A changing of the guard at both my locals

Next Sunday sees the end of an era for Oxford pubs. Joe Ryan is giving up the Half Moon, and from Tuesday week it will be the first time in something like 27 years that Joe, an Irishman originally from Clare, hasn't been the landlord of a pub in Oxford with a cracking reputation for music.

In the leadup to the changeover, the pub's longtime residents (our friends Ian, Darren and Catherine) have moved on, and there have been several 'last hurrah' evenings, with all the regulars turning out, and out of towners like Jon Spiers and Kathryn Nutbeem getting in for a song or two. The pub is going into good hands: new landlord Jamie has been a regular behind the bar for some time, and while he has loads of good ideas for upping daytime custom, we're hoping he'll want to change very little about the evening sessions. Fingers are crossed...
Last week saw a different era end at my other local - the Dan O'Connell in Melbourne. For the past 15 years or more, the Sunday afternoon 'spot', 4pm-7pm, has belonged to Pat McKernan, another Irish expat who has found a home away from home in pubs. Pat's ability to generate a whole lot of sound and vibe from one man and a guitar has made him a stalwart on the Irish live music scene in my home town. But last Sunday was his last ever at the Dan, bringing to an end more than a decade of memories for me and mine: Pat McKernan followed by Erins Pride,
Pat followed by the Sunday singing session, Pat playing at Mikko's and my wedding, Pat on St Pat's day, Pat in countless Hundred Pint club photos. One of the Dan's regulars used to sayhis ambition was to one day have learned as many songs at Pat knew. Pat's versions of Sally McLannan, the Parting Glass, the Fields of Athenrye and loads others are still the ones I know and sing.

There are piccies on facebook.

I'm gutted I missed it. But you will know where to find me on the 19th - at Joe's last hurrah.