The Old Mill

There's a very special place, not far from Naas or Newbridge. It's an old mill that's been lovingly restored by Eoin O'Toole,who bought it in 1987 and did most of the renovation himself and with the help of friends. Outside there is a water driven millwheel and walking around inside, you can see the ancient machinery working as it used to. This in itself is special but what makes it unique is that it's now being used in a number of ways, providing a gallery space and performance area for all manner of artists, not yet with a sufficiently high profile to show at the more mainstream venues or those who like to do an occasional low profile gig.

Everywhere there are small touches that show the care that's gone into making "The Old Mill" what it now is. Children's paintings can be found pinned to old wooden beams and craftwork, for sale or not is everywhere. The square footage of the place is enormous yet the atmosphere is very homely and almost cottage-like. One gets the feeling that, uniquely, this place isn't there for the money. Yes, you can buy food, teas, coffees or even a glass of wine (and until recently a beer), and it can be hard to tell who is working there and who is helping out.

Open from Wednesday - Sunday, the mill acts as a place where couples can have a pre wedding reception reception - with very picturesque surroundings for the wedding album, a low budget - high quality recording studio and, in the evenings, a completely different sort of music venue. Set dancing classes are held there in the early evening, a singer/songwriter session (with the option of having the set recorded - for little more than the cost of the blank CDR) every Thursday night. People of the calibre of Luka Bloom and John Spillane play regularly on Saturdays. Lazy family Sunday afternoons - in the grounds, weather permitting - feature traditional Irish music, which makes way for a bit of jazz in the evening.

I am a songwriter and don't have many opportunities to perform my work to an audience prepared to listen to music unfamiliar to them. In the small theatre space here, I've been at some of the most atmospheric songwriter nights, I've played to some of my most atentative audiences and even been joined on stage by some wonderful singers who I'd met an hour earlier in the kitchen and the result of this actually was recorded and features as a hidden track on my new CD.

There are very few places in which a stranger can feel as welcome, in the world, let alone in Ireland and I feel that it would be a crime against real values if this place were to be shut down.

Eoin showed me a letter from a solicitor, in which I, as a regular patron, have been called rowdy. It also suggested that I could be responsible for frightening the horses. Since discovering the mill, I've attended on at least ten occasions - to perform or to listen. I have stayed overnight a few times and found it to be a hard place to leave. I have never seen any rowdyism there - nor have I seen a horse.