As a kid, I can remember counting down the days until Memorial Day weekend...well here I go again! Memorial Day weekend not only kicked off the official start of the summer, it also meant that East Durham was finally opened, alive and awake from it's sleepy hibernation of the winter.
Vacations in East Durham were always the highlight of our summer. My parents were always more comfortable in the mountains than the beach...probably because of our "cheap Irish skin." There were tons of families, like ours, packing into this town and great Irish music ringing out of every resort on Rt. 145.
My brothers and I would spend weeks, leading up to our vacation, practicing what "act" were were going to shop around to the Amateur Hours in order to bring home the prized 'breasted angel on fake marble' trophy with the coveted 1st, 2nd or 3rd place engraved on it. My parents still have shelved of these dusty souvenirs in their basement.
Celtic Cross started playing in Erin's Melody, back in 1990. Erin's was the place to be and it was always packed in with the "young crowd." Hundreds of Irish and Irish Americans would squeeze into the Martin's bar to spend countless nights, drinking and dancing 'til the wee hours.
After 4 am, and well into our 2nd wind, we would head to the "secret" shell pits to sing around a bonfire and drink until the sun came up. Only then, like vampires, would we scatter back to the various mediocre accommodations to sleep again, until the sun went down.
Although years have gone by since those crazy days, East Durham on Memorial Day weekend, is still the place to be. The Irish festival has a tremendous line-up, and this Saturday, we will be hanging there all day and into the night. We have 2 sets-3:30 and 6:00. Come on by and be sure to say hello. Hope to see you there!
Cheers-Kathleen
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