(My first post here)
I play the fife in the Kentish Guards Fife and Drum Corps from Rhode Island, USA, and we are marching in Galway's St. Patrick's day parade. I am beyond excited, as this will be my first trip to Ireland. I've also just started playing the flute as well. I'm a good player, but I don't know many ITM tunes, but I can sight-read very well (I'm plowing through the tunebooks here). I'm looking for some general info about Galway/Ireland.
We'll be in Galway 3 days. Where's the best craic? I'd like to join a beginner/intermediate session, as well as listen in on some more advanced stuff just to make me feel inadequate, and get me pumped
After Galway, where to next? I may want to see some of the standard tourist traps (castles/cathedrals), but I'm way more interested in experiencing the mystique of the countryside - not somewhere where I could buy a postcard. Basically, upon leaving Galway, I'll have 4 days to traverse the countryside, eventually making it back to Shannon airport for my departure. I would like to see Dublin (mainly the Guinness brewery) just as a point in my loop around the Republic.
Also, I play guitar, and would like to back sessions with the same, but I really don't want to bring my guitar from home. Can anybody suggest a second-hand store where I can pick up an inexpensive, yet playable guitar (preferable in Galway)?
Get down to Ennis. Stop in at Custy's Music (http://www.custysmusic.com) -- inquire there for lessons if you want to try for a flute lesson from someone. Expect to learn by ear, though, not off music. They can also tell you the best sessions for you to go to in Ennis, there's music there every day of the week at multiple locations under different session leaders. Great crack!
Rhode Island is pretty small, but I don't get out much. So, no, I don't know Brad. I've been a wind player for more than 20 years (started on Saxophone), been playing the fife for only 3, and I've had my flute for 1 week today, so I have yet to attend a local session. I'm planning on checking out Patrick's Pub in Providence, as soon as I can get the time -- and the balls -- to do so (a guy walks into a bar ...).
Thanks for the welcome!
Nope, he's not (if he was in mine -- I dunno). Either way, after a little searching, I discovered he leads a session tonight (at Tinker's Nest), rather close to my home (about 15 minutes away). I have my F&D rehearsal tonight, but perhaps I'll swing by on my way home and introduce myself. I'll tell him I know you (which I don't)!
Run a search on sessions here to find a listing of sessions in Galway, or just wander around center city and listen for the music. Duck into pretty much any pub and somebody can direct you towards the music. I don't recall there being much in the line of beginner/intermediate sessions when I was over there. It seems to me maybe there was one on like a Monday at Tig Coili, but I had class at that time, and never managed to check it out. I'm sure there must be some, but I was always more content just sitting in on the sessions at the Crane. Anywho, enjoy!
No offence to anyone in Dublin, but get out of there as fast as you possibly can and go to Ennis, as Zina recommends. It's got the coolest (although confusing at first) cobble-stoned, winding streets, sessions all over the place, and the popuation seems to be about 2/3 extremely friendy musicians and 1/3 extremely friendly old farmers from the countryside who will tell you the life story of anybody in the pub, if only you get them started.
There are also lots of possible day trips out of Ennis (the Burren, the Connamara) where you'll see plenty of coutryside, if that's what your after. The Abbey Tourist Hostel has a bunch of day trips posted on their bulletin board, and is also a cheap and friendly central place to stay if you don't mind the slightly dodgy smell. It's dorm accomodation but if you pay a little extra you can have a dorm to yourself. There are often impromptu sessions in the kitchen.
Galway, there was a beginner session upstairs in a pub I've forgotten the name of, a little off the beaten track (not in the tourist center). Can anyone help me out? All I can remember is that the area seemed a little dodgy and the upstairs seemed twice the size of the downstairs.
Well, it seems that all signs are poining *away* from Dublin -- that seems to be good news, as it will make my time in Ireland more focused on the sights and sounds, and not so much on travel.
Also, does anyone have any insight on the hostels? I looked at the above mentioned Abbey Hostel, and it looks quite friendly enough -- and the price is definitely right (< $20/night)! I'm not going to Ireland to be pampered in 5-star hotels - all I need is a place to crash after a belly full of Guinness and an earful of ITM drive me to my knees!
And, I'm bringing the missus as well. She's not the high-maintenance type, but a reference to a "slightly dodgy smell" makes me a little leary of bedding her there. Any additional comments on the comment?
The Hostel is definitely a hostel, but it's not too bad. It has the advantage of being right next to the library and free Internet access so you can keep us updated on your trip.
It's just a really old building and the carpets haven't been changed in a few hundred years is all. It's as clean as they can make it considering their staff are mostly itinerant musicians who spend all their nights out drinking at the sessions and are probably still drunk when they turn up at work in the morning...
Hi guys, I net up with "FyfferGuy" last night. He dropped in on a really great session & I think we all had a blast. I never was a member of any Fife & Drum groups but I have several friends in the Kentish Gaurd's & really enjoy going to the musters. We even did a few Roy Watrous tunes (The Ed Reavy of fife tunes)
I pass into Ennis a few times a week and don't see anything above the usual about it in terms of music. I have some very good musician friends from Ennis and they tell me the same thing. So follow your own instinct. I know that Custy's music shop may seem to be great, but in reality it is simply average as there are a lot of better shops all over Ireland, althought most will not sell online (not aided at you, Zina, I just have seen so much about Custy's on this site and I really don't know how it became so popular, must be online selling)
The time of year you are coming is very quite in rural Ireland as St. Pats is only a one day Holiday. Nothing much happens before Easter and even for a long time after that. You will meet some excellent flute players in Galway city, as far as I know Noel Lenehan from Belfast still plays around the city. Ask in the Crane or Taffe's who is about.
Here is an important fact, so don't be dissapointed in Ireland. We don't celebrate St Pats to the same level as New York or Boston, in fact we do it very low key and to tell the truth alot of us couldn't give a monkeys about parades and that stuff. Parades are put on for the kids mostly. Although the one in Galway in recent years has got a second wind.
I'll be in Galway for St. Pat's day...
I'll be in Galway for St. Pat's day...
(My first post here)
I play the fife in the Kentish Guards Fife and Drum Corps from Rhode Island, USA, and we are marching in Galway's St. Patrick's day parade. I am beyond excited, as this will be my first trip to Ireland. I've also just started playing the flute as well. I'm a good player, but I don't know many ITM tunes, but I can sight-read very well (I'm plowing through the tunebooks here). I'm looking for some general info about Galway/Ireland.
We'll be in Galway 3 days. Where's the best craic? I'd like to join a beginner/intermediate session, as well as listen in on some more advanced stuff just to make me feel inadequate, and get me pumped
After Galway, where to next? I may want to see some of the standard tourist traps (castles/cathedrals), but I'm way more interested in experiencing the mystique of the countryside - not somewhere where I could buy a postcard. Basically, upon leaving Galway, I'll have 4 days to traverse the countryside, eventually making it back to Shannon airport for my departure. I would like to see Dublin (mainly the Guinness brewery) just as a point in my loop around the Republic.
Also, I play guitar, and would like to back sessions with the same, but I really don't want to bring my guitar from home. Can anybody suggest a second-hand store where I can pick up an inexpensive, yet playable guitar (preferable in Galway)?
Thanks!
# Posted on January 13th 2005 by FyfferGuy
Re: I'll be in Galway for St. Pat's day...
Welcome to The Session! You must know Brad?
Get down to Ennis. Stop in at Custy's Music (http://www.custysmusic.com) -- inquire there for lessons if you want to try for a flute lesson from someone. Expect to learn by ear, though, not off music. They can also tell you the best sessions for you to go to in Ennis, there's music there every day of the week at multiple locations under different session leaders. Great crack!
# Posted on January 13th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: I'll be in Galway for St. Pat's day...
Rhode Island is pretty small, but I don't get out much. So, no, I don't know Brad. I've been a wind player for more than 20 years (started on Saxophone), been playing the fife for only 3, and I've had my flute for 1 week today, so I have yet to attend a local session. I'm planning on checking out Patrick's Pub in Providence, as soon as I can get the time -- and the balls -- to do so (a guy walks into a bar ...).
Thanks for the welcome!
# Posted on January 13th 2005 by FyfferGuy
Re: I'll be in Galway for St. Pat's day...
Hmmm...maybe Brad Maloney (an excellent fiddler) isn't in the Fyfe corp anymore then! Or maybe I'm totally misremembering...
# Posted on January 13th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: I'll be in Galway for St. Pat's day...
Nope, he's not (if he was in mine -- I dunno). Either way, after a little searching, I discovered he leads a session tonight (at Tinker's Nest), rather close to my home (about 15 minutes away). I have my F&D rehearsal tonight, but perhaps I'll swing by on my way home and introduce myself. I'll tell him I know you (which I don't)!
# Posted on January 13th 2005 by FyfferGuy
Re: I'll be in Galway for St. Pat's day...
We all know eachother ... but we don't. ;)
Hopefully that will change with time.
# Posted on January 13th 2005 by Pádraig
Re: I'll be in Galway for St. Pat's day...
Run a search on sessions here to find a listing of sessions in Galway, or just wander around center city and listen for the music. Duck into pretty much any pub and somebody can direct you towards the music. I don't recall there being much in the line of beginner/intermediate sessions when I was over there. It seems to me maybe there was one on like a Monday at Tig Coili, but I had class at that time, and never managed to check it out. I'm sure there must be some, but I was always more content just sitting in on the sessions at the Crane. Anywho, enjoy!
# Posted on January 13th 2005 by Jason G
Re: I'll be in Galway for St. Pat's day...
No offence to anyone in Dublin, but get out of there as fast as you possibly can and go to Ennis, as Zina recommends. It's got the coolest (although confusing at first) cobble-stoned, winding streets, sessions all over the place, and the popuation seems to be about 2/3 extremely friendy musicians and 1/3 extremely friendly old farmers from the countryside who will tell you the life story of anybody in the pub, if only you get them started.
There are also lots of possible day trips out of Ennis (the Burren, the Connamara) where you'll see plenty of coutryside, if that's what your after. The Abbey Tourist Hostel has a bunch of day trips posted on their bulletin board, and is also a cheap and friendly central place to stay if you don't mind the slightly dodgy smell. It's dorm accomodation but if you pay a little extra you can have a dorm to yourself. There are often impromptu sessions in the kitchen.
# Posted on January 13th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: I'll be in Galway for St. Pat's day...
Whoops, you're not going to Dublin. Never mind.
# Posted on January 13th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: I'll be in Galway for St. Pat's day...
Galway, there was a beginner session upstairs in a pub I've forgotten the name of, a little off the beaten track (not in the tourist center). Can anyone help me out? All I can remember is that the area seemed a little dodgy and the upstairs seemed twice the size of the downstairs.
# Posted on January 13th 2005 by Kerri Brown
There it is:
http://www.thesession.org/sessions/display.php/240
The Crane. Apparently the learning night is Saturday, before the regular session.
# Posted on January 13th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: I'll be in Galway for St. Pat's day...
Well, it seems that all signs are poining *away* from Dublin -- that seems to be good news, as it will make my time in Ireland more focused on the sights and sounds, and not so much on travel.
Also, does anyone have any insight on the hostels? I looked at the above mentioned Abbey Hostel, and it looks quite friendly enough -- and the price is definitely right (< $20/night)! I'm not going to Ireland to be pampered in 5-star hotels - all I need is a place to crash after a belly full of Guinness and an earful of ITM drive me to my knees!
And, I'm bringing the missus as well. She's not the high-maintenance type, but a reference to a "slightly dodgy smell" makes me a little leary of bedding her there. Any additional comments on the comment?
# Posted on January 13th 2005 by FyfferGuy
Re: I'll be in Galway for St. Pat's day...
The Hostel is definitely a hostel, but it's not too bad. It has the advantage of being right next to the library and free Internet access so you can keep us updated on your trip.
# Posted on January 13th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: I'll be in Galway for St. Pat's day...
It's just a really old building and the carpets haven't been changed in a few hundred years is all. It's as clean as they can make it considering their staff are mostly itinerant musicians who spend all their nights out drinking at the sessions and are probably still drunk when they turn up at work in the morning...
# Posted on January 13th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: I'll be in Galway for St. Pat's day...
Hi guys, I net up with "FyfferGuy" last night. He dropped in on a really great session & I think we all had a blast. I never was a member of any Fife & Drum groups but I have several friends in the Kentish Gaurd's & really enjoy going to the musters. We even did a few Roy Watrous tunes (The Ed Reavy of fife tunes)
# Posted on January 14th 2005 by B Rad
Re: I'll be in Galway for St. Pat's day...
Heya Brad -- sorry, for some reason I thought you played in one of the bands! Yay that you all got together!
# Posted on January 14th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: I'll be in Galway for St. Pat's day...
I pass into Ennis a few times a week and don't see anything above the usual about it in terms of music. I have some very good musician friends from Ennis and they tell me the same thing. So follow your own instinct. I know that Custy's music shop may seem to be great, but in reality it is simply average as there are a lot of better shops all over Ireland, althought most will not sell online (not aided at you, Zina, I just have seen so much about Custy's on this site and I really don't know how it became so popular, must be online selling)
The time of year you are coming is very quite in rural Ireland as St. Pats is only a one day Holiday. Nothing much happens before Easter and even for a long time after that. You will meet some excellent flute players in Galway city, as far as I know Noel Lenehan from Belfast still plays around the city. Ask in the Crane or Taffe's who is about.
Here is an important fact, so don't be dissapointed in Ireland. We don't celebrate St Pats to the same level as New York or Boston, in fact we do it very low key and to tell the truth alot of us couldn't give a monkeys about parades and that stuff. Parades are put on for the kids mostly. Although the one in Galway in recent years has got a second wind.
# Posted on January 14th 2005 by compaqjohn