Psst… Can you keep a secret? If anyone asks, you haven’t seen these pictures – OK?
Jude and I went to the Irish Festival in Sion last night, featuring 3 bands, with the Chieftains as the main act. The cloakrooms were outside of the entrance gate, so after the first act and a few pints of the black stuff, I toddled off for a comfort break. But when I returned, I’d taken my point and shoot camera out of my pocket and the security guard wouldn’t let me in – pointing to a sign saying “No cameras”. (It was in Jude’s bag when we first arrived and a different security guard must have missed it). With almost everyone else inside taking pictures or videos with their phones, this seemed a bit ridiculous, but you don’t argue with a 6ft+ security guard! (Well, I don’t anyway).
So I obviously didn’t take these pictures of the Damien Mullane Band and I certainly couldn’t possibly have taken any of the Chieftains. Though I can tell you they were as good as ever, ably assisted by a local Swiss drumming band and 2 superb Canadian dancers on some of their songs.