Willie clancy

[Lawrence Molloy]

i've been offered a chance to attend the summer school travelling down with the ones from the Mcpeake school of music in belfast, more than likely i'll take the banjo rather than the mandolin, as its john carty and kerian Hanrahan amongst others doing the teaching, really looking forward to it ( apart from the audition), anyone been or going ?

[whistler]

I think this is the first year there have been banjo classes (Are there mandolin classes as well?) at Milltown. But it's well worth a visit just for a week of total immersion in the music. Don't worry about the 'audition' - John Carty and Kieran Hanrahan are both very down-to-earth. I don't know about JC, but Kieran Hanrahan is an excellent teacher (and great communicator in general - no coincidence that he does a lot of work on radio as well). I've found myself in sessions with The McPeake School crowd in Milltown before, so I might run into you there.

Have a great time.

[Lawrence Molloy]

i think there has been banjo classes before, not 100% about that though, also believe the banjo and mandolin are lumped together. "a week of total immersion in the music" great way of putting it whistler, can't wait.

[whistler]

Perhaps the banjo and mandolin classes started last year. But there were certainly none the last time I went, in 2004. I attended whistle classes the first few times I went. But I started to find that all-night sessions and early-morning classes were not compatible. I plumped for the all-night sessions.

[Lawrence Molloy]

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif , was thinking that myself , with the classes starting at 10 in the morning, might be heavy going after a night on the black stuff.

[danb]

Hah, that reminds me of a great anecdote.

At Milwaukee Irish Fest some 12-15 years ago, a musician I will leave anonymous was teaching a class. I remember meeting him at the reception the festival had for students, and introducing myself at the time. He looked at the schedule to see that he was scheduled for a 9am banjo class and said

"9 AM! We won't even have finished throwing up by 9!"

Later that week, I played in a session that didn't even start breaking up until 10am http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[whistler]

I went to a banjo class at the South Sligo Summer School, Tubbercurry, one year. One morning, the teacher (who will remain anonymous), failed to show up. He eventually appeared, looking a little the worse for wear, at about midday, explaining apologetically that he had got caught up in a session the previous night that we annoyed about not getting our money's worthnt on till dawn. Of course, we all [/I]understood[I]. That didn't stop us being annoyed, though.

It's worth bearing in mind that teachers face the same predicament as their students.

[jmcgann]

was thinking that myself , with the classes starting at 10 in the morning, might be heavy going after a night on the black stuff.


The pubs still close early, so if you limit yourself to 4 or 5 hours of drink, you can still get a good 8-10 hour's kip.

Just don't forget to line the bag before! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

I was in Miltown Malbay for Willie Week in '89- just travelling through and hear many mighty sessions and made a few good friends (anyone know Ray Baron from Cork? Great man and mando player!)

Disclaimer: I don't drink anymore, but when I was All-Pro, a little aspirin before bed can ease the rising http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

[whistler]

"The pubs still close early"

...or that's the theory, anyway. In my experience - in Ireland and Britain alike - there's many a licensee prepared to run the risk of penalty and hold 'lock-ins' until the wee small hours. Likewise, there's many a policeman/garda prepared to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to a bit of innocent music making. I shall say no more.

[jmcgann]

Ah, OK then, yer on yer own. Line the bag still! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif