So..let me tell you a little story. Many years ago, we leased a little bar in #Kilkee #CountyClare called The Hideout Bar.. It was a really really good bar, lots of live music, great staff and an eclectic bunch of customers..so far, so normal for the west of Ireland.
One wintry mid week November night, there was just me behind the bar, and three other customers, two of whom were my house musicians, and one other regular..all out for a few chilled out sociable beers after the weekend.. then the door opened....
These guy walked in...never seen him before, he sat up at the bar and ordered a beer...a stranger in a small, out of season holiday town, on a rainy mid week night, in November. He had to be quizzed as to what brought him here...
“Nothing much” says he, a busy man, taking a break on the west of Ireland, after a particularly hectic few months, just trying to gather his thoughts and reconnect with himself....
A few nods from the other lads, we’ve all been there...one thing led to another and the two musicians pulled out their guitars and before you know it we are all having a bit of a sing song...as you do, with just me (and now 4 others) in the bar, on a midweek night in November...
They sang, I sang, the other regular sang, they sang some more...no way would he sing...just sat back and enjoyed the night...bought the lads a couple of beers, and before you knew it, it was waaaay past closing time.....
My regular left, the two musicians packed up...and left, then there were just two...we had one more beer for the road while I cleaned up, sorted the till out... chatted a bit longer, he finished his drink, put on his coat and asked me for a pen and paper...
And wrote me this note....which completely blew me away....and then he walked out into the night....but the story didn’t end there... 
On the 31st of December, we had our usual big New Years Eve night in the bar. Kilkee has a big summer holiday business, but the winter is very local, and we had huge support from our local GAA team @stsenanskilkee so it’s always packed...At about 12:15...the phone rings...
“Hello” says the guy at end of the line, “is this Cillian”, “yes” says I..”it’s Justin Hayward” says he, “just finished a gig, put my hand in my pocket and found your business card, remembered what a great night we had and wanted to wish you all Happy New Year”.
I found the note this week while clearing out some stuff...what a great memory of the type of night that the west of Ireland is all about...company, music, craic and friendship.
