Seeking to follow more local Kilkenny bands

My wife and I only recently traveled to Ireland (as our first international venture) to visit some of the cities from our collective Irish roots, and we made sure that Kilkenny was one of the main locations.

Having lived in the ~4,000 population Danish tourist town of Solvang, California founded in 1911 for most of our lives, we felt very comfortable yet still overwhelmed with warmth from the local vibe of Kilkenny. I mentioned to my wife, Kelly, several times, "It feels similar to home — only with 1,000 years more history and culture."

It was difficult to leave, and I can still smell and taste the blah — as well as the best beef I've ever tasted in my life on planet Earth — from Butcher Restaurant. 🥹

Incomparable. I can't recall the last time I dined at a steakhouse and didn't feel bloated with indigestion. Irish beef was life-changing, but I digress...

We felt very honored and lucky to have also drank and dined at Sullivan's, and on a night which Colcannon happened to be performing. We asked them if they'd be performing anywhere else that week, and they mentioned Bollard's, so we scheduled our following night likewise without regrets. ❤️

Interestingly enough, Colcannon was the only band we happened to catch in which we ever saw a live musician playing the tin whistle throughout our 2-week stay covering Dublin, Kilkenny, Cork, Galway, and Kildare.

Alexandra is a tin whistle magician, and Conor's banjo playing is addicting 😊

Since returning home, I've seeked out their works, and I'm curious if there are more local bands that might be suggested to follow and support?

Many thanks for your time, and I apologize for gushing.

-Michael