I sang through the fairs and the markets and I had very enjoyable times and more
times I hadn't because there was times when there was wet and rain and probably
coming back on a bicycle from somewhere and get wet and all that and knocked
around a little bit but I enjoyed every minute of it as well like as getting the
knocked around. I enjoyed it because I thought that when my heart was delighted
when I went through the fairs and keep on singing all the time and then it's
not alone I used to do that but as soon as ever I'd finish up from some fair or
a market I'd actually go to some house I used to always be hired they knew me
that well, around Castle Blaney, around Monaghan, around Cross, Glenair, May and all
these places and they used to always come along for me and say well do you like
for you to go up to the house some night and will you play a few tunes and sing a
couple of songs. Well there I was. I used to go to the houses at 8 o'clock in the
evening and from 8 till maybe 7 in the morning I'd keep on playing all the time
and singing for them and I'd get a rest at about 12 o'clock just a little rest in
between and I'd get a little bit of supper and start off and I'd play for
them half sits and if there's room in the place around it take away the
furniture and the tables and the whole lot and just start off playing, dancing
and there it was till 7 o'clock in the morning. Oh yes and then well I'd be as
they get a little refreshment at about midnight 12 o'clock well I they'd all
have a recitation some of them would be able to sing and more of them couldn't
sing they'd have to say something because that's the sort of a place that
is around there. Everybody has to do a turn while I was getting this little bit
of a feast at 12 o'clock or whatever time it would be and I'd have to start
off playing again for them then till as usual keep on playing. This would be at a wedding? No no it's not a
wake no it's actually what you call a sociable in houses they carry on that
you see they bring you there and you play like for them and they get you a
collection you see amongst the people because some way they love that sort of
life like the dance away do you see and it's what they call a house carry
a house carry you see. They what they call that around the country there now is a
house carry and of course it's only natural enough it's never without drink
you