Great night of music for Christy

Music is no stranger to The Hideout these days, writes Brian Byrne. Since they took over the pub the Boyces have invested heavily in bringing the best of all musical genres to their customers.

But last night it was the musicians themselves who packed the place, providing both audience and a range of music rarely heard on the one night under one roof.



"It is musicians getting together because one of our own is down," said Tony McCabe, who organised the evening as a benefit for Christy 'Gypsy' Davy, a Naas-based performer who has fallen ill.

Christy is originally from Dublin and well-known on the pub circuit, following a tradition established by his father, also Christy and also a professional musician all his life.

"A complication after an operation left 'Gypsy' unable to perform more than a couple of songs now without getting breathless," says Tony, a member of The Mighty Ghosts of Erin who was asked by fellow musicians in the region to set up the gig in The Hideout.

He says it wasn't difficult. A few phone calls and connections via Facebook made the whole thing happen very easily. "We picked The Hideout because the musicians were coming from all over the region and it was central. Also, Christy has played there several times, and the pub wanted to help."

The bands that came to 'help out with the Christmas for the family', as one performer put it, included Tickle Your Fancy, The Mighty Ghosts of Erin, The Sullivan Brothers from Athy, the Dublin Twangmen who comprise Gypsy's father Christy and Kieran Kelly, who also did MC for the evening.

There were more bands, and individual performers like Darren Brereton from Prosperous, who said he was there 'for the cause, because there's no money going into music with the economy the way it is'. Darren followed a call on Facebook to take part in the benefit.

"Anytime there's a musician from Kildare in trouble, we have to come together to look after our own," said Shane Sullivan of the Sullivan Brothers, after a set which was doubly appreciated because it was performed to an audience of their peers.

All those who got to the gig despite the unhelpful weather had a chance to win a really special prize, a bodhran signed by another Kildare-born musician, Christy Moore. The winner was Darren Connolly.

Despite his current difficulties, Christy Davy sang a few of his most popular numbers, and his sister Sinead also performed. That they both sang was particularly appreciated by their dad.

"He's been playing guitar since he was nine or ten," Christy Snr recalled. "We have played together in a lot of places." Adding, 'he has fired me a few times, but we still get on'.

Kieran Kelly emphasised the importance of musical families like the Davys, who pass on the music to their next generations. "In these days when music seems to be dominated by TV shows like the X-Factor, it is critical that real music is performed in live environments like The Hideout in Kilcullen."

The good news is that Gypsy Davy will recover fully, though he says he has been told it might take a year before he's back to full voice.