Ronan Meets Ronan

It finally happened!!!!!!!  Our son, Ronan, got to meet the man he is named for, Dr. Ronan Tynan!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My sister, Kelli, told me that Ronan Tynan was going to be in concert in Provo.  I got on the Covey Center for the Arts website and found that there were still 4 front row, center seats available!!  And the price was far too good to pass up!!!  Brian was going to go but since he left for Afghanistan Saturday, I took Jonah in his place.  So it was just the three of us on a road trip!!!  We got to my brother's house (where we stayed the night) in time to quickly change clothes, grab a bite to eat (thank you, Allison!!!!) and head into Provo.  I was a bit behind schedule so we arrived about 8  minutes before the concert was to start.  Whew!!  We made it!!
There were several "warm-up" acts.  An Irish dance troupe.  They were fantastic!!  Then 3 singers from the Utah Lyric Opera company (who hosted Ronan T.) performed 9 numbers.  By that time, my Ronan was completely disillusioned by the whole thing.  I forgot to mention to him that there are usually warm-up acts before the star of the show.  Oops.  Then he had to suffer through 15 minutes of intermission.  Poor boy.  :-)
Ronan's accompanist and friend, Billy, came on stage and introduced Ronan T.  It was so surreal and amazing to actually see him striding out onto the stage.  And we were right there in the front row!!!!!!!  He is an incredible performer!!!!  Singing, comedy, audience participation.  He has it all down!!!!  
He noticed my Ronan on the front row.  You have to understand that at 39 years old, I was one of the youngest in the audience!!!  So having 8 year old Ronan there was quite noticeable!!!  Ronan T. said "well hello there!  And what's your name?"  My Ronan went speechless.  I had to nudge him and tell him to tell his name.  So he finally spoke up.  When Ronan T. heard his name he said something along the lines of "God bless you with that name.  God bless your Mum.  You're going to have to watch out when he turns 18.  I know what I was like at 18!!"  From that point on throughout the concert, Ronan T. made several comments directly to my Ronan.  He loved it!!!  Ronan T. is so funny!!!  And personable.  Self-deprecating.  Amazing.  He involved the audience in the program by talking to people, asking questions.  I wish I could have gotten it all on video because I just don't have the ability to describe it completely!!  He performed "Red is the Rose", "Danny Boy" , "Wild Mountain Thyme" (also known as "Go, Lassie, Go") and more favorites.
After the concert (which Ronan T. closed with "God Bless America"), there was a 'meet-and-greet" in the lobby.  My Ronan wanted to rush right over and talk to Ronan T.  I told him that if we waited until everyone else had a chance to talk to him, we could have more time with him because no one would be behind us.  My Ronan understood that and was really quite patient waiting.  Rambunctious but patient.  :-)    So we were the last to get up to the table where Ronan T. sat signing cd's.  Like a bit of a geek I took all the album covers out of the cd cases and had Ronan T. sign all of them.  I also had Ronan T.'s autobiography with me (I've had it for quite a few years sitting on my shelf).  I had already written a note to my Ronan in it because it has always been intended for him when he got old enough. So I had Ronan T. sign it, too.  My Ronan latched onto that book and hasn't given it up since except to go to school this afternoon!!
We had to do a bit of coaxing to get my Ronan to sing something for Ronan T. but he finally sang with Ronan T.  I got video of it!  I'll have to figure out how to post it so you can see it.  Being in the front row, I also got some video of the performance and plenty of photos!!  
It's still so surreal that I actually got to meet THE Ronan Tynan and, even better, I got to introduce my Ronan to the man he is named for!!  I truly hope my Ronan remembers that night always!!!
If you don't know much about Ronan Tynan, go to his website, www.ronantynan.net, google him or look on wikipedia.