AN intoxicating cocktail of drinking and love songs flowed to every corner of the club.

This was a party to beat all parties and there is no one better at organising a knees-up like this than The Dublin Legends.

And it is a wonder that there are any floorboards left after the frenzy of foot tapping and table thumping which accompanied every infectious tune on the band’s playlist.

There was also the traditional playing of the spoons as the Irish reels went into overdrive.

This was a masterclass on vocals, fiddle, guitar and banjo by Sean Cannon, Gerry O’Connor, Paul Watchorn and Shay Kavanagh.

The Black Velvet Band, including that romantic verse of her eyes shone like diamonds, is a traditional English and Irish folk song which tells the story of transportation to Australia.

It always hits the right spot and was enough to get everyone in the party mood.

And the evening even provided the musical backcloth for a couple who were appropriately celebrating their Emerald (55 th) wedding anniversary.

There was no shortage of characteristic Irish wit, typified by Sean Cannon, who acted as master of ceremonies and introduced the opening number by saying: “We’ll begin with the first one.”

The Dublin Legends suffered a huge loss late last year when guitarist and founder member Eamonn Campbell passed away while they were touring Holland. He died at the age of 70 following a short illness.

I had the privilege of interviewing Eamonn and as a tribute to the much loved musician, his bandmates played one of their iconic tunes, Seven Drunken Knights.

They also saluted another Dublin Legend the late Barney Banjo McKenna.

The first set included the Leaving of Liverpool, Hills of Connemara, The Banks of Roses, Rare Old Mountain Dew and The Fields of Athenry and was rounded off with the very upbeat Boys Come Rolling Home.

After everyone took a breather part two took off at 100 mph with I’ll Tell Me Ma with some electrifying violin playing from Gerry O’Connor, one of Ireland’s finest fiddle players.

After more Legends’ classics, including Spanish Lady, it was time to bring the party to a close with Irish Rover, Whiskey in the Jar and Wild Rover.

The Dublin Legends are criss- crossing the nation with their open ended St Patricks Day tour.

And they left The Concorde audience with eyes smiling to the strains of the very moving Molly Malone.

Duncan Eaton