Saw Doctors fanatic flew in from New York for Galway gig!

A fanatical Saw Doctors fan flew in from New York to catch the band’s reunion gig in a small Galway hall – only he didn’t have a ticket for the sell-out gig.

But the man – in his mid-fifties and with strong local connections –hung around Kilconly Community Centre in the hope that something might turn up.

He was repeatedly told by the promoters and staff that the venue was confined to a crowd of 350 and that tickets had sold out within hours.

However, as the start of the concert drew near, he remained outside the Community Centre hoping against hope that some miracle might happen that would allow him inside.

He had explained that he had come from the Big Apple for the concert and had previously followed them to various venues around the world.

And then, out of the blue, came word that was a ticket became available across in Blake’s Pub as the original purchaser had come down with Covid and would not be able to attend.

In a flash, our Sawdocs’ worshipper dashed across the road and wasted no time in snapping up the available ticket and had a whale of a time, by all accounts.

They came from Miami, Spain, Glasgow, Aberdeen, various parts of England and, of course, surrounding areas to see a resurgent seven-piece Sawdoctors perform – having also sold out in Claremorris for a gig later this month.

Any rumours of a Saw Doctors demise seem to be greatly exaggerated.

Promoter Paul Devaney, a star of Operation Transformation, said that given the phenomenal success of this gig, there was consideration being given to have the Tuam lads perform at the fifth annual Wild West Country Fest in Kilconly next year when there will be a 2,000 plus capacity.

He said that the reaction to the band was not to be unexpected and it showed that they hadn’t lost their appeal more than three decades after their first real hit, I Useta Lover.

The Wild West Country Fest takes place every June Bank Holiday weekend and Paul said that it would make the event if the band were available to headline the event.

“Their ongoing appeal cannot be underestimated and, signs on, they came from hundreds of thousands of miles to see them in Kilconly,” he said.

“This was wonderful for the community and the tickets were snapped up within hours of going on sale,” said Paul, who explained that Kilconly Community Centre had acoustic drapes installed so that any noise wouldn’t affect local householders.