ireland

[montanasteve]

So, I'm in dublin!!!!!



I have a question though:
Random person I met at the hostel I'm staying in says he's from Galway and that if I end up there this weekend, he'll give me a place to stay-Is that wierd?...or creepy?

I've never traveled alone like this before and i'm kind of paranoid in general.

[Dagger Gordon]

I think it's probably cool. If you're not sure about him don't go, but hostels are good for making friends and contacts.

[steve V. johnson]

Probably cool. Not rare. Nice people.

stv

[Aran]

Most likely totally cool and will introduce you to wonderful people, scenes and sessions which you might never have found.....

But really just go with your gut... do you get a good feeling from this person?

[Aran]

Oh if you are in Dublin then do check out the Cobblestone...

Playing there myself on 27th Feb.

So you made it to Dublin... cool, weather is really poxy!!! Sleet/Rain Wind the usual...

Now do you have your mandolin with you???

Are you playing Trad? Bluegrass? Everything??

[martinedwards]

Just found this!

Hope you have a great time here,

enjoy the music and don't drink TOO much!!

[Rob Zamites]

When I went back in '96, I arrived expecting to spend every last punt before flying back to the states. Thanks to the first scary Irishman I met ("My brother worked in Alburqueeerqee!"), I stayed and folks houses all across the isle, not spending a cent on room. It went sort of like, "Oh, you're going to Athlone? Go to Brogan's Pub and ask for my cousin Ruth and tell her Teddy said to take care of you!". I'd get to Athlone, find Ruth, and she'd tell me what a cur Teddy is, then take me home to meet her husband and kids, feed me, and let me sleep in the spare bedroom for two nights. Ruth would then say, "You're going to Ennis? Go to the Sleeping Donkey Inn and ask for my nephew Ian! He's got a B&B!" Rinse and repeat.
The one regret I have was not taking the 3 day a week fishing boat job in Dingle, and working the other days at the pub for room and board. I would still be there!

[Aran]

Hey Steve,

Hope your trip is going really well....

We are all waiting for an update.... Did you bite the bullet and go to Galway to stay with those folks???

Where are you now??

If you are back in Dublin let me know and we can hook you up with some places to go and gigs to go to... maybe even come to one of mine...

[wannabethile]

darn it. this makes me want to go there so darn badly!! i hope that youre having a great time there, steve!! be safe...

[steve V. johnson]

Even tho Ireland is 'the most wired country in Europe', there are places that are wonderful for music, folks and general heavenliness where 'online' is just not on every corner.

I remember lots of times when there was so much good life and music to be involved with right in front of us (and more coming) that even using the phone seemed far, far away.

That said, I'd love to hear back from him too, about his adventures there....

Cheers, Steve, we hope you're having a wonderful time!

stv

[robw95]

Anybody heard from Montanasteve lately? Last post was almost a month ago and right after he got to Dublin. I'm going to be going to Ireland in mid April or so to wander around and wanted to hear his experiences but also make sure he was ok.

Rob

[Kirk Pickering]

It's been 15 years, but in 1994 I spent two weeks near Cork in County Claire.
We stayed in this old castle called "Ballyportry." At that time there were no staff
or anything -- we were pretty much on our own. We learned to burn turf to cook
and stay warm, and fun things like that. It was a great adventure. As for music,
the town of Ennis was amazing. I recall a pub with a large outdoor patio with a
never-ending stream of musicians and pints making merry day and night. We also
brought some local musicians from Cork back to the castle for a midnight jam on
the rooftop under the moon. It was a time I will never forget. It looks like the
castle is still operating. If I could return to Ballyportry someday, I would.

http://www.ballyportry.ie/

[Eddie Sheehy]

That was some bit of driving to bring a few musicians from Cork, even if it was Charleville, all the way up to The Burren at night... a distance that here in the States is considered an easy jaunt, but in Ireland would take the best part of a day.... I've often driven by Ballyportry but never gone in, have to drop by when I'm home in May. Thanks for the heads-up. BTW, the Open-Air patio pub sounds like the The Crabtree outside Newmarket-on-Fergus (near Ennis).