Scott Vocca and Vicki Gish who run the Irish music session at the Claddagh Cottage Irish Pub, (4308 Curry Ford Rd, Orlando, FL 32806) bought the pub, recently, only to have the property sold out from under them a few months later. Businesses in the small strip mall were abandoned and several were boarded up. It looks like the whole area will be bulldozed for new development. Inside the pub however the warm inviting music continued. Every other Wednesday these Irish music sessions liven up the pub. This was the last Wednesday session of the year before the pub closes its doors for good.
On this evening there were several soulful solos sung. When I started the sketch, a young woman with jet black hair and a young round face was singing as everyone in the bar stopped to listen. I wish I had caught her in the sketch. A tenor sang a solo in Gaelic and his voice also caused pints of Guinness to pause on their way to lips. The accordion player to my left wanted photos anytime he knew a tune and joined in. A sweet Irish woman to my right was glad to oblige although she couldn’t figure out the buttons on his cell phone camera.
There will be one final blow out Irish party where you can have your last pint at the Claddagh Cottage and listen to The Bronx Boys ring in the new year with traditional Irish and American music. Alan Murray will be joined by Isaac Alderson on uilleann pipes and vocals andAlasdair White on fiddle. This party will be the last day at the original Claddagh Cottage so get out and help them drink everything up! The party starts at 6pm and goes until 3am.
The Claddagh Cottage will be demolished in early 2017 to make way for a Walgreens. Scott and
Vicki, who purchased the pub business in early 2016 are building a new
Claddagh Cottage a mile west at 2421 Curry Ford Rd near Bumby
Ave. Stay tuned for updates as to when the new location will be open.
Meanwhile the temporary home for the Irish session for the first few months of 2017
will be at the sister pub, The Harp and Celt, (25 S Magnolia Ave, Orlando, FL 32801). It will be held on the north
side of the bar (the Harp side) at the regular time and dates. The music starts around 6pm or 7pm and continues until the wee hours of the morning.
Mark your Calendar!
January 11, 25
February 8, 22
March 8, 22