Craic On

Last night gave myself and a number of friends the opportunity to go along and experience something a little different in 2013’s City of Culture once more (any opportunity and we gals are off in the middle of it!). BBC Radio 3’s Ian McMillan’s ‘Cabaret of the Word’ show The Verb was recorded last night in Derry’s Christ Church.

The guests included the Limerick born writer Kevin Barry, who was most interesting to hear read and chat; Singer songwriter Bridie Monds-Watson aka SOAK perform and chat; Manchester’s Gerry Diver on his ‘Speech Project’ album and Derry’s very own Michael Bradley from The Undertones gave his opinion on the infamous Danny Boy. It was a fun filled interesting night covering a variety of topics all intertwined with the spoken word, language and music.

The setting in Christ Church was simply beautiful and when McMillan asked for a drink of water he emphasised ‘holy’ water! A very witty yet exceptionally insightful being we found Ian McMillan to be! He made the audience feel a very important part of the show and we even learned ‘radio clapping and laughter’!!

The highlight of the evening was surely the introduction of local bookshop owner Jenni Doherty’s famous ‘writers chair’. Jenni, proprietor of Little Acorns Bookstore, Bedlam, Pump St, Derry, has acquired two infamous chairs and whilst one is the ‘writers’ the other is the ‘actors’ chair. She has succeeded in obtaining a vast amount of signatures on both seats and last night was no exception. Ian McMillan and Kevin Barry were delighted to sign the said chair and insisted on tweeting about it.

Another delightful wee night during this amazing year as City of Culture in Derry. It’s only half way into the year this week so there’s still much more to look forward to. No doubt we gals will be venturing around the city for quite a bit more culture over the coming weeks and months….