Northern Notes has remained constant is its reputation as a music venue with some of the finest players across the land making a beeline to perform. ‘A lot of visitors are completely blown away at the standard of music, particularly amongst the younger musicians,’ says Vincent. ‘We’re very lucky that we have a great pool of musicians. Some of them would be considered the best in Ireland. ‘They’re all-Ireland champions and they’re so young. We’ve kids of nine and ten coming in and playing, up to 80-yearolds, who have been playing for 50 or 60 years.’ Sessions are held every Saturday and occasionally on Fridays and Sundays. When there is a tour group arriving then music is usually laid on, along with a serving of BBQ food, eel suppers and Irish stew. There is even a purpose-built tour operator room at the rear of the pub and a pet-friendly beer garden to house special occasions or tour groups. Although coffee and tea are as popular as pints, visitors can also sample of the 100 whiskeys available, including their very own Crosskeys 1654, an eightyear-old single malt Irish whiskey. In 2017, The Crosskeys Inn won the BBC Countryfile ‘Country Pub of the Year’, and was the first ever Northern Ireland pub nominated for the prestigious award, let alone to win it. It also received the CIE Tours Award of Excellence in 2019, amongst other accolades.
Derry music festival back with a bang Irish soul sensation Imelda May topped the bill at the City of Derry Jazz Festival with a stellar performance at the Millennium Forum
Irish soul sensation Imelda May topped the bill at the City of Derry Jazz Festival with a stellar performance at the Millennium Forum The Hyde Park Brass Band were just one of the new acts to join the Jazz Festival line up this year
The Hyde Park Brass Band were just one of the new acts to join the Jazz Festival line up this year
The streets of Derry were swinging as tens of thousands of music lovers flocked to the City to enjoy an extravaganza of sounds as the 21st edition of the Jazz Festival took place over the weekend.
With a history going back to the 17th century, it's not surprising that there may be a ghost or two, but storytelling and poetry are also key to the Crosskeys offering. ‘Storytellers and poets from all over Ireland and some from just down the road have been known to captivate the minds of many visitors with their tales of years gone by,’ Vincent continues. ‘Unlike other historic buildings, which record how our ancestors lived, at The Crosskeys Inn we present a unique living history in which visitors can participate and immerse themselves in traditional Irish culture and craic.’
The five-day festival, which is one of the largest celebrations of jazz in the country, was back with a bang after a two-year break from live music due to the pandemic. The packed programme featured 417 musical performances from April 28 – May 2 across 70 participating venues.
Whether visitors go to The Crosskeys Inn for the music, the craic or a pint of the ‘black stuff ’, the ambience and atmosphere of The Crosskeys Inn remain a draw for many.
‘The energy in the city centre was phenomenal,’ he said, ‘and it was just amazing to see so many visitors flocking to our hotels and hospitality venues. The festival is a real highlight for the local economy so I know the local business community is delighted to see it return in its usual format and to welcome visitors back through their doors to enjoy live music.’
While the final tally is yet to come in terms of visitor numbers, figures are expected to top those of previous years as music lovers flocked to experience the rich musical medley over the course of the weekend with workshops, dance classes, alfresco performances and even a Jazz Parade through the City Centre. Hotels were booked out on the busiest nights, with 99 per cent occupancy on Saturday evening, and there was positive feedback from businesses with the surge in city centre footfall, as the music spilled into restaurants, bars and even street corners. Looking back on what was a fabulous weekend for the City, Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Alderman Graham Warke, said the festival had lived up to all expectations.
88 Senior Times | May - June 2022 | www.seniortimes.ie
