SOURCE: Eder, Richard. “The Songs That Play in Ireland's Soul.” Los Angeles Times (12 March 1997): E6.

In the following review, Eder argues that Carson's digressions and reminiscences are the heart of his Last Night's Fun.

The places in this evocation of musical Ireland [found in Last Night's Fun]: Carrickmacross, Cootehill, Carna. Innisbof, Cork City, Kilmallock, Verydarry, Sligo, Coolea, Ballyweird.

The breakfasts: “wavy bacon and the frilly-crisp, flipped-over eggs; the puckered burst seams of the sausages; the milk-tooth bits of fat in the black pudding … under a glaze of melted lard, ornamented by the fadge and soda cut in neat triangles.”

The times: The morning after the night before. The night before the morning after.

The tunes: “I Do Not Incline,” “The Hen's March O'er the Midden,” “The Lark in the Morning,” “What the Divil Ails Him,” “The Active Old Man,” “The Funny Mistake,” “Good Morning to Your Nightcap,” “The...