Had a great time at the fleadh in Letterkenny. Much better than last year. Maybe cos I knew my way round better this year - knew where to go and the weather was great also.
Well done! And Thumbs up to all the friendly staff at the Raddison Hotel.
I went into a few of the competitions - great talent all round - agreed with some of the decisions and disagreed with a few more. Hope you enjoyed the fleadh!
Have to add my congratulations to the Radisson. On Saturday night, because of the crowds, I'd resigned myself to a night "off duty" when I got a call from one of the Clare musicians to come down to the hotel. On arriving there I found a "fleadh within a fleadh" with sessions in every nook and cranny. I'd checked out four different sessions before finding the Clare gang. Every fleadh needs a venue like this.
Must have been a feocious standard in the senior banjo CarlowTrad as on checking the results I noticed Clare's Stephen Madden didn't feature either - anytime I've heard Stephen play I would have thought he was unbeatable.
Good fleadh, lacking atmosphere though. Where has all the 'craic' gone? Don't think people know how to enjoy themselves anymore in the old sod. Too much money and too much competition (musicwise). Most of the fleadh characters must be taking part in the great session in the sky! Had lovely sessions in Radisson, staff were very accommodating. Did the bar ever close? Roll on TULLAMORE
Hello! Bannerman I'm almost certain that, although he was listed, Stephen Madden was unable to compete. I agree with you thoroughly....he's one i'd consider unbeatable too!
Ah, well, I'd hoped to be there this year, but couldn't make it. One thing to remember is that Letterkenny isn't a traditional music hotspot and there's hardly a session in the town in a normal week. So there isn't much of a local crowd to make visitors welcome in whatever additional pubs have been cajoled into staging a session.
As for the Radisson, it's one of the best-run hotels in Ireland (and I write with my 'Rough Guide to Ireland' hat on) - excellent service, helpful staff and well equipped rooms (often at bargain rates).
I agree that the sessions in the Radisson were great......Joe Burke and Ann Conroy were in one session, three other sessions going simultaneously. Street scene was another story. It was one very long drinking binge from one end of Main St. to the other. Not to mention the plethora of women in hot pants and sequined stiletto shoes. Not that the men minded, I'm sure!!!! but in the chill and drizzle, it was a bit odd. Caught Antoin McGowan (spelling) in a lovely private session with a few others off behind the Library. He was honored earlier in the week at the CCE dinner. The standard of music at the competitions was excellent. Now onto next year's fleadh!
Was in the Senior Banjo as well. Got nowhere (cause of nerves, wrecked the hell out of me and my playing). Had a great time in Letterkenny. As it was my first Fleadh ever, I think I'll be going back next year.
Antóin MacGabhann is how he spells it. In English it could appear as MacGowan, etc, The meaning is Smith, and he is also known as Tony Smith. He is a lovely fiddler, and a wonderful man.
Hi Pat, were you in the Cottage on Thursday night along with a harpist (from New Zealand)? Although there were no named musicians (eg Joe Burke, Antóin MacGabhann, or the like) it turned into a great session with Katherine on pipes from Cumbria, Vincent from Birmingham on piano box, David on banjo from Dublin plus the gang from Clontarf who arrived after 11.00. If it was you, many thanks for your foresight in reserving those extra few stools for musicians at the start as without this there was no chance a session could have developed with all the crowds that were drifting in at the time.
Our crowd had a ball - some great wee sessions out in the Hideout in the Old Town where we were welcomed with open arms by publican and punters alike. No mad crowds - just great tunes.
Had some nice music in the Cottage on Friday, Saturday in Gallaghers, Sunday on the street outside the Cavern, Monday in McGinleys, with a round up each night in the Hideout except Monday when we finished up in the Ramada.
A lot better than last year - roll on Ballina [or Tullamore for that matter!].
We were the fiddle and concertina that joined you at the start. Yeah, it sure got busy. However, even though the overall crowd was large I think it's fair to say that over half were playing instruments which isn't a bad ratio! Hope you have a good trip back to NZ and that you might visit us again sometime in the future.
Fleadh 2006
Fleadh 2006
I took part this year. Got nowhere, but was wondering if anyone had any comments to make?
Eoin O Meachair
http://www.carlowtrad.com
http://www.caladh.com
# Posted on September 1st 2006 by CarlowTrad
Re: Fleadh 2006
Forgot to add, I was in Senior banjo!
# Posted on September 1st 2006 by CarlowTrad
Re: Fleadh 2006
Had a great time at the fleadh in Letterkenny. Much better than last year. Maybe cos I knew my way round better this year - knew where to go and the weather was great also.
Well done! And Thumbs up to all the friendly staff at the Raddison Hotel.
I went into a few of the competitions - great talent all round - agreed with some of the decisions and disagreed with a few more. Hope you enjoyed the fleadh!
# Posted on September 1st 2006 by
Re: Fleadh 2006
Have to add my congratulations to the Radisson. On Saturday night, because of the crowds, I'd resigned myself to a night "off duty" when I got a call from one of the Clare musicians to come down to the hotel. On arriving there I found a "fleadh within a fleadh" with sessions in every nook and cranny. I'd checked out four different sessions before finding the Clare gang. Every fleadh needs a venue like this.
# Posted on September 1st 2006 by Bannerman
Re: Fleadh 2006
Must have been a feocious standard in the senior banjo CarlowTrad as on checking the results I noticed Clare's Stephen Madden didn't feature either - anytime I've heard Stephen play I would have thought he was unbeatable.
# Posted on September 1st 2006 by Bannerman
Re: Fleadh 2006
Good fleadh, lacking atmosphere though. Where has all the 'craic' gone? Don't think people know how to enjoy themselves anymore in the old sod. Too much money and too much competition (musicwise). Most of the fleadh characters must be taking part in the great session in the sky! Had lovely sessions in Radisson, staff were very accommodating. Did the bar ever close? Roll on TULLAMORE
# Posted on September 1st 2006 by cluaintarbh
Re: Fleadh 2006
Hello! Bannerman I'm almost certain that, although he was listed, Stephen Madden was unable to compete. I agree with you thoroughly....he's one i'd consider unbeatable too!
# Posted on September 1st 2006 by mokeefe
Re: Fleadh 2006
Ah, well, I'd hoped to be there this year, but couldn't make it. One thing to remember is that Letterkenny isn't a traditional music hotspot and there's hardly a session in the town in a normal week. So there isn't much of a local crowd to make visitors welcome in whatever additional pubs have been cajoled into staging a session.
As for the Radisson, it's one of the best-run hotels in Ireland (and I write with my 'Rough Guide to Ireland' hat on) - excellent service, helpful staff and well equipped rooms (often at bargain rates).
# Posted on September 1st 2006 by Floss the Tethers
Re: Fleadh 2006
I agree that the sessions in the Radisson were great......Joe Burke and Ann Conroy were in one session, three other sessions going simultaneously. Street scene was another story. It was one very long drinking binge from one end of Main St. to the other. Not to mention the plethora of women in hot pants and sequined stiletto shoes. Not that the men minded, I'm sure!!!! but in the chill and drizzle, it was a bit odd. Caught Antoin McGowan (spelling) in a lovely private session with a few others off behind the Library. He was honored earlier in the week at the CCE dinner. The standard of music at the competitions was excellent. Now onto next year's fleadh!
# Posted on September 1st 2006 by clareman
Re: Fleadh 2006
Was in the Senior Banjo as well. Got nowhere (cause of nerves, wrecked the hell out of me and my playing). Had a great time in Letterkenny. As it was my first Fleadh ever, I think I'll be going back next year.
# Posted on September 2nd 2006 by Dark Raven
Re: Fleadh 2006
Antóin MacGabhann is how he spells it. In English it could appear as MacGowan, etc, The meaning is Smith, and he is also known as Tony Smith. He is a lovely fiddler, and a wonderful man.
# Posted on September 3rd 2006 by curamach
Re: Fleadh 2006
There was good sessions each evening in Blakes. I spent a lot of time in there, also in the Drum.
Met Antoin and a bunch of people up from Clare in Blakes. Nice sesh, there , good crack.
I thought Letterkenny did itself proud, sure it was a bit messy on the street later , but no hassle.
The Raddisson and the other big hotels were thronged.
I saw that Joe burke session, huge.
Pat
# Posted on September 3rd 2006 by Pat Higgins
Re: Fleadh 2006
Hi Pat, were you in the Cottage on Thursday night along with a harpist (from New Zealand)? Although there were no named musicians (eg Joe Burke, Antóin MacGabhann, or the like) it turned into a great session with Katherine on pipes from Cumbria, Vincent from Birmingham on piano box, David on banjo from Dublin plus the gang from Clontarf who arrived after 11.00. If it was you, many thanks for your foresight in reserving those extra few stools for musicians at the start as without this there was no chance a session could have developed with all the crowds that were drifting in at the time.
# Posted on September 3rd 2006 by Bannerman
Re: Fleadh 2006
Our crowd had a ball - some great wee sessions out in the Hideout in the Old Town where we were welcomed with open arms by publican and punters alike. No mad crowds - just great tunes.
Had some nice music in the Cottage on Friday, Saturday in Gallaghers, Sunday on the street outside the Cavern, Monday in McGinleys, with a round up each night in the Hideout except Monday when we finished up in the Ramada.
A lot better than last year - roll on Ballina [or Tullamore for that matter!].
# Posted on September 4th 2006 by breandan
Re: Fleadh 2006
I hear Noel Hill is entering the senior concertina next year! Is there any truth in this?
# Posted on September 4th 2006 by eurbanjo
Re: Fleadh 2006
yes its true noel hill is entering
# Posted on September 4th 2006 by an_insoluble_pancake
Re: Fleadh 2006
Bannerman
Yup, I was playing flute with Celia on harp on Thursday night early in the Cottage. Yup we bailed when it got busy.
Pat
# Posted on September 5th 2006 by Pat Higgins
Re: Fleadh 2006
We were the fiddle and concertina that joined you at the start. Yeah, it sure got busy. However, even though the overall crowd was large I think it's fair to say that over half were playing instruments which isn't a bad ratio! Hope you have a good trip back to NZ and that you might visit us again sometime in the future.
# Posted on September 5th 2006 by Bannerman
Re: Fleadh 2006
Bannerman
I've forgotten your name, remind me.
Sure I'am back on this side of the rock again.
After the Fleadh I went home to me folks in Galway, and ended up in Moyasta Co. Clare, deep deep west Clare.
It must be the smallest festival in Ireland, nice though.
I enjoyed the few tunes we had.
Regards
Pat
# Posted on September 11th 2006 by Pat Higgins