Making Music And Memories In Westport (Irish Style)

Westport, Connecticut has two official sister cities: Marigny, France and Lyman, Ukraine.

There’s another, unofficial one: Westport, Ireland.

For years, residents visiting the Emerald Isle have taken a side trip to our namesake.

They quickly discover its beauty, charm and exceptionally friendly people.

Westport, Ireland

Recently, Suzanne Sheridan and Rozanne Gates found all of that — and more.

The longtime Westporters traveled to Ireland, on an ancestral and musical journey. (Suzanne, a noted photographer, is alsoo a singer/songwriter. Rozanne runs the Legacy Project family history service, and co-wrote the country classic “90 Pound Suburban Housewife Driving in Her SUV.”

When they learned of a town called Westport on the country’s western coast, they did some research.

They found that their friend Wendy Newton — who grew up in Westport, is the sister of their musician friend Jon Gailmor, and formerly owned the American- Irish label Green Linnet Records — could introduce them to her Irish musician friend, David Dee Moore.

David regularly plays at Matt Molloy’s Pub in Westport, Ireland. His weekly podcast “Folk Friday” airs every Friday at 6:30 p.m. Irish time, and on overthewestonline.com (that name is a coincidence too).

Molloy’s name may be familiar. He is the flutist for The Chieftains.

Rozanne and Suzanne contacted David. He greeted them with quintessential Irish hospitality.

On their first day, he gave them a tour of what the couple calls “the incredibly beautiful Westport, Ireland.”

Westport, Ireland’s town square. (Photos/Suzanne Sheridan)

Highlights included the historical Westport House and a hike down to the Westport Quay.

“You can look out over the Atlantic Ocean to almost see Westport, Connecticut,” Suzanne and Rozanne say (with a wee bit of exaggeration).

The evening was spent with David, as he masterfully entertained a large crowd at Matt Molloy’s Pub.

The next morning, they met David at the Westport Town Hall Theatre. (“Sound familiar” the women ask).

He led a group of students in a ukulele class. “Listening to ten ukes playing traditional Irish folk music is a great way to start a Saturday,” Rozanne and Suzanne say.

Then came the prize moment: David invited Suzanne to play at Matt Molloy’s Pub.

That’s no small honor. Bonnie Raitt has been asked to play there too.

Suzanne and David sang together for over an hour. “People in Westport, Ireland came to know what Connecticut’s Westporters already know: Suzanne Sheridan is a treasure,” Rozanne says proudly.

Rozanne turned on her audio recorder, so the Irish crowd could greet their American counterparts. Click below to listen:

Sure, and it was quite a visit.

Suzanne Rozanne say: “If you are planning a trip to Ireland, as a Westporter you owe it to yourself to visit Westport, Ireland. You will be glad you did!”

(It’s true: “06880” is “where Westport meets the world.” Please click here to help us keep doing that. Thank you, to Westporters everywhere.)