Stamullen was the place to be on Saturday night and we had a great audience in on the night with a couple of celebrations taking place.

Lorraine was celebrating her 21st after having a beautiful family meal in Whytes Restaurent with family and friends. We played ‘Sweet Sixteen’, for her along with the ’Galway Girl’ although she is a royalers true and true.

Plenty of favourites songs were sung on the night including the infamous ‘James Connolly’, and the Luke Kelly ’peggy Gordon’.

Happy birthday Brian Killarney was the cheer in O’Connor’s village Inn Ballyboughal on Sunday night. Brian was among his family and friends and we had a great o’uld sing song no music required with this talent on hand.

There were plenty of photos been taken on the night if you have a special one send it on to us at morning dew@dublin.ie ad we will give them a spot in the blog.

Next week we are away to Naul when we will be playing in Killians on Sat Night.

Pictured is Brian Killarney, Billy Wogan and Dickie Donnelly three famous characters from Ballyboughal and they were in great form

Always a friendly welcome from Donal and Patsy, and a great pint to boot.

St Patrick's Night we will be back in Whytes Stamullen.

Weekend 16th November

Back on the road last Saturday night in Killians in Naul where a full house awaited us on the night. No sign of recession on this night a great audience rearing for a good night out.

We had a slight delay in starting as the Irish boxer Bernard Dunne was fighting live in Dublin and it was on Donal’s big screen in the lounge. Dunne won the fight as it was stopped in the 10th round.

We started straight into the session with the ‘Flight of the Earls’ and this set the tone for the night plenty of good rousing songs to please the crowd.

The biggest reception on the night was for ‘Green fields of France’ young Willie McBride, this one had the whole pub singing together we were even asked to sing it again at the end of the night, but for those of you who know MD we don’t repeat any song on the night, you have to be there to appreciate it in the moment.

Next week we will be back in the Royal county in the village of Stamullen where Brendan and his staff in ’Whytes Bar’ will be on hand to serve you not only good drink but also great food in their restaurant, well worth a visit.

Weekend 26^th October Bank Holiday

The bank holiday weekend got off to a flying start in the Man O War on Friday night.

If you were one of the audience you were part of the summertime chorus when we rallied a rousing version of ‘Go Lassie Go’ we have been interacting this ballad with the audiences for the last two weeks and it is getting better by the gig.

Imelda and friends were in from Skerries enjoying the night espically as Imelda had the night off work, locals would know her from working in the restaurant.

This collection of friends from the Man O War were enjoying the ballad night espically the Wolfe Tone’s songs we sang for them on the night.

The ‘Ride on the Tractor’ as great surprise to them as they had not heard it before.

Back in the Royal county on Saturday night and a full house in Whytes where we had a fantastic session with the audience in great form for the crack and plenty of singing.

Bernie, Annie and Siobhan were in from the Naul and gave us plenty of requests on the night. Annie loves the ’Boys from the Co Armagh’, and we duly sang it for her.

The seaside town of Skerries was our destination for the Bank Holiday Sunday night and Nealons bar & lounge in the heart of the town was a hive of activity, full house again and everyone was in great form. Skerries fans love all the MD songs there was no such thing as a bad ballad on this night.

Paddy was in with his friends on the night himself and Catherine have been supporters of the MD for many years now and it is always great to see them.

The next two weeks we are playing some private functions and wont be back on the public stage until sat 15^th November in Killians in Naul, hope you can make it along to this little gem of a gig in the North County.

Check the GIG guide to see where we will be playing near you next!

Weekend 19^th October

Kinsealy Saturday night was a lively venue with an exceptional singing audience in on the night. The ‘Galway Girl’ got and early airing with some of the punters in great spirits at the start of the gig, I think they were there from early in the day probably after the Liverpool game in the afternoon but it was all great fun and the atmosphere was great.

We asked for some requests and we weren’t disappointed with the responses like ’Kevin Barry’ for Veronica who sent us home with some beautiful home made muffins they were delicious. ’James Connolly’ bought the house down with the full rendition and recitation of the poem preceding it.

A great singing audience on the night who joined into every ballad we sang and rallied together with a powerful version of ’Go lassie Go’ I can still hear it I my head it was that good. We will be back in Kinsealy before Xmas on Saturday night 13^th December.

Next weekend is the October bank holiday weekend and we have a busy schedule ahead of us with the Man O War, on Friday, Whytes Stamullen on Sat and Nealons in Skerries on the Sunday night we are looking forward to all the excitement that is before us.

Check the GIG guide to see where we will be playing near you next!

Weekend 12^th October

Hear ye hear ye, the pub is open again on Monday Week 20^th oct /08 great to see the works being carried out on it to get it ready for opening before the bank holiday weekend.

Nice to see it retain the O’Connor name in the ‘O’Connor’s Village Inn’ sounds good to me. We would like to wish the new publicans the best of success for the future.

Back in Cloughertown Saturday night and we had a full house early in the night.

Every time we play this little gem of a venue we get a great response from the audience especically to the rebel songs which were requested in abundance on the night.

Pictured is Francis who said they are like something out of ‘last of the summer wine‘, ‘James Connolly’, ‘Kevin Barry’ and the ‘Boys of the old brigade, the list goes on but we did manage to sing all requests.

We has a couple of singers in on the night when Frankie Moore gave us a blast of ‘Things’ and then John sang the beautiful ‘Dutchman’ which went down well with a couple of visitors from the Netherlands who were in on the night.

Muriel was celebrating her birthday pictured here with her adopted! Son, well it was news to her, I think he was adopting Muriel who loves the ‘Fields of Athenry’ which we also performed on the night.

Next week we are playing a private party on Fri and then we are back in the Kinsealy Inn on the Saturday night and looking forward to it, as it is always a lively venue.

Check the upcoming gigs page for a venue near you!

Weekend 28th September

Saturday night and the royal county town of Stamullen was alive and kicking in Whytes.

Full house on the night and sandwiches and hot dippers for everyone in the audience courtesy of St Patrick’s GAA club.

St Pats were celebrating turning the sod on their new clubrooms and we wish them all the best in their new development.

Annie and the daughters were in from the Naul and we sang a few favourites for them ’ Boys from Co Armagh’, and ’The Rooster’.

The Lusk brigade were in and requesting allot of the rebel songs like ’Come out Ye Black N ‘Tans’, and the ‘Boys of the old Brigade’, great choice.

Michelle and Jacqui were having a great time and love the ballads espically the Furey Brothers ’Sweet 16’ which we sang for them this went down really well with the audience on the night. The royalers ’these would be the locals’ always love a good jibe at us Dubs so we gave them a blast of the ’Beautiful Meath’ this went down really well and got us all singing together.

Tolka Rovers Sunday night and our first time in the clubhouse it was a great night of music and singing. The Rovers are celebrating their 25^th Anniversary and the function room and bar are a lovely place to play to a large audience.

The ladies were just back from a weekend in Sligo and in great form. We had many requests on the night but we had to apologise for not singing the Rooster’ as we had no cock a doodle doo’ on the night.

One of the biggest hits of the night was ’Seven Drunken Nights’ we had a great rousing night and we even had a rendition of the ‘Ould triangle’ which had the whole crowd singing in great voice.

We will be back in the Tolka Rovers Club on Friday 17^th October for a special 30^th B’Day and it is to be an open house on the night, so we are really looking forward to the return visit.

Keep an eye on local press for upcoming dates and check the upcoming gigs page on the website.

Weekend 21^st September

Killians in the Naul Saturday night and it could have been anywhere in the Mediterranean with the great days weather we had on Saturday.

A full house and everyone in great form with the weather being so good.

This was the eve of the all Ireland football finals in Croke Park featuring Tyrone and Kerry, in which Tyrone ran out the victors by four points after a thrilling game.

We got some really nice requests for some songs we haven’t covered for a while.

Pictured are two lovebirds Mark & Helen who were in the front row seats all night and enjoying the gig.

Almost finished with ‘On the one road’ but this audience wanted more, and not just any old more they wanted a bit of ‘Joe Dolan’ which we duly gave a blast of ‘More & More’ & Its you, Its you, Its you, this brought the house down and finished off a great evening.

Next week we will be in Whytes Stamullen on Saturday night and Tolka Rovers on the Sunday. Hope you can get along to gig soon and get us to sing some of your favourite ballads.

Weekend 14^th September

Surprise surprise! And happy birthday Charlie, a great gathering of family and friends to celebrate Charlie Carroll’s 60^th B’day.

The Millmount House was the venue, and we had a fantastic reunion with some fans from the ’Rolestown Inn’ Friday nights many years ago.

Ellen, pictured here with Charlie had the room well decorated with pictures and buntings for the night.

Plenty of requests on the night for some old favourites we even had to revive ‘Alice’, at one stage, its was a bit of crack., and great to see so many friends again.

Kinsealy Inn on Saturday night and the audience was a small select few compared to the normal Sat night out. With two big games on in the afternoon took the sting out of the night session.

June, Veronica and Dolores were enjoying the music and we had some different requests on the night.

The Bunch of Thyme, was requested I cant remember when we last sang it, probably about two years ago. This was a very enjoyable session we most of the requested ballads being covered on the night.

Next week we are away in the Naul and Killians is the venue, always a cosy venue and a great place to see MD and get us to lay some of your favourite ballads.

Weekend 24^th August

Love is in the air and all around us last Fri in the Marine Hotel in Sutton.

Wedding bells were chiming for Martin and Lisa on their special day and a large group of guests gathered to celebrate with them on the day.

We were playing to meet the wedding party as they arrived from the church and to start the ball rolling on the day.

We had a fantastic audience around us at the reception and we also had some excellent requested songs on the afternoon.

The bride and groom were greeted with ‘The voyage’ a very fitting song and one that we all hope will aspire to their long married life together.

Plenty of hand clapping and sing along on the afternoon and we duly played the duelling banjo’s for martin before the bell was ringing for the guests to take their seats for the wedding breakfast.

Pictured is Martin and Lisa after the session with MD, you might notice the beautiful view from the bay window out to Dublin bay and it was so much more special as the afternoon was a beautiful sunny one.

We will be on a couple of weeks hols from this week but we will be back playing on Saturday 13^th Sept in the Kinsealy Inn.

Check the upcoming gigs page for future dates.

Weekend 17^th August

McCormack’s in Balscadan was the venue for Friday night the 15^th August and the annual holiday evening following the pattern in the village.

A large crowd in on the evening for the gig and the atmosphere was one of a holiday mode even though the weather would have us all a bit down , it was a dull dark evening but MD brightened that all up wit a good session on the night.

A big group of fans in from the Naul who stayed on for the nights music. David was heading off to Australia and a great group of family and friends were turned out to wish him well.

Wedding bells are chiming for Martin and Lisa who will be tying the knot next Friday.

The best man Martins brother James was in great spirits ahead of couples big day next week.

The two Catherine’s were celebrating with Lisa [RHS pic] on the night and know their music looking for songs like the ’Seven drunken nights’ ’Black is the colour’ and the MD duly sang all we could for them.

A couple of blow ins from Swords were out on the night the Smiths and the girls were out having a few beers and enjoyed the session, pictured is Tommy and Danny with the girls having a good ould laugh and a bit of chin wagging about football, well what else, these Smith lads do play a mean game of ball and have been known to get out of the zone from time to time.

We want to wish the Ballyboughal GFC all the best ahead of next weeks Junior Championship Semi final against Round Towers Clondalkin in Parnell Park Thursday Evening 21^st Aug @ 8pm.

Check the upcoming GIGs page for forthcoming events.

Monday 4^th August

Friday last the 1^st Aug and it was ‘Ye Ha & Yippee’ Carol was 40, and celebrating in the Hills cricket club in Skerries.

Great evening for a Bar-B-Q and some C&W music provided by Paddy Byrne with his own brand of country music mix on Guitar with the aid of some classy backing tracks.

Pictured is Ted & Carol on the night, Ted was also celebrating his birthday and we had to sing a little for him also.

Carol took to the stage to give us a couple of songs in celebration with all those Cowboys & Girls around it was a bit like the old SALOON days of the wild west.

These three cowgirls Bernie, Josie & Sally from Skidoo were having a great time and doing plenty of yahooing.

V and Patricia were enjoying the music and looking for some line dancing from Paddy on the night.

Later in the evening a large group of Carols’ musician friends gathered around the tables and sang until the early morning.

Pictured is a rare musician John Piper on the Banjo, he was strumming out to some C&W songs when I got this picture of him in his musical role.

Brothers Al and Ted were having a joke after 12’Oclock as it was then Al’s birthday although I don’t think you would need to pour the pints into Al he is well able to do that himself.

Saturday Night and we were back in Killians in Naul and we had a fantastic night out with a great audience on the night. Its always a good sign if customers are inclined to start dancing after your third song on the night and that was the way it was.

We met up with Noel and Kathleen who we haven’t seen for some time, but now they know we are in their local every few weeks we expect to see much more of them.

All the usual classic ballads were requested on the night and we had to revive the Banna Strand for Joe before we finished.

We will be back again in a few weeks keep an eye on local notices and the Gig guide on the website.

Sunday Night and Paddy O’Rourke was celebrating his 50^th birthday in the Yacht In Loughshinney.

All the O’Rourke clan made it for the celebration as Paddy who has been living in Australia for the last 37 years does not get home too often.

His brothers niece’s and nephews arranged his party to make up for all the missed one's along the way, 18^th 21^st 40^th some people reckoned he was celebrating his 100^th and if he ever does I hope MD will be booked to play for him.

Pictured is Paddy singing it’s a bit dark, but if any of you out there have a couple of photos from the gig send them on to morningdew@dublin.ie

It was a fantastic family gathering and not just because we were playing the gig, I’m glad the family booked a live ballad group for Patrick.

No sparing on the rebel songs we had to sing all the classics ’James Connolly’, ’Boys of the ould brigade’, ‘Black N’tans’, and espically for Paddy ‘On the one Road and A nation Once Again’, great music and not for the faint hearted, it was a great party.

Next weekend we are playing at two private functions but you can catch up with us on Friday Night 15^th August in McCormack’s Balscadan, this is a church holiday and the blessing of the graves takes place, this always bring out a nice crowd on the night, hope we see you there.

Monday 28th July

Best wishes to Eánna And Lorraine on their marriage in Rush on Fri last.

Eánna will be known to you from the ’Dicey Reilly’s’ group he is the guitar player and singer RHS.

We all headed off to Cavan and the Slieve Russell for the wedding reception, where we renewed acquaintances with old friends from Rush we haven’t seen in years. It was a fantastic wedding and we wish them both all the best for the future.

Saturday night and we were back in Donnelly’s. a lovely audience on the night after there was a christening early in the evening. Frankie gave us a couple of songs along with Sean and Anna, a few old Elvis favourites were also sang on the night.

Next week we will be in Killians Naul, this is a great intimate venue to see MD, as we can usually sing songs hat we would not normally do s the session is like sitting around the kitchen fire, hope you might be able to make it along to join in with us.

Monday 14^th July

The Kinsealy Inn on Saturday night had a great audience of locals and a few people o Holiday.

All the usual favourites were requested, ‘Fields of Athenry’ and we had to sing a couple of verses of ‘Liverpool loo’ for John home on Hols. John was telling us that he was born in Kinsealy and used to play in the fields which now houses so many families and the shopping centre with the local Pub.

Al ways a great gig this one nice stage for the band and everyone can join in the singing.

We had a rendition of the ’Ould triangle’ always a great hit with the balladeers the whole pub joined in the chorus’s what a session.

Next week we have a couple of private parties and it will be the following week before we can be seen playing in Donnelly’s in Cloughertown, hope you can make it along to sample Eddies hospitality.

Check upcoming gigs page for where we are playing next.

Monday 7^th July

They say it never rains but it pours and that was true of last weekend when Ireland was a washout with rain weekend, the worst night being the Saturday when we were showered on for hours on end. This didn’t however spoil the party, after all we are Irish and we don’t let things get us down too easily.

Silver wedding anniversary celebrations took place in the Rath in Rolestown when,

Pat and Margaret Rathcliff celebrated their 25^th with family and friends.

This celebration was made so special with family travelling from Co. Leitrim for the occasion, and indeed we sang the lovely Leitrim for them all [twice], it was well worth it.

Pat played a lovely tribute to his family of three children and his wife Margaret in when acknowledging that he may provide the bricks and slates for the home but the family espically Margaret, makes the home.

Aunty, and Godmother, Margaret Healy travelled from Leitrim and sang two beautiful songs with us, ’she moves through the fair’, and ’Cliffs of Dooneen’, and for a lady in her late eighties she was note perfect, it was a pleasure to be part of her performance.

Neighbours the Hutchinson’s were in great form,

pictured is Ted with Joe, propping up the bar, as normal, Joe sang ’Praying for rain in California’, this was a bit of a tonic considering it was pouring down as he sang it, it was great crack and the audience danced and loved it.

The night did however clear off enough for us to dance the night away and really have a great time, with no shortage of good pints and food.

This is a whole new trend now for people to have the party at home, get the marquee, cans or the keg, a bit of grub and the ‘Morning Dew’ and you will surly have a great night to remember.

Next week were playing in The Kinsealy Inn, a great venue for a ballad session on the

Feltrim Road just outside Swords.

Hope you can make it along, and say hello or give us a request.

Monday 30^th June

Were you in Stamullen on Saturday night, if you missed it, you missed one of the best singing sessions in a long time between a group and it audience.

Full house on the night and the atmosphere was electric, everyone was in great form, with Royal county clan at the bar, and around the fireplace getting their slagging in ahead of the Leinster semi final with Dublin & Westmeath.

This was a great singing audience , which we recognised early on when we sang songs like, ‘Simplicity’ and what a chorus we had on the ‘Ould Triangle’, pictured is the crowd singing at full steam on the night.

We sang the ‘Beautiful Meath‘, with ‘Molly Malone’, and revved up the night with the ’Tractor Song’ and ‘Some say the divil is dead’, but to cap it all off, just when the thought it was all over we lashed out ’Dirty old town’, and then finished off with ’Dublin in the rare ould times, to a great chorus from the audience.

The Dubs went on to win the semi final on Sunday and now face Wexford in the Leinster Final, we’ll have to brush up on a Wexford song ahead of that game.

We will be back in Whytes on Sat 16^th August and we will continue the saga from there.

Next week we are playing at a Private function over the weekend.

The Skerries Road races will be on over the weekend 5^th July and no doubt the ‘Devils Disciples’ will have their gig in the ‘Man-O-War’ on Saturday night, should be a blast , not for the faint hearted and be prepared to stay the distance.

Sat 12^th July and we will be back in the Kinsealy Inn and looking forward to meeting up with the rebels and having a good sing song on the night.

Monday 16^th June

Round Tower’s Lusk GAA club what the party venue for the celebration of Des Browne’s 4oth Birthday.

A large gathering of family and friends on the night and MD supplying the music. Des loves the ballads and the more rebel songs the better. Jade and Aisling designed this lovely poster saying happy b’day to Des.

The crowd were all in great form, so much so that at the interval you would think that the party was coming to its climax and not only half time.

Susan helped Des with the blowing of the candles and there was great cheering and of course the obligatory 40 kisses.

Many fans we haven’t seen in a long time at this gig, and it was like the 80’s all over again, reminiscing of the days Euro 88 and Italia 94, and of course all the Dubs games in between. We rounded off with plenty of dancing to the sounds of ‘Neil Diamond’ and Joe Dolan’ and to cap it off with ‘Some say the divil is dead’. The Round Towers is looking all the better from a new facelift to the club bar, and a very friendly atmosphere.

Saturday we were in Killians in Naul, where we had a great session to a full house on the night. Plenty of request her for favourite ballads like ’Follow me up to Carlow and Leaving Nancy’, the list was certainly different on the night.

There were a couple Royal County of Jibes from the ’badger’ but we took it all in great spirit, we even sang the ’Beautiful Meath ’ for him, any thing to ease the pain of being out of the Leinster Championship, which we duly reminded them of.

Next weekend we have a couple of private gigs, and we hope to be at Eric Clapton in Malahide Castle on the Saturday night.