a cara.......as the drum roll silenced the crowd....from behind the curtain figures could be noticed shuffling into place as now the band began to play the intro to........there's no business like show business....as the musical intro reverborates through the arena.....the curtain slowly opened......the troupe in beautiful costumes in chorous line fashion began to sing.....theres no business like show business .....like no business i know....everything about it is appealing....everything the traffic will allow....no where could you have that happy feeling .....when you are stealing that extrabow....there's no people like show people ...they smile when they are low.......yesterday they told you ....you would not go far.....that night you opened and there you are ....next day on your dressing room they've hung a star.......lets go on with the show.....gaby baileys daughter stood in centre stage her voice filled the air in sweet melodic dulcet tones....she was gorgeous as she sang and danced and high stepped in choreograhic discipline......i gazed at her in adoration ....and was completely smitten by her.......gaby bailey himself played the drums....and as he teased the drum skins with his drum brushes ......he would occasionaly delight the audience by stroking his bald head with the brushes......the audience had completely surrendered itself to this troupe of musical wizardry.....as the song came into its final chorous ....even with a turkey that you know will fold....you may be stranded out in the cold.....still you wouldn't trade it for a sack of gold.......lets get on with the show....lets get on with the show........thunderous applause awakened everybody as far away as windsor and dereenmanus.....the troupe stood in chorus line hand in hand stepped back a pace and then moved towards the front of the stage delighted in their reception.......and then they took a bow.....the audience was captured as young ms. bailey returned centre stage and did a tap dance routine.....one performer after another entertained us.......until intermission........powerful stuff was the endorsement.....i wouldnt have missed it for the world....another voice muttered......some made their way to the old cement building by thre riverfor a leak.....others were glued to their seats.......music again broke the noises and voices of the masses.......now it was a two act drama......the strains of boolavogue filtered from the orchestra....as the curtain again opened .....here was a "confessional"with a priest giving instructions as to where mass was going to be said in the outlands of enniscorthy......the drama was ....croppy boy.....it was emotional and tingling ......the curtain came down .....and again castlebar showed their genuine appreciation for this masterpiece.....a few more song and dance routines ....and sadly the troupe assembled on stage for the conclusion......the costumes the scenery the makeup the props ....the audience that lifts you when you are down....the hedaches...the heartaches the backaches the flops.....the sheriff who escorts you out of town....the opening when your heart beats like a drum.....the closing when the customers wont come.....the music the spotlights....the people the towns ....your baggage with the labels pasted on ......the sawdust and the horses and the smell ...the towel youve taken from the last hotel.........as the curtain began to fall gaby bailey.....steps to the mike.....thank you very much castlebar.......goodnight .....and remember the curtain goes up tomorrow night ...the same time.......people stand in appreciation ......no one moves for awhile.....until some fella breaks the hypnotism.....jes' i think i still have time for a pint.....the crowd shuffles out......i walk home with the warrington sisters......as we left the green the artists moved to their caravans......i wondered what they talked about.......how i wished i could be part of their troupe ....i yearned greasepaint and makeup.....as we approached flannery's field .the stench from the trailer of beef bones at the bacon factory mingled with the dark clouded sky.....bridie warrington was in top form as she made wise cracks......down the road we walked......chuckling and laughing....mrs fallon was talking to mary flynn at flynns gate.....paddy freyne was at his front door.....and so was granny cresham......smoke was coming from mrs hughes chimney....i guessed she was busy making black puddin'......pete coyle stood at his door.....danny corcoran was talking to georgie whittaker......and googy kilcourse was havin' a chat with george bartley.....tommy conway parked his bacon factory truck outside 14......and maggie brady{mrs guthrie} said goodnight as we passed on our way.....mrs heavey stood at the gate and here i said goodnight to the warrington girls......i chatted with mrs heavey known affectionaly to us all as the "queen".....mrs sweeney came to the gate and enquired about the show......and mentioned she was going the next night....laughy was at his gate.....and so was frank munnelly..... this travelling show had captured the hearts of the town ....and mchale road stood at the front line .....i eventually went in to my house....my room....the front room.....my bed was a pull out couch.... i lay on it and relived my show experience....and my crush on carmen bailey.....my project for the next day.....why....hang out in the fair green of course.....hoping to meet .... my love......if grass can grow through cement .....love can find you at every time in your life......love and scandal are the best sweeteners of tea.... next time adventures at the roads oasis by the track...... saleen lake......amarach.....an sceil sin...... anois...... .....tog go bog e........;