POGUE MAHONE

Back for another season in Menorca are Pogue Mahone, an exciting fivepiece acoustic ceilidh band with Celtic influences.

Following a successful season in Calan Bosch in 2022, the band is here again playing a lively set of traditional music with its roots firmly based in the Irish, Scottish and English genre.

But don’t be fooled by the ‘folk’ label. This is not a finger-in-ear, droning folk group. Far from it. Their music is fast paced and lively and you are sure to be tapping your feet and clapping your hands as the pace quickens.

Fronted by “box” player Richard Moncad (melodeon) and Marie Weckesser on the fiddle (violin); and accompanied by Gail Moncad - Irish Drum (Bodhran), Fabian Gozalvez (guitar) and Ramon Sanchez - (base guitar); the group brings a fresh wind of change to the usual live music traditionally found in the bars and cafes on the island.

Says Richard - “We want to create an atmosphere like that of a typical locals’ pub on the west coast of Ireland or somewhere in the Glens of Scotland. Sit back and enjoy, even dance if you wish, this is not a concert and we don’t want to drown out the conversation or even the Craic!”

Whilst the music is certainly Celtic, the musicians are anything but. Apart from Gail who is Welsh, the nationalities represented are German, English, Argentinian and Spanish. Holland is thrown in for good measure when Myrte guests on the tin whistle.

So why a Ceilidh band in Spain?

Again, Richard - “Well the band was largely born out of frustration. Menorca is a beautiful island but the style and atmosphere of the bars, especially in the resorts, just wasn’t the same as those we had become used to at home. I had been playing with a number of folk bands in the UK and decided it was about time we had some fun here. I roped in the other musicians who didn’t really understand what I was trying to do at first, but soon they were hooked! The mix of nationalities does bring a fresh angle to the music and there seems to be no stopping them now.”

… And the name?

“Pogue Mahone, whilst influenced by one of my favourite Irish bands, when translated from Gaelic means... on second thoughts you might want to look up the translation yourself as it may not get printed here!”

The band will be back at Chaplin’s Bar in Calan Bosch on Mondays throughout the season and BJ’s Bar in Son Parc by invitation. Details will be posted on their Facebook page which can be found by searching “Pogue Mahon Menorca”

So if you fancy a little bit of home atmosphere during your time here in Menorca, why not pop along to one of their sessions and enjoy a little bit of Home-from- Home? Maybe even a pint of Guinness to complete the scene. Oh, and in case you are wondering, a Melodeon is a diatonic accordion and Bodhran is pronounced “Bow-ron”

Féach leat ag an gig