Travis O'Neill: Prague has been very kind to me

Travis O'Neill is an Irish singer songwriter living in Prague.This March 17, he is going to be a part of the huge St. Patrick's celebration taking place in several pubs and other places in Prague. We chatted with him about Prague, Ireland and life in general.

What is life in Prague like for an Irish singer songwriter?

To be honest Prague has been very kind to me, I have taken a lot of inspiration from the people and some of the amazing artists here in the Czech Republic Like Vaclav Havel, Kaplicky and Neruda.

At first there was always the comparisons to Glen Hansard, as we had one thing in common at the time when i first moved here, we are both Irish and had/have a connection to the Czech Republic either via friends or just the simple fact we are singer/songwriters.

However I am for sure a very different songwriter but remain proud of my fellow countryman's achievements.

What kind of music are you into, and what would you say about your music to people who hear about you for the first time?

I am into a lot of different music, but first and the important thing to me is it has to be honest and has to make me feel something.

So i am into everything from Black Flag to Black Metal and from Folk, Irish rebel songs to Bluegrass music.

What I write and play is a mixture of influences from Old time music, folk, rock and country music.

I started my journey as a musician about 20 years ago as a singer in a metal band, then I moved to punk rock. but on these long tours, I would get some days off, so which ever country i was in I went to the streets to busk with an acoustic guitar or some cafes to get this creative and more melodic side of me  out there too! So this is how I started and how most people realized I was a singer/songwriter before I moved to the Czech Republic.

Why is St. Patrick's day so very important?

St Patrick's day or in the Irish Language "Lá Fhéile Pádraig" is a very important day in the Irish calendar and it was made an official day in Ireland in the 17th Century, St Patrick himself is the most famous and most celebrated Patron Saint in Ireland. It has been said that there are no snakes in Ireland as St Patrick drove them away, St Patrick's day now of course its a worldwide phenomenon, and I am very proud to be one of the people to really bring it here to Prague to celebrate in style and with the original idea of celebrating Irish Culture.

How do the Irish usually celebrate it in their home country?

We have it as national holiday, we celebrate as a family mostly, a lot of parades, great music, food and drink. We also have a custom of "wetting" where we put a shamrock in a glass filled with something tasty and we make a toast to Ireland, to our close friends and family and of course St Patrick.

It is usually a fun filled day and always seem to rain back home at least, so I have my fingers crossed for luck and no rain for the 17th this year.

What is your fondest St.Patrick's memory?

Some of my fondest memories were actually not when I was at home in Sligo my hometown, but when I was out of the country, usually on tour somewhere, but a lot of people especially in the US really celebrate St Patrick's day well. I have seen amazing parades and festivals around the world, some are of course clichéd versions of what they think it should be like but some places went beyond and above and I have a lot of incredible memories from these times.

What are some things the Czechs can learn from the irish?

This is a tough question, I love my country a lot but I feel that Czech republic is also now my adopted home, so I have to remain impartial to this question and say thank you for welcoming me here.

And,  what could the Irish learn from Czechs?

The Czech republic have the best transport system I have ever known, so I would like to see a better system in Ireland too!!!

 
www.travisoneill.com

www.jamesonsvatypatrik.cz