Swinging Gaelic on top again
CELEBRATIONS were in full swing at The Gaelic Bar as they received their second major award in two years.
Last year, Martin Mahoney and his team of regulars were victorious in the Variety section of the Guinness Wexford Festival Singing and Swinging Pubs competition, and this year they managed to get their hands on the coveted ‘Swinging’ title.
The Gaelic put on a great show with performances from barmen Eamon and Noel Murphy, Pat Mahoney, PJ and Susan Walker, Jimmy Esmonde, sisters Rita, Carmel and Pauline Mahoney and Trevor Goodison.
In honour of the competition’s 60th year, the group performed a song from each decade from the 1950s right up to the 2000s and it really added to the performance.
‘We don’t believe in bringing anybody else into the pub to do a performance. We used the same team of people that we use every year and they’re all regulars in the pub here,’ said Martin Mahoney.
It proved to be a tried and tested method for success, as the Gaelic Bar managed to win four prizes in total, including Best Swinging Pub, Best Audience Participation, Best Decorated and Best Programme.
‘ The Best Decorated is all down to Carmel Mahoney,’ Martin said.
‘She put in a massive amount of work stitching and sewing to get the place looking nice.
Also Best Programme was the work of Susan Walker. She’s won it a few times and this year it was great as always.’