Old Dublin

I came to live in Dublin in !971 having spent 14 years in England. I found it much changed from 1957 where I had spent 3 weeks in Porto bello Barracks, now Cathaill Brugha. What was then called the singing pubs were every where. Many talented amateur performers would sing, tell jokes, or even dance. Many contests were held, the main one was probably "The Drake Inn", in Finglas". There were also many cabaret venues with performers from the declining Show Band era entertaining. Some of these performers are still with us, Dickie Rock and Sonny Knowles to mention two. I still love live music and am bored with musicians of limited talent, who rely on backing tracks