For those of us in the family way, up to speed with the Harry Potter business, last Saturday’s Green Village festival really required one of those time bending twiddly-bob’s used by Hermione Granger, taking Harry back to earlier in the day to pull off some groovy magical stunts, and return back in time for bed. There was so much to hear, see, savour, taste and drink in Mr Murphy’s marvellous field that day that it really was a feat of time management mastery to get back to the tent in the wee hours and not feel like you’d only done a fraction of  what you’d have wished. This was hardcore festival shenanigans for you.

Yes, the Stunning and Ryan Sheridan were cool and great, but for me the real treasure was in the corners like the young contenders strumming and drumming out gleefully in the Youth Café tent, the crazy littlies going berserk in those orbs on water, the craic up with Joe Brady, the Rogans and all the other local good food heroes on top of the grub hill. As savagely tasty, largely organic festival food as you will ever find it has to be said. And of course the bit of bar-room banter with the Stables crew and customers was at times hilarious.

Next year, and here’s wishing it will all happen again, I’ll be going underground, not stopping to chew the cud with all the good peoples o Westmeath. There’s just far too much to be done in 24 hours in this village field. I wont be missing acts like the Bi-polar empire or the Redneck Manifesto. My mate’s very good band Arrow in the Sky were knocked around their timetable and location on the night so I missed them too but not for lack of trying. When you take the logistics of what the organisers were aiming for, this was a just bearable casualty. The Arrow men will rise again next year to a bigger stage and rock the gaff.

This was a gig that could have easily handled about seven thousand music loving, poetic rock and roller, eco building, gastronomic, happy camper, tent erecting fun loving criminals by my reckoning. Next year with a bit of luck and no brakes it will happen again and get the crowd it truly deserves. The organisation on the day was impressive to say the least. The only observable hitch for me was the Stunning’s late arrival to brew up a you know what. They soon made up for it but perhaps not everyone was as forgiving. There’s got to be a good yarn in there. Perhaps the Stables tent could be swung to serving another hour of the good Guinness as ten to eleven thirty left a big thirsty gap until the Walls’gang kicked in.

Looking back, the day was like a stream of consciousness full of  superb moments. Bumping into George Galloway in his groovy pin stripe suit heading off with his books was gas. The quick chat as he signed a book for the wife was a real experience. Next morning bumping into yer man, Mr Mc Williams along with his golden Labrador Sasha over an urgent cup of Nescafe was great too. I was fortunate to have had the son and heir with me and his best mate for some wild antics around the field all day and he headed home with his ma at teatime after a great day’s action, bumping cars and drinking the minerals. Allowing me to then indulge in a hard day’s night in Castletown Geogheghan. A rare day’s fun, the like I have’nt had in many moons. Hats off in a big way to the brains and braun of the day. In these stumbling days of uncertainty, here was a fresh, brave idea and a meaningful coming together of local people. Rock and Roll happened that day.  This was something special, beyond the usual festival day out. Joe Strummer always said it best:

“ Yeah, oh
One of those top nights of the year
And I see everyone’s here
Oh, took me a long time to get it
But when its taken time
you think and don’t forget it

You gotta live in this world, go diggin’ the new.”

Green Village was really new. It had a down to earth, raw, simple beauty. Can I buy a ticket for next year yet lads? And make mine a Joe Brady burger with loads o’ cheese and fried onions.

Review by James, a happy festival goer.