Ireland

[robbyosullivan]

I am heading to Ireland May 13 - 23 and am looking for some insight into the music/jamming possibilities while I'm there. I am a life-long guitar and banjo player, and a two-year mando player. I would like to be able to jump in on a session in Ireland, but I don't want to trek my instrument around if I won't get a chance to play. Anyone know if a guy with Old-time banjo and guitar picking and singing skills will find a way into a session there? I am pondering bringing a mando, as it's easy to carry along. I can hold my own in a BG or OT session on mando, but don't know if I will actually get to use it. PS, I am flying into Shannon, and will go up to Galway and then down around County Cork, I've never been to Ireland, and my name is Robby O'Sullivan!:))

[Eddie Sheehy]

I'll just miss you. I'll be in the Limerick/Shannon area from the 1st through the 8th. If I find any sessions I'll let you know.

[robbyosullivan]

Eggcellent! Thanks!

[mrmando]

If you find the right kind of seisun, folks will be glad to hear whatever you've got to sing. Some seisuns are mostly/strictly trad, but a lot are not. Trad music is well appreciated in Ireland, but still only by a minority ... a lot of people would just as soon hear a country or pop song. The bigger, touristy pubs in places like Galway will have a pretty high-end trad seisun going on; often the players are hired by the house, so you might find such a seisun kind of a tough nut to crack. In a smaller neighborhood pub, however, you could find a more relaxed seisun where people will listen to whatever you've got to play, be it traditional or otherwise. I once found myself at a seisun where EVERYONE IN THE ROOM was expected to sing, play, recite, or otherwise perform something in turn, and anything went.

[Jill McAuley]

Hmm, can't say I agree with Martin's statement that trad music is only appreciated by a "minority" of folks in Ireland - I was living back home for 3 years and trad music is alive and well, and there seems to be more interest in it now than ever before.

Robbie, I don't know of any old-time sessions in Galway, but if you get the chance you should definitely try to get out to Tom Cussen's shop, Clareen Banjos, in Clarinbridge, which is a short drive from Galway city centre. Tom is a true gent and his shop is one of my favourite places. Tigh Neachtain's pub, on the corner of Quay Street and Cross Street is a nice wee spot for a pint, they have sessions there but I've never been there when one has been on. There does be good sessions at The Crane Bar on Sea Road...My thinking here would be that you're not likely to find a great old time or bluegrass session (that would compare to what you'd get in the States) in Ireland, but you will find great trad sessions, so maybe do the whole "when in Rome, do as the Romans..." thing and experience those while you're there.

Enjoy your trip - May is sometimes not too terrible weather wise!

Cheers,
Jill

[Chris Keth]

Enjoy your trip - May is sometimes not too terrible weather wise!

Cheers,
Jill

I love the shaky optimism in that statement.:))

[mrmando]

And when in Galway, do try to visit Paul Doyle's shop at 34A Dominick St. One of the best mandolin & bouzouki makers, but not too well known in the States. Just phone first and let him know you're coming.

Nothing would please me more than to learn that a majority of the Irish now say they appreciate traditional music. I just got the impression, from hearing what was on the radio, looking at the entertainment sections of newspapers, and being out & about in general, that ITM in Ireland is an essential part of the culture but not of everyday life. Jill is, however, right in asserting that there's more interest in it now than ever. I remember Martin Hayes saying that when he was in high school in the 1970s, other kids thought he was weird because he was the only one who played an instrument.

[grassrootphilosopher]

robbyosullivan,

I am in a hurry right now, so I am unable to post the direct link.

Google up the bluegrass Ireland blog, www.ebma.nl, www.fotmoad.(and whatever it requires to get to the island) (Friends of Oldtime Music and Dance)... There´s loads of music over there in May!

Have fun and a safe trip.

[robbyosullivan]

Thank you all for the great tips - this will surely make my trip that much better, and give me some shops and pubs to seek out! Hopefully my Instrument Acquisition Syndrome won't kick in too hard. Always good to have some special spots to find that aren't in the tourist books. I really appreciate all your help...and as for the weather, we're hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.

[mrmando]

Whoops, Paul Doyle (http://pauldoyleinstruments.com/contact.php) is at 38A Dominick St., not 34A.

[Eddie Sheehy]

robbyosullivan,

i am in a hurry right now, so i am unable to post the direct link.

Google up the bluegrass ireland blog, www.ebma.nl, www.fotmoad.(and whatever it requires to get to the island) (friends of oldtime music and dance)... There´s loads of music over there in may!

Have fun and a safe trip.

.ie

[Eddie Sheehy]

Nope, it doesn't work with .IE either

www.fotmoad.ie

I found this one:

http://www.foaotmad.org.uk/

[robbyosullivan]

Thanks again for all the info. Now that I am thinking about this, my question was more about whether a guy with my readily-available OT and BG chops will find opportunities to play along with some Irish sessions. I really don't want to seek out any OT or BG music in Ireland, as I am seeking to do a "When in Rome..." kind of thing. I just don't know if the typical music played at pubs is going to be all hardcore, complicated Irish stuff or if there will be some simpler song-circle type fare out there for me to jump in on. It will affect my decision to bring a mando or just leave it at home and grab an instrument in the pub as much as I can.:)

[steve V. johnson]

Robby, take the mandolin. TAKE the mandolin!!!

An old motorcyclist saying: Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

You'll be there after the start of the big tourist season, so if you follow the beaten tourist path you'll find pub sessions with some folks who are paid to be there for the tourists. If you hang out with them or ask them, you can find some less-staged and more spontaneous sessions. Or if you just ask folks, they'll tell you where to find some good trad stuff. Ask when it's quiet whenver you can.

There are a lot of folks who like to mix it up, play American OldTime, American country and Irish trad, too. Don't shy away, everyone plays differently everywhere, and you'll make friends no matter what you play. In some places, your music will be more in demand than the indigenous traditional music. If that's what you find, go with it. Those folks will know where the hardcore trad is, too, and they'll tell you if you ask.

Have a great, great time. I urge you to take the mandolin. The one time I went w/o an instrument I really regretted it.

p.s. Take strings, winder, stringcutter, all your standard maintenance stuff, but keep it compact and put it in your checked-thru luggage. Taking the time to hunt for stuff that's everyday gear over here can be an adventure, but... you can have better adventures. Pack for calamities for the duration. Better to have it, and all that... It sure worked for me.

All the best,

stv

[grassrootphilosopher]

Actually the folks over on the British Isles are quite open to any kind of thing just as long as you bring your instruments. The links that I tried to put you to are just referrence points. The people you can reach there will surely further you to your traditional irish, scottish, welsh and whatnot music. Like I said they are no diehards.

Other than that, go to your local pub, bring your instrument and be aware that they want you to join in to pick.

Safe trip by the way.

[Andy Campbell]

You'll have a great time when you are over. But even better if you remember not to refer to them as being part of the British Isles. Even if they really are.
All the best.

[Jill McAuley]

Robbie,
Nearer to the time that you're leaving you can also check the Events section of www.thesession.org and also www.irishmusicmagazine.com has a tours and festivals link that will list any events that might be happening too. When you're in Galway you can always pick up a copy of The Galway Advertiser - it's free and has tons of listings in the back for gigs, events etc.

Cheers,
Jill

[Eddie Sheehy]

Robby, get to Ennis for the Fleadh Nua - May 17 - 25. Check out this site (http://www.fleadhnua.com/) for details -

[Paul Doyle]

Hi Robbie, on friday night 9.30ish most weeks you can join in with your own music downstairs at the Crane bar, upstairs is for the trad heads and downstars is for country / irish / anything goes, you can play on your own or jam with the others who will be only delighted to give you a spin, at 6 pm you can do a couple of tunes with the trad lads in tigh Coiley, shop street but its strictly trad there,,,if you call in to my shop as Martin Stillion mentioned earlier i will keep a copy of whats on it town for you, ok Paul

[robbyosullivan]

Hey thanks Paul, I look forward to meeting you!

[Patrick Bouldin]

I was there in March of 07 and in was fairly pleasant. May should be fine. My suggestions - definitely take the instrument, drive the coastal perimeter, maybe after landing in Dublin drive across to Galway and start heading south there's pubs along the way. Dingle is beutiful, I'd spend a couple days there. I found the sessions all Celtic pretty much, never found bluegrass but enjoyed learning new stuff. Found sessions with whistles, fiddles, accordians, guitars - anyway just be open to try new things. Once you establish a repoir you can suggest a bluegrass or celtic fiddle tune. I noticed they are open to authentic musicanship - don't be shy but take their lead.

Enjoy!

PS: No slight on Dublin but I'd just stay out of the big cities, other than the accent, to me it was just like being in a big U.S. city - concrete! Get out and enjoy the coastline and outlying areas.

PS2: The roads are so narrow, but if you don't drive the center of the road you'll end up with a bent wheel and flat - when the busses come at you it's a game of "fake out"! :)

[POB]

Hi Robbie,

I'm late into this thread, but in case you happen to be still checking in here while in Ireland, I do a session in the Crane in Galway on Monday nights so if you're in the neighbourhood, do drop in.

I hope you enjoy your time over here.

[POB]

Oops - spoke too soon! Won't be there tonight myself, due to work pressures, but there will be a session.

[robbyosullivan]

Thanks again to everyone for the tips. Went to Ireland and came back, and had a great time. I did bring my mandolin but never played it. The sessions we found were all sort of "staged" with a gaggle of American tourists sitting silently staring at the musicians so it didn't seem like an open, flowing kind of thing. Went to the Crane twice last weekend but there was a pretty drab band performing upstairs and a trad session downstairs...again packed with tourists staring at the musicians. It was great meeting Paul Doyle though! What a great shop and a nice guy...thanks for the visit Paul. I would recommend to anyone to stop at his shop - it's an experience!

[Paul Doyle]

Thanks Robbie for the kind remarks only read them today, glad you liked my shop, yes its hit or miss if you get a good session that you can fit in, Paul

[Matt DeBlass]

I have to second (third, fourth?) The Crane in Galway. I spent a short time hanging around Galway as a busker in 97-98 and that had one of the best sessions around. Not only was it good music, I found the players to be very hospitable and open to new tunes and musicians. From there, if you make some friends you'll probably get pointers to other places to play.

[John Kelly]

You could head to the North for some good music too. We were over from Scotland in the Larne area for the past two years at the end of July playing at the 4-day Cairncastle Ulster/Scots Festival and there are some excellent places around there and over into Galway and Donegal. We had a great session at a bar called Billy Andy's outside Larne on a Saturday afternoon - we were told about it by one of the Grousebeaters (an Irish band we were playing along with) and the local musicians were very welcoming. Mix of fiddles, accordions, guitars, banjos, whistles etc and a great variety of tunes. Very informal and a great chance to swop tunes and stories.

Our only regret was that we had to leave after about three hours as we had a gig that night back at Cairncastle. You will be welcome in Ireland, either side of the border. Being from the west coast of Scotland and not that far from Ulster/County Antrim we may have had an advantage, but I don't really think so.

[JLeather]

I went to Ireland for my honeymoon in June for 9 days. Managed to fit my old Dean A-mando into my checked bag with the hardshell case and it survived the trip just fine. Wouldn't do it with a better mando though. Anyway, I managed to sit in on two sessions while I was over there. The name of the town escapes me at the moment, since we started in Dubline and drove the entire southern coast, flying back out of Shannon. I think the sessions were in Dingle, though. Both were defintiely trad, and I didn't know the tunes but I managed to figure out the chords and embellish a bit here and there. It was definitely fun, and I'd take the mando again. Both these sessions were in pretty busy bars, though, with a lot of people watching, etc. If I make it back I'd much rather find a quiet basement like The Crane sounds to be and really get to talk and try things with some local musicians. I do hope to go back, and I'll have to post up before I go next time and see what I can scrounge up. Ireland is a fantastic place. I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself no matter where you go.

[John Kinn]

Hello all!
Have visited Paul Doyle's workshop three times. The first time was around 96-97 I think, and he had just had a fire. He offered me a bozouki with blemishes from the fire for half price, but my budget was unfortunately too thight at that time (Norwegian student), and I have regretted since (I should have moved out of Sleepzone and slept on the street in the mild autumn weather, playing one of Paul Doyles outstanding instruments.) They even said at the shop that some of the "burned" instruments sounded even better!! So Paul, if you should ever have a fire again( GOD FORBID!), give me a post on the mandolin cafe, ok??:)