Whats the CRAIC (14-24 August 2025)

After numerous visits (business) to Dublin we escaped the heath of Provence and went on a discovery tour in Ireland. Early this year we spend 5 days touring Wales which was a great experience so now the Emerald Island!

With Ryanair from Marseille to Dublin. Very positively surprised by this no-nonsense Irish carrier. It all worked. Rent a car, was much less smooth, it took us 2 hours to get that bloody car! We drove to Dublin, walked Grafton, Trinity College, St Stephen's Green and much more. The day after the concert we started our roundtrip, first stop Waterford, Country Cork, The Ring of Kerry, Macroom, Balleyheigue. Doolin, Connemara, Westport, Lough Area and back to Dublin Airport.

Great scenes and excellent "pub" food.

The missus and I were enjoying a truly great, generously filled chowder at the very busy O’Connells Pub in Lahinch, County Clare. Just then, a Japanese guy walks into the packed bar — let’s call him Takahashi — and asks, “Do you have a table?” Paddy, the waiter, asks when and for how many. Takahashi replies, “Ahhh… for now… and we are 10!” Paddy bursts out laughing: “You’re joking, right? I might have a table in 30 minutes.”

Takahashi, perfectly imitating Jorrit’s drawn-out aaaahhhhhh, says, “Let me check with my group.” I was dying laughing!

Oasis Life 25

The loudest concert ever in Ireland, with the biggest crowd in and outside Croke Park! A reunion 16 years after the breakup — opening with Hello, and the rest was one massive singalong. 82,000 happy people, smiling, singing, having the time of their lives. Mom Gallagher from Mayo was in the audience — it all came together. When the crowd held up their phones, you saw their kids; when Inge and I did, we saw our grandkids. Aging is sweet.

Dublin was Oasis central: t-shirts, bucket hats, merch everywhere. Stores and streets were alive with their music, and Temple Bar was fully Gallagher-decorated.  So much great music, for all of us so many memories, a distraction in troubling times, and from the Poznan in  Cigarettes and Alcohols to a majestic closing with Champagne Supernova, it was biblical as Liam describes it, and “That's what life is all about,” says Noel.

For me, the best show I have ever been (and I have been to a few!)  Don’t be sad it’s over, be glad it happened, and that we were there. Oasis, thank you for a night to remember.

Matt Molloy

Finally, I made it to Matt Molloy’s Pub in Westport, County Mayo. Although the legendary Chieftains flutist Matt Molloy wasn’t around, we enjoyed a pint of Guinness and some apple cider in this iconic pub. Small and cozy, with walls covered in photos of celebrities and memorabilia, it has an atmosphere that’s hard to find anywhere else.

Back in the mid-nineties, I spent many evenings with the Chieftains in New York and Boston, particularly at their legendary St. Patrick’s Day concerts at Carnegie Hall. Matt was always the quieter Chieftain, ready for a good chat and, of course, a pint of Guinness.

Ireland

It’s hard to generalize, and I rarely do—but when it comes to Ireland, it’s difficult not to. The east, south, and west coasts are simply stunning (sorry, North—you’re next). The people are incredibly friendly, with a fantastic sense of humor. Played a round of golf with about 400 sheep joining me, loved the pubs and the music, and I must say that, more often than not, the food we had was simply great. We were totally prepared for the lower temperatures and non stop rain, and that didn't happen. It was dry, pleasant with lots of sun. Main conclusion, we have to go back.