MORRIS DANCE IN CORNWALL- early days
During the Twelve Days of Christmas between 1466-67, the household accounts of the Arundells of Lanherne, Mawgan-in-Pydar, record expenditures to buy white bonnets for minstrels, cloth and bells for Morris Dancers, as well as materials for costumes for the "disgysing" (mummers or guise dancers), an activity which involved music and dancing.
This can't have been Trigg, even though we have a long tradition of collecting money in Cornwall.
And then there is St Nonna's Church in Altarnun , who decorated one of their pews about 1520
I hope Trigg's current dancing is less wooden
Thank you for taking the time to stop and watch us, as audiences have done since we gave our first public show in July 1971. We enjoy performing and appreciate the interest you show. We must also thank those who make it all possible, such as Publicans, Local Authorities, The Police, and our supporters.
Our costume reflects our rural background, and you will note that our green baldrics are decorated with Celtic designs that are found on the Ancient Stone Crosses located around the County.
Our name comes from "The Hundred of Trigg", an ancient administrative area of Mid Cornwall, and most of our dancers live within reasonably easy reach of Bodmin. ( We have no links at all to Colonel Trigg who fell at the Battle of Blue Lick , Kentucky - his ancestors originally came from Norway it seems - Erik Torsteinson Åsgård Trygge b 1440 )
We perform dances of the "Cotswold" style: Fieldtown with sticks or handkerchiefs, Bucknell also with sticks or handkerchiefs, but with the hands at shoulder height, and Stanton Harcourt, which hardly anyone else still remembers, but where we have the handkerchiefs on our little fingers and sometimes with both sticks and hankies at the same time! As well as the occasional Lichfield dance with 8 dancers. Click here for ridiculous amounts of additional data
We mainly dance on Thursdays, but we have no recollection why we chose that day. But we've been doing it so long it must be a tradition by now.
Morris dancing is a tradition that goes back a long time, but so long that it was never written down, so it's your guess what it looked, or sounded like in Shakespeare's time and before. Some people like to think it's a fertility rite, or linked to John of Gaunt and Moors from Spain, and who are we to disagree. One thing is certain - and that's a close association between Morris dancers and pubs over many years. So we practice in the winter, and then when the evenings are lighter in the summer, we can be found dancing outside pubs across central Cornwall. And just to make sure that others don't miss out, each year we pick out a couple of villages who haven't got a pub and descend on them as well (usually with adequate supplies of beer).
And not to forget - Trigg does consist of dancers of both male and female persuasions.
And a Beast ... Trigger
His origin is lost in the mists of time - but dendochronology aside , we know he once had a name "Hoddy Horse"
and a 1964 date inscribed on his wooden skeleton. So he may have danced with other sides (?)
You can't get the staff these days ...
Back in 1975 a group of Trigg chaps went to Stratford upon Avon and "danced in" to join the Morris Ring
(left to right) Peter Marlow , Christopher Penton, Roger Hancock, Mike Johnson, Alan Ramsden (in front, holding the Staff), Peter Cock, Pete Philp, Vic Legg (Our Squire at the time also holding the Staff) and Dave Williams.
They received a "Staff of Office" which is never used for dancing , but we show it off once a year
LIST OF TRIGG MORRIS PERFORMERS 1971-
Vic Legg (1971 - )
Steve Danby (1971)
Phil Beaumont (1971 – 73 & 1977 - 78)
Alan Ramsden (1971 - 88)
Peter Marlow (1971 - )
Roger Hancock (1971 - )
Dick Welsby (1971 – 72) deceased
Ron Hayward (1971 - 72)
Brian Goodman (1971)
Maurice Dart (1971, 82, 96, 2003 - 2024) deceased
Ian West (1971 – 74) Musician
Chris Best (1971 - 72)
Dave Williams (1971 - 2001)
Pete Philp (1972 - )
Colin Williams (1972)
Mike Johnson (1972 – 88) deceased
Michael – Musician (1972)
Peter Bunt (1972 - 86)
Chris Penton (1972 – 87) deceased
Dave Rye (1973 -74)
Bob Fallis (1973 -74)
Chris Farr (1973 -74)
Dennis Ackersley (1973)
John Dunkell (1973 - 74)
Rob Elliot (1973)
Peter Cock (1973 – 86) deceased
Rodney (1973)
Chris Ridley – Musician (1973 – 2020) deceased
Keith (1973)
Peter Hicks (1973 – 83 & 2012 - 2018)
Robert Robins (1974 – 93) deceased
Dave Blayney (1974 -81) deceased
Mike O’Connor (1974 – 76, 79, 90, 93 & 94) Musician
John Pearman (1974)
Mike Trevellyan (1975)
Pat Bell (1976 – 79) deceased
Dave Killer (1976 - 81)
John Knight (1976 - 80)
Colin Barker (1976 - 77)
Ernie Keast (1976) deceased
Dicken Keslake (1977 - 78)
Malcolm Harvey (1977 - 2021 ) (But still taking photos for us)
Brian Roberts (1977 – 79) deceased
Andy Jones (1977 - 83)
Lee Ellis (1977- 78)
Reg Ellis (1977 – 85) deceased
John Peters (1979 - 82)
Owain Bell (1979 - 94) Musician and Illustrator
Trevor Johnson (1979 - 81)
Bob Wicks (1980 - 84)
Dennis Cook (1979 – 2000) deceased
Paul Reece (1980 - )
John Sparrow (1981 - 84)
Graham Owen (1981 - 89
Rod Edwards (1983 - 84)
Roger Sexton (1983)
Mick Bull (1984 - )
John Webb (1984 - 94)
Dave Martin (1984 – 94) deceased
Simon Pipe (1984 - 85)
Brian Palmer (1984 - 91)
Ian Chanter (1985 - )
Rob Chisman (1985 - ) (aka Jasmine)
John Tremaine (1985 - 95)
Terry Letchford (1985 - )
Christian Norgaard (1988 - 97)
Clive Baker (1990 - 96)
Pat Broderick (1991 - 2015)
Phil Champion (1992 – 2020) deceased
Pete Turner – Mrs Baggit (1993 -94) deceased
John Richards (1994 - 2015)
Dave Marshall (1997 – 98 & 2008 - 2015)
Alan Tringham (1998 - )
Ted Kent (1998 – 2013) deceased
Bob Mann (1998 - 2018)
Ivor Read (1999 – 2013) deceased)
Chris Gill (2000)
Jim Hutchins (2002 - 2013)
Ben Harding (2004 - 07)
Kevin Mckeogh (2005 - 07)
Andy Hill (2006 - 09)
Chris Thomas (2006 - 16)
Andy Payne (2009 – 20) deceased
Trevor Tanner (2009 - )
Darren Marfleet (2010 – 13) deceased
Andy Dabrowski (2011 - )
Neil Hartwell (2011 - )
Kevin Everett - Musician (2013 -2014)
Chris Seamarks (2015)
Ethan Armes (2016 – 18)
Viv Champion (2019 - ) See also below
Elaine Philp (2018 - )
Amy Dyer (2018 - )
Sandie Pinder (2019 - )
Derek Pinder (2019 - )
Sophia Skingley (2021- )
Josh Baker (2023- )
Cathy Glaser (2024-)
Jan Chivers (2024-)
Associate Members for other services
Viv Champion (1990 – ) Musician and player of the J.C.Penton concertina
Sid Richards (1994 – 2015) – Valued supporter
Pauline McKeogh (2005 – 2007) Musician
Lyn Thomas (2007 – 16) Musician
Marion Reece (2016 - ) Musician
Two other lady musicians have also assisted in the past, but are not listed in the minutes by date;
Rosemary Gratton, nee Wills (circa 1972)
Carol McEvoy, nee Watson (1977 - 78)
(Strictly speaking that's not us - its the Bodmin Wassailers from 1953) -
Some of our members have been known to associate with them as well
Historic list of THE SQUIRES OF TRIGG MORRIS MEN in date order.
Soon after starting practices, and before our inaugural tour on June 26, our first Squire had been elected.
1971/2 Peter Marlow
1972 - 1977 Vic Legg
1978/9 Peter Marlow
1980/1 Dave Killer
1982/3 Peter Cock
1984/5 Peter Philp
1986/7 Owain Bell
1988/9 Vic Legg
1990/1 Peter Philp
1992/3 Ian Chanter
1994/5 Dave Williams
1996 - 1998 Mick Bull
1999/2000 Peter Marlow
2001/2 Malcolm Harvey
2003/4 Ian Chanter
2005/6 Peter Philp
2007/8 Ivor Read
2009/10 Ian Chanter
2011/12 Terry Letchford
2013/14 Robert Chisman
2015/16 Bob Mann
2017/18 Phil Champion
2018/20 Paul Reece
2020/ Ian Chanter
2023/ Viv Champion
The Person who is elected Squire has to spend the year choosing which dances to do, maintaining order and decorum (?)
and he/she has a special Waistcoat and Bells to wear - and there is inevitably a long tale to tell about the waistcoat.
Foremen (who try to get us to dance to a good standard)
1971 and 1972 - Phil Beamont
1973 to 1982 - Chris Penton
1983 to 1991 - Vic Legg
1992 - Pete Philp
1993 to 1995 - Vic Legg & Pete Philp
1996 to 2012 - Pete Philp
2013 to 2018 - Terry Letchford
2018 - Peter Philp
Bagman (our Social Secretary and Treasurer)
1971 onwards - Roger Hancock
Practice Venues
Morris Dancing was talked about late in 1970, Vic & Steve having been inspired by the Exeter Ring Meeting, and enlisting the help of Phil B to get things going. Records start in January 1971, but practices might have begun earlier, the first being held in the old Methodist Chapel on Town Wall recently occupied by The St Johns Ambulance Brigade, but moving quickly to the Methodist Assembly Rooms, Fore St. (Bodmin)
Ambulance Hall, Town Wall 1971
Methodist Assembly Rooms, Fore Street 1971
Bodmin Comprehensive School 1971 & 1972
Bodmin Football Club, Old Drill Hall 1972 & 1973
Lanivet Hall 1973 to 1975
Garland Ox 1975 to 1982
St Mary's Hall 1983 to 1985
Bodmin CP School 1986 to 1991
St Lawrence Social Club/Old Carew/Foster Hall 1991 to 199?
Bodmin Community Association Rooms 199* to 2017
Bodmin Boxing Club 2017 to 2018
One For All Community Centre, Lanivet. 2018 to
*Definitely 1997, possibly as early as 1993/4
Above is a shot from the Movie "Bad Education" 2015 with us (and a lot of luvvie extras) in Mevagissey
AGM Venues
Black and Amber Club 1st March 1972 & 7th February 1973
C. Pentons Residence 22nd January 1974 & 23rd January 1975
R. Hancock's Residence 15th January 1976
R. Hancock's Residence (Tolgate, Treningle) 13th January 1977 & 6th October 1977
P. Bell's Residence (Ruthern Valley House) 5th October 1978
No Venue Recorded February 1979
J. Peter's Residence (8 Dawe Road) 27th September 1979
Garland Ox 11th & 18th September 1980
Garland Ox 17th September 1981
Guildhall 23rd September 1982
Shire House 29th September 1983
St Mary's Hall 4th October 1984 & 26th September 1985
Bodmin CP School 23rd October 1986
V. Legg's Residence 19th November 1987
R. Hancock's Residence 6th October 1988
Bodmin Community Association Rooms 1989 - 2016 (It's now a cinema complex)
One For All Community Centre, Lanivet. 2018, 2019 , 2021, 2022 and 2023
2020 Our first "Virtual" AGM - by courtesy of the Zoom conferencing program
The Annual Feast of St Hygenus
What is the Feast of St Hygenus? Not sure if Pope Saint Hyginus had anything to do with Trigg Morris, however, it has traditionally become an annual event to celebrate the Birthday of one of the Founder Members of Trigg Morris, namely Dr Christopher Penton. Although Chris Penton died many years ago, Trigg Morris still traditionally celebrates his birthday. The first Feasts were held at his flat, within the grounds of St Lawrence Hospital, and the later ones were at his house in Wenford Bridge, and it was several years before the team realised that we were attending his birthday party! Chris was born in 1911 and died in November 1987. The first Feast in its current format was held at Blisland (then called The Royal Oak) on the 11th January 1988. We have organised something nearly every year since and the venues : the Old Inn at St Breward, The Masons Arms and Blisland.
Who was Dr Penton? Dr Chris Penton worked up country and was offered a posting to the Psychiatric Hospital in Bodmin but wouldn't take it unless there was a Morris team nearby. Fortunately Trigg Morris had formed in February 1971 and Chris arrived at about the same time as Pete Philp in September 1971. Chris took over as Foreman from Phil Beamont who had taught Trigg from day one in February 1973 and held the post until 1982. He introduced the policy of only dancing 3 traditions max, concentraing on the individual styles of those traditions. He spoke 16 languages, four of them fluently, including Arabic and Russian. Situated at Berlin University, he returned to the UK in 1938 and during WW2 became an advisor to the British Army on Psychological Warfare!
What happens on the night? We start the evening with a session of dance, before retiring to the bar for an après Morris. A hat resembling a Turkish Fez is passed around and at this point anyone can take possession of the hat, place it upon their head, if they wish and do a party trick, whether singing, reciting, playing an instrument or anything else before passing it on. It is not a requirement that you have to do something but more of an opportunity to do so, if you are feeling brave. During the evening, we toast Dr Penton with a shot of Rum and Shrub, bought from funds. This does depend on it still being in production ....
In 2020 - the Feast had to be a virtual affair - Hats both real and imaginary were worn, and the tradition was upheld
In 2021 the Feast resumed - but in the well ventilated and lateral Flow tested circumstances of our practice hall
A last remnant of Shrub was passed round.
Mind you - if you are looking for odd Saints - In Switzerland there is the famous resort town of San Moritz
- named after Saint Morris - a Christian martyr
Other travels outside Cornwall
Often this has been driven by the strange habit of the "Morris Ring"
organising collective meetings of Morris Dancers , and counting them
1973 2/3 September – Yeovil – Wessex Morris Men - 142nd (Meeting of the Ring)
1974 20/21 July – Winchester – Winchester Morris Men - 147th
1975 28/29 June – Stratford upon Avon – Shakespeare Morris and Sword Men - 152nd
1976 10/12 September – Guildford – East Surrey Morris Men (Golden Jubilee) - 162nd
1977 22/24 July - Derby – Derby Morris Men - 169th
1979 30 June/1 July - Ilmington
1979 23/26 June - Jersey
1979 6/8 July – Wolverhampton – Giffard Morris Men - 177th
1980 5/7 September – London – London Clubs - 185th
1981 24/26 July – Shiplake College - Kennnet Morris Men - 191st
1982 10 April - Torquay – Stage performance of “The Everlasting Circle”
1982 8/9 May – Jersey - Helier Men's Day of Dance
1982 5/6 June – Thaxted -Thaxted Morris Men - 193rd
1982 7/8 August - Dartmoor Folk Festival
1983 13/14 August – Isle of Wight - Men of Wight - 201st
1983 September - Weekend of dance with Carn Brae, Hellier and Kings Morris Men
1984 1/4 June - Le Relecq Kerhuon, Brittany with Bodmin Twinning Association
1984 23/24 June – Preston - Preston Royal Morris Men - 204th
1985 4/6 May - Le Relecq Kerhuon, Brittany with Bodmin Twinning Association
1985 19/20 July – Worcester – Faithful City Morris Men - 210th
1986 May – Normandy to visit to Dick Welsby
1986 6/7 September - Worksop – Harthill Morris Men - 217th
1987 6/7 June - Le Relecq Kerhuon, Brittany to take part in “Musiques et Dances Traditionelles”
1987 17/19 July – Crediton – Exeter Morris Men - 221st
1988 9/10 July – Bodmin (OK we didn't travel but others did) – Trigg Morris Men - 225th
1988 2/4 September – Canterbury – Wantsum Morris Men - 226th
1989 9/11 June - South Petherton Festival
1989 22/23 July – Kennet Morris Men - 231st
1990 7/8 July - St Albans – St Albans Morris Men - 234th
1991 5/7 July - Ripley – Ripley Morris Men - 239th
1991 14/15 September - Langueux Trade Fair with Wadebridge Twinning Association
1992 5/6 September - Hartley Morris Men - 247th
1993 4/5 September - Stockbridge – Winchester Morris Men - 252nd
1994 29/30 - Normandy to visit to Dick Welsby
1994 23/24 July – Ledbury – Silurian Border Morris Men - 257th
1995 June - Cothele – National Trust Centenary with Dartington Morris Men
1995 14/16 July - Oakham - The Rutland Morris Men - 262nd 1
1996 7/10 June - Le Relecq Kerhuon, Brittany for their Centenary Celebrations
1996 13/14 July – Bodmin – Trigg Morris Men - 266th
1996 19/21 July – Wantage – Icknield Way Morris Men - 267th
1997 24/25 May - Jersey – Helier Men's Day of Dance
1997 12/13 July – Ludlow – South Shropshire and Jockey Morris Men - 271st
1998 19/21 June – Chipping Campden – Chipping Campden & Shakespeare M M - 275th
1998 24/25 October – Plymouth - Fools and Beasts
1999 17/18 July – Eastbourne – Long Man Morris Men (21st Anniversary) - 278th
1999 21/22 August – Uppermill, Oldham - Saddleworth Rushcart Silver Jubilee
2000 May - Jersey Helier Men's Jubilee Meeting
2000 24/25 June – Nuneaton – Anker Morris Men (Silver Jubilee) - 283rd
2001 18/19 August – Epsom – East Surrey Morris Men (75th Anniversary) - 288th
2002 31 May/5 June – Le Relecq Kerhuon, Brittany with Bodmin Folk Club
2002 8/9 June – Thaxted – Thaxted Morris Men - 290th
2002 12/13 October - Killigarth, Polperro - Fools & Beasts Weekend with Plymouth Morris Men
2003 5/7 September – Stockbridge – Winchester Morris Men (Golden Jubilee) -297th
2003 24/31 October – Grass Valley, U.S.A.
2004 15/16 May – Sutton Bonnington – Dolphin Morrismen - 298th
2004 21/22 August – Uppermill, Oldham - Saddleworth Rushcart XXX
2005 7/9 May - Le Relecq Kerhuon Brittany - “Le Basket”
2005 30/31 July – St Albans – St Albans Morris Men (75th Anniversary) - 305th
2006 14/16 July – Chipperfield – Greensleeves Morris Men (80th Anniversary) – 307th
2006 13 August - South Petherton – Dartmoor Folk Festival
2007 6/8 July – Worthing – Sompting Village Morris “End of the Pier” Weekend of Dance
2007 21/22 July – Brewood – Stafford Morris Men (50th Anniversary) - 311th
2008 4/6 July – Cheddington – Whitchurch Morris Men (60th Anniversary) – 314th
2009 5/9 June – Stockholm, Sweden – Eken Morris Men Weekend of Dance
2009 5/6 September – Bath – Bathampton Morris Men (75th Anniversary) - 321st
2010 4/6 June – Thaxted – Thaxted Morris Men - 323rd
2010 3/5 September – St Austell – Trigg Morris Men - 324th
2011 8/10 July – Worthing – Sompting Village Morris “Panto” Weekend of Dance
2011 4/5 June – Thaxted – Thaxted Centenary - 327th (P & V Champion & Philp Family as Trigg’s Representatives)
2012 26/27 May - Chipping Campden – Chipping Campden, Ilmington & Shakespeare - 331st
2013 6/7 July– Chichester – Martlet Sword & Morris Men (60th Anniversary) 338th
2013 24/25 August – Uppermill, Oldham - Saddleworth Rushcart 39th (Pete Philp & Family as Trigg’s Reps)
2014 31 May/1 June – Thaxted - 341st (Pete Philp attended as Trigg's Representative)
2014 6/7 September – Dartmouth – Dartington Morris Men - 343rd
2014 22/23 August – Uppermill, Oldham - Saddleworth Rushcart 40th/348th (Alan Tringham as Trigg's Representative)
2015 5/6 September – Bulkington – Anker Morris Men (40th Anniversary) - 349th
2016 16/17 July – Tadworth – East Surrey Morris Men (90th Anniversary) -351st
2017 10/11 June – Wrotham – Hartley Morris Men (65th Anniversary) - 354th
2018 30 June/1 July - Stoke Mandeville - Whitchurch Morris Men (70th Anniversary)
2019 7/9 June – Isle of Wight - Men of Wight Weekend of Dance
2019 20/21 July – Henley in Arden – Jockey & Shakespeare (70th & 60th Anniversary) – 361st
2021 4 September – Plymouth - Plymouth Morris “Mayflower Morris Muster”- 364th
2022 16/18 September – Isle of Wight – Men of Wight 50th Anniversary
Willie Clancy and The Trigg Morris Side's Visit to Miltown Malbay, May 1972.
"I (Ian West) was the first musician of the Trigg Morris Men, a revival side formed in 1971 in central Cornwall, dancing traditional Cotswold Morris. If Cotswold Morris seems slightly odd for Central Cornwall, it was certainly so in remote County Clare at that time in the early seventies.
As an enthusiastic young Morris Side we were eager to show off our own music; but we were enormously enthusiastic worshippers at the alter of all traditional music. Visualize seven Morris dancers, a Morris musician plus two wives and a girlfriend in a Ford Transit minibus, travelling by ferry from Swansea to Cork. We were directed by Danny Linnehan (an Irish lad at the Bodmin Folk Club) to go to his native Knocknagree in the heart of 'Sliabh Luachra' as an excellent starting point for our pilgrimage in search of living traditional Irish music. Our 'Squire' at the time was Vic Legg (a fine traditional singer), and our 'Bagman' was Roger Hancock; both are still dancing with Trigg and have confirmed details of this trip. Vic recalls travelled up to County Clare from Knocknagree, crossing the Shannon by ferry to Kilrush, where we encountered the Horse Fair. ("Anything from a £50,000 race-horse to a £5 donkey" Vic remembers someone saying.) From there Vic recalls we made our way to “… Doolin where we met two of the three Russell brothers, Packie and Micko. (Gussie wasn't there.) Packie. played the concertina, and Micko. the whistle, or flute, or both. Sadly, none of them are alive today”. (Vic was deeply into the Irish traditional music scene, and knew where to go and who to meet.)
The encounter with Willie Clancy came the next day. I wrote some notes at the time which I transcribe verbatim for, though unpolished, they carry an immediacy. This was written on Wednesday the 31 May 1972 [with later ‘clarification’ in square brackets].
"Last night [Tuesday 30th May 1972] we hoped to join a ceilidh at Spanish Point, but found nothing happening at the Armada; nor at Quilty could we find anything. So we drove back into Miltown Malbay. We stopped on the way in and Vic [our 'squire'] asked some girls playing in the street if they could tell us the pub habituated by the great player of the Uilleann pipes -- Willie Clancy. They could not, but as we were by chance parked immediately outside his house they offered to call him out. Vic said "No, you cannot do that to a great man!"; then "--but, dammit, I would like to shake his hand." After 10 minutes Vic came out of the house and said that Willie Clancy would like to meet us all; so we [8 Morris men in full kit with bells and baldricks, plus 3 women] trooped into his small house. After we had chatted to his wife for a few minutes Willie came through; a tall, smiling, man with sandy hair, boyish face and a one-day beard. He wore carpenter's overalls complete with boxwood rule. We shook hands and engaged in conversation. Then he took up the long box containing his pipes, and said it was time for a glass of porter, and directed us [to go ahead of him up] to Lynch's Bar. Vic entered the dark bar and O'Fleary [can that be the right name?] came to greet him out of his kitchen beyond the bar, where he had been sitting by the stove. When we explained that Willie Clancy was coming round to play he took us all into his kitchen. [Willie and his wife arrived.] We bought a round of Guinness, chatted a while and Willie played a tune on a whistle. We went out onto the street and danced a few [Morris] dances, but it was very cold outside. So back into the kitchen. Some other friends of Willie's were gathering. A fellow (could it be Martin Talty?) produced a dark wooden flute with an ivory mouthpiece and practically no keys; and Willie and he played. Very, very, fine music. One could go on listening all night. But we got to singing songs and with our lasses we danced a Dorset four-hand reel across the kitchen. And Willie danced a solo jig, and Willie's foil -- old "Farmer" -- was persuaded to tell us a story. "At half past midnight, O'Fleary, who had been flitting about noiselessly smiling all evening, let us out one by one into the street from the dark bar. A very fine evening.”
Vic, Roger, and I have all added further recollections, albeit recalled some 34 years after the event. Vic remembers that, when the minibus stopped beside them in Miltown Malby, the two girls were playing a game with two balls bouncing against the house wall. They might still remember the occasion, as the Morris men were in full costume (for the anticipated ceilidh); and the occasion was only months before Willie Clancy’s untimely death. Roger recollects that the man referred to as “Farmer” was named Michael, and that Willie jokingly called him his ‘manager’. Old “Farmer” preceded his story by protesting that these English youngsters wouldn’t understand him. I found it hard going but I think I got the gist; one of those stories where you wake and find it was all a dream. I thought the landlord had seemed reluctant to open up the pub until told what had prompted us to knock him up, whereupon he sprang to. We soon had quite a throng in the back kitchen, though the pub had appeared shut for the evening. I concluded that someone had spread the word that Willie Clancy was going to play, which someone told me was a rare event by then. It seemed that the enthusiasm of our visiting Morris Side had proved sufficient to stimulate Willie into playing. Vic visualizes Lynch’s bar as having two counters to walk between; on one side a bar, and on the other groceries. He also recalls that upon entering the empty bar off the dark street it was lit by a single light, which was a brand new electric sign on the Guinness pump, connected to the ceiling rose by a long piece of flex. Roger recollects that, as the Trigg Men drove through Miltown Malbay the next day, they saw Willie Clancy and his wife in a throng of others dressed for church, (or possibly a funeral). " As recounted in 2006
More on Willie Clancy here : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Clancy_(musician)