Road.

People from Claregalway, Annaghdown, Menlo, and Tirellan, as well as some visiting musicians from Connemara attended the event and we are very thankful to the musicians and performers who treated us to some top class entertainment.

A special word of thanks to Jarlath Brennan, who played some lovely songs ‘as Gaeilge’ before he had to rush off to attend a League final involving the Claregalway Ladies team, who he managed to the Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta title earlier this year.

Top class music was also provided by Cathal Seoighe, Hubert Jennings, and a couple of young women from Conamara who greatly added to the friendly atmosphere. They also taught a few of us some Irish dancing. If the standard wasn’t the most professional in the world, the ‘craic’ was fantastic.

A special mention too to Padraig O Fathaigh and Padraig O Cuirbin, who treated us to a very entertaining “agallamh beirte” before people headed for home.

The BBQ at McHugh’s was a lovely way of bringing people together and of encouraging people to enjoy a night out while using whatever amount of Irish they had.

 

(Photos by Dillon O’Callaghan).