So on Friday I set out to Quivvy,knowing only it was somewhere near Belturbet in county Cavan.After asking some people about it,and buying a map I was pretty sure I would find it. The narrow local road led me through typical boring irish landscape -grass-sheep-trees.It was longer then I thought would be,must've been 1 hour walk before I got to some stone bridge.Right after the bridge was someone's house,and though map was saying there was a road leading left and another one straight ,there actually was only the left one,the othere one must be leading through the yard.So I just walked on the one that lead left,not knowing where the church was actually,as it wasn't marked on the map. Then unexpectedly ,after some 50 yards,there was some building right beside the road on the right side,that looked like a church,it's windows looked somehow familiar,and I was in doubt if it was THE one,actually I doubted it because in my imagination it was bigger and it was on a desolated island on a river(as I read on some site) with acres of land belonging to it,not a smallish church right beside the road and almost without any yard.From outside nothing gives any sign of anyone living there. Then my eyes fell on these words carved into the wall left of the door:"In the kingdom of the blind the one-eyed are kings".You know this,don't ya? :) Even after this I wasn't convinced it was Quivvy church,but after the first look through a window I was finally sure of it.I saw the drum-bodhran,that can also be seen on a website. I didn't know he wasn't living there anymore,and didn't know if he was inside or not,so it took me time to get courage enough to look through other windows,where I saw other instruments and equipment.There was a light in what from outside seemed to be his kitchen.
I was mostly grinning like crazy all the time because of the tension,thinking he might come back every moment,or just because of WHERE I was-think only of their last 2 albums recorded there
! I took some photos-will put them in the tribe photos after i have them done-and wrote a note on a piece of paper and put it in front of the door:"Thank you for the music" :).
Finally it was time for me to go back and catch the last bus to Dublin. On my way back I was a bit sad for not seeing him(although when I was there I was scared he WOULD come :)).
In the shop near the bus stop I asked shop-girl if she knew who was living in Quivvy (showed her CD),she said she had no idea.Ah,well... I was more lucky with an other girl who was waiting for the bus.When I showed her CD and asked if she knew it,she asked me :"You were there?!" Oh,here we are!
It turned out that she knew almost evrything I nedeed to know. That he's not living there for years anymore,that he got married,has a child and built a house near Quivvy.that they are having their samba school rehearsals probably in the old train station nearby,that "he's drinking in the Smith's bar" beside the shop,and also that her friend was babysitting in his house !! :). Weird what can one find out if one is not afraid to talk and ask! :) But I missed 2 things: I could have talked to the man who was outside his home beside Quivvy church,and could have tried to get in contact with that girl's friend.
That's about it. I surely will go there again. See what will happen. :) Also,if anyone of you,or anyone you know is coming to Ireland,I would be glad to go there with you,just contact me!
Long live MUSICA ETERRRRNAL !