Orientation Wrap-Up

guinness
Originally uploaded by bgilmor.

After our day-long orientation on Friday, the school arranged a trip for us internationals to a pub that night (Fr. Salmi, get on that). The place was called Dolan's, and yes, the Guinness is as good as people say it is. There were two paid "gigs" (everything is gig, not show or concert) going on in some backrooms that night - including a Pixies cover band, Brother John - but we all stayed in the main part and mingled. Later on, eight or so people came in off the street with their guitars, drums, and flutes, sat down around a table in front of the fire, and jammed to and sang some traditional Irish music. The only stoppage in their music was when a kilted bagpiper came in from off the street, pumped out some tunes for about 10 minutes, collected some coins (even the other musicians chipped in), and went on his way to find another pub to play in. Friends were made, fun was had, and perhaps the best part of the evening? SMOKE-FREE PUBS.