Ireland Music Spots

[mahlboogie]

I will be in Ireland from the 5th to the 20th of Nov. Any suggestions for music spots? Any info appreciated. Thanks JOn

[J. Mark Lane]

If you're on the West Coast you might check out the town of Dingle. Kind of an art and music enclave there. Very nice town, and out on the peninsula it is really beautiful.

Mark

[Avi Ziv]

I went to Ireland a year ago and spent time on the west coast, looking for music. Here are some specific ideas:

1. Spend some time in Ennis (County Clare). It's a nice town with a LOT of music. The first thing to do is stop by Custy's - a traditional instrument shop in town. They are very friendly and will tell you exactly what is going on and directions to the best sessions. Keep in mind that there are tourist sessions and there are local sessions. Tell them that you are a musicians and that you want to go where the locals do. They will probably tell you that Eoin O'Neill (bouzouki player) is related to the shop and that he runs some sessions in town. I recommend those. Eoin seems to be a strong musical force in town and at least some of his sessions are very inclusive and welcoming to new players. He is interested in propagating this music - a noble idea. He also has some very good musicians sitting in the "inner circle" with him.

2. Dingle is a beautiful place to visit outside of tourist season and has some good sessions there as well. There is a large bright yellow pub at the botttom of the main street with a sign that says something like Mighty Sessions Nightly. I saw some fine banjo players in there. There is also a woman in town who build bodhrans and gives lessons. I spent a little time with her but didn't get a chance to take a (much needed) lesson. Great bike riding in that area, btw, if you are into that. You can rent them in the hardware store, a dusty old place which has a pub along one wall right across from all the nails and screws....you have to see it to believe http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

3. We spent a day in Galway and were generally unimpressed. Too big and city-like for our mood at the time, although the little kids running around speaking Irish killed me. HOWEVER - I found out (again by talking with a local music shop owner) that one of THE places for traditional music is a pub called The Crane. It's on a side street and I don't have the address but it's well worth checking out. It has two floors. The downstairs is so plain that you could easily pass on it without a second thought. But upstairs there is a music room with a small bar. On the day we were there, we stumbled upon a fantastic solo accordion performance by Jackie Daly, followed by a very nice session.

The best thing to do from my experience is to talk with the locals as much as possible. They as VERY friendly and they will send you to the right places especially if you tell them that you play music yourself.


Have a great time!

Avi

[ab4usa]

you shoulod touch base (play on words intended) with the old bass player Bill Bussmann. Seems to me that I heard that he's delivering a mandoling to Ireland in November. I expect he'll either know or find all the bst places.

[Adare_Steve]

I live on the West of Ireland, in Co. Limerick. Roughly equal travelling distance from counties Kerry and Clare, and not far from Cork. There's a lot of music all around me.

I know Ireland is "a small country", to coin a common phrase, here, but it might help if you know where you're going to be during the 15 days that you're here, to narrow down the advice. It's not that much time, and I doubt you'll cover more than a third of the country, even if you're very fast at getting around!

Steve

[mikeyes]

The off season is a good time to go to Ireland if you are a musician. We went in January of this year and had a great time. Most of our time was spent in Dingle and we stayed at John Benny's which is a pub and a set of self catering apartments.John Bennys pub (http://www.johnbennyspub.com)and they have sessions almost every night or can direct you to one. The musicians in Dingle are not only very good but very friendly as long as you are willing to have a good time. Too serious is not in their vocabulary. The other pubs are the Small Bridge (mentioned above), Dick Mack's (next to the church), O'Flaherty's, the Marina (on Sunday afternoons), and during the season almost everywhere. There is a music shop on the same street as the church (Green street, I think) which can also guide you to sessions.

We went to Ennis and I endorse the information there and to Doolin where I played with Kevin Griffin, one of my banjo idols.

Let us know where you will be and I think we can find you enough music to keep you busy.

Mike Keyes

[Mando a Mando]

Really enjoyed the time we were in Dingle. The pub mentioned is called The Little Bridge. Played a few tunes with some very nice folks there. There were tourists there, though (that would have been us). Great town--1,500 residents/30 pubs.
Galway was more urban but The Crane was pretty good. O'Connors had some great traditional music. Can't wait to get back!
W.Willis

[Ward Elliott]

I've never been there myself, but my nephew and his girlfriend spent a month in Europe last summer and of all the places they traveled, Doolin was their favorite! I think he wants to play Irish music now. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif #Have fun Jon!

[mahlboogie]

Thank you so much for all the information. We will make it a point to use these points as destinations. I've learned that getting there is half the fun. Thanks Jon

[Colin Irvine]

It's worth asking around when you get to whichever town/village you're staying in. Landladies are a good source! Some sessions are better if you want to listen, others if you want to play, and you need local knowledge to tell the difference. Best welcome I ever had was in Kilkelly, the worst when I ignored advice and chose the wrong session in Dingle.

[oldwave maker]

Hey John, I'll be around Tralee from the 9th till the 16th, with side trips to Co. Leitrim, Dublin and Limerick, searching for the chickencoop gr-gr-grandpa was spawned in, also doing a wood errand for spruce. good sessions around Tralee the 9th and 13th, according to Ciaran, my Irish joke guru....
We should meet Steve in Adare for a pint on me!

[POB]

I'll reinforce the recommendation for the Crane here in Galway, along with Tigh Chóili. If you reckon you'll be passing through Galway, send me a PM if you'd like to meet up.

By the way, although it's a small country, it's not quite as easy to get around as many parts of the US. The public transport system isn't all that it might be and the roads, while improving, are generally not wonderful, so as Steve said, don't expect to cover too much ground.

[mancmando]

I think you're in luck.....

Last year I went to the Ennis trad fest in County Clare, which was the first weekend in November, and had a fantastic time. There were somewhere in the region of 10 - 15 good quality pub sessions occuring simultaneously, and there were several gigs featuring some of the best Irish musicians around.

Unfortunately I can't make it this year but would strongly recommend you to check it out. I've just tried to get on their web site to check when it's on, but it seems to be down at the moment http://www.clarenet.ie/ennis/novtradfest

I think it's the weekend of 6/7th of November, but not sure of this. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Jaws]

People still seem to see Ireland as a place full of country lanes and byways. While I'll agree that the road network leaves much to be hoped for, getting around isn't impossible. Just expect traffic jams when driving through most towns of any size (and if driving south from Dublin, avoid Naas traffic if at all possible).
Galway, despite being one of the larger towns in Ireland, has plenty of pubs (and good guiness) and music around Quay street and the other side of the river. I'll second POB's recommendations on the Crane and Tigh Choili, and add Monroe's to that. The people playing there are miked, its a fairly large place, and although the evening entertainment does sometimes consist of songs performed a la The Dubliners, I've heard great tunes being played by good musicians there a good few times.

[Bob DeVellis]

Boy, you are really making me want to get back to Ireland. Haven't been in about -- gee, I think it's about 10 years. On that trip, a lot had already changed from previous trips, so it must be still more modernized. Gret place, great people, great music, and now, great food, too.

[Jaws]

and now, great food, too

Ahh, the obligatory trip to Supermacs or any other chipper after a night out http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Sorry 'bout the lack of mando content. Couldn't resist that one http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[Adare_Steve]

We should meet Steve in Adare for a pint on me!
Well, I'm definitely up for it!

Call me at the shop +353-(0)61-395861 with a couple of days notice!

You both might also be interested in our Thursday night session at 'Bill Chalkes' pub in Adare.

Steve