Irish Coffee

I am in love with Eddie Delahunt. It’s been going on a long time, this passion of mine, and I’m pretty sure it’s unrequited, but that’s OK. The flame will always burn in my soul. I’ve wanted to write about this local Irish troubadour on numerous occasions, but I just haven’t gotten to it yet because I suck.

Armed with a guitar and joined by a bodhr�n (that’s pronounced “bow-rahn”) player from Strawberry Hill and sometimes an accordion player, Eddie does weekly performances at O’Dowd’s on Wednesdays and Sundays, Mike Kelly’s Westsider on Fridays, and W.J. McBride’s on Tuesdays. It’s worth enduring a faux Irish pub to bask in Eddie’s real Irish musicianship and charm. Yeah, he’s an old guy with a guitar, and there are lots of those in every town, playing coffee shops and uncool bars, but, take it from me, Eddie is not among the lame. He’s the real fookin’ deal. I once asked him what the main themes in Irish music were. He told me to guess. I said, “Drinking, sex and death.” “In that order,” he said.

I could gush more, but I’ve got news. Actually, it was broken by Liam over at the KC Irish blog last week — Eddie’s buying the coffee shop at 45th and State Line! I sure hope it works out. It’ll be great going over there just to hang with the guy even when he’s not playing. Hmm… maybe he’ll hire some of my out-of-work artist friends.