Irish music, Irish food and then Mexican pesos all - for an ambulance

LA MANZANILLA, Jalisco, Mexico - A fund raiser the day before St. Patrick's Day in La Manzanilla brought out a good-sized crowd to eat Irish stew, soda bread, drink Guinness - and listen to some fine Irish music.

The money raised is to go towards the ambulance and emergency services in La Manzanilla.

Mike and Myranda

The event was held in the rooftop palapa of Richard and Nansee, a wonderful setting for, well, just about anything. The last time I was on that rooftop, I was trying (mostly unsuccessfully) to learn the tango.

Wednesday night, I didn't give the Irish Jig a try, though my feet were tapping all through it.

The music was provided by Myranda and Mike (the Celtic Duo) with Admiral Fox joining in on her fiddle.

Myranda did a fine job playing and singing (barely a dry eye in the palapa when she finished singing "Oh Danny Boy..."). She also gave a demonstration of just how the Irish Jig is done - and then got a half dozen people up on their feet to try it out. The video below highlights some of that action.

How much money was raised?

Ask Dan tonight at Palapa Joes if he shows up with his harmonica to play some music with the Lizards.

Celtic music group a hit at hotel Boca de Iguanas

BOCA DE IGUANAS, Jalisco, Mexico - The Celtic trio of Myranda O'Byrne, Michael Price, and Admiral Sylvia Fox put on a one-hour show Friday afternoon for about 40 in the beachfront bar of the hotel Boca de Iguanas.

While they played, Jimmi Jorgensen and his bartender worked like mad to keep up with the margarita orders.

What a combination - tequila, lime and Irish music.

The songs were all lively and while no one jumped up to do any Irish jigs - or dance a reel - there was plenty of toe-tapping.

The event was part social, and part fund-raiser, for a project to raise money to purchase some guitars. The guitars will eventually be used by Myranda to teach music to children at the Pink Flamingo in Arroyo Seco, where Laura Warner started teaching her English classes this week.

Friday's one-hour gig netted 700 pesos for the project.


Sylvia and Myranda


Celtic trio fans at Boca


Tonight the trio will be playing at the open mic night at Palapa Joes in La Manzanilla and returns to Boca in two weeks for another gig, and fund raiser.

There is some talk of a few audience participation songs by the trio, too.

No matter what, get to Palapa Joe's early to get a seat.