Dear Reader –
Today’s title sounds like a Stieg Larsson thriller, but no…the heartbreak stories are coming in…keep them coming - thank you!
The Big Thing
Some teaching numbers for you first today…
81 - new songs recorded last Sunday by Kris Manulak and I. Up on pianowithkieran.com soon.
13 - days to the official start of term.
5 - editions of my Learning the Piano By Ear workbook now printed - thanks Sean in Tiger Print!
4 - students from one particular family signed up for lessons. A new record - thanks guys. No fights over the piano at home please!
3 - slots left in our Strandhill timetable.
Where else but Sligo?
It was going to be the best day of his life.
Young Joe had been secretly writing letters to a mystery female penpal for a number of weeks now, and today was the day he was to meet her.
“Meet me at the Culleens Carnival”, she wrote. “I’ll be wearing a floral dress - find me and say hello”.
And just as he thought the day couldn’t get any better, he spotted her. She was drop-dead gorgeous. Feeling nervous, he tried to think instead of the many letters they had exchanged and the connection they already seemed to have, despite never having met.
But that was about to change. Summoning up the courage, our hero approached the young lady. '“Hi - I’m Joe. Nice to meet you at last”.
But her response was not what he had been hoping for. “Sorry - who are you?”
Simultaneously he spotted his friends in the background unable to contain their laughter, and in that moment he knew he had been the victim of an elaborate prank. Torn between keeping a brave face and the heartbreak he was feeling inside, he walked away and never saw this beautiful lady again.
But decades later, he told that story live on air on Ocean FM last week! So thank you to Joe Shannon for providing this perfect example of what we need for our upcoming Theme Night - a heartbreak story about which (hopefully) you can laugh many years later!
Two free Theme Night tickets and hear the Theme Night band respond live to your story if your story is chosen. Email kieran@kieranquinn.ie, or if you would prefer not to give your name, write it down on this online form, or send me a voice note (087-2390710).
And thanks to Theme Night regulars Georgie and Joe for having me live on their popular radio show last week - more power to ye lads.
What’s New?
BALLYSHANNON THEME NIGHT: I’m looking for performers! We are bringing Theme Night #32 to Ballyshannon and surely between us all we can find some great Donegal singers and musicians to join the Sligo crew we’re bringing to The Abbey Arts Centre on Oct 21.
Send on your suggestions please…THE BEST PART: For any musicians - read this. Thanks to Sinéad, Mike, Joe, Georgie, Gerry and Seamie for helping summon these feelings over the last few days.
MUSIC CLUB RETURN: The new Music Club season is nearly here. Read all about it here and please get in touch if you’d like to join last year’s crew and get involved…
Finally…
One of the 81 from last Sunday…
Till next time - Kieran.
