for two years i have kept up to date with the world of irish festivals and events tru your great site.
however i have waited with a huge smile on my face since last august with the hope thst the organisers of last years world fleadh would return with their festival if only to prove the phantom mr micheal o toole got it so wrong wrong wrong . if you check o tools history he only signed in especially to slate the world fleadh and make serious alligations against the organisers .
i now ask micheal to maybe come out of your slumber and give a look at www.theworldfleadh.com so much for the event not moving out of kerry ha ha and never again to be heard of
maybe micheal might give us his verdict from his tru subscribers membership ???
and for harryb and regog they must be sick after looging on the fleadh site
i must say that the three guys were well out numbered by yhe pro ,s during that period last august
i spent the entire week in kerry and it was the best event for many years
im really looking forward to portlaoise to see and hear the duhks , katie melua , nizlopi,carlos nunez,and many many more not to menyion the pub trails.
i never get involved in discussions but decided to become a member after reading the crap from the phantom o toole
so see ye in portlaoise on 6 august and then on to the national fleadh in tullamore cant waite anyway anyone traveling down from donnegal ?
Harry you missed the pt, forget what the papers said,i really wanted you and phantom o TOOL to acknowledge that it was not a one year wonder and wheather ye like or dislike the organisers its happening again and im told you wont have to travel far next year Harry its comming down your way in 2008
we need more of these festivals in ireland as its embarrassing when we go to celtic connections and irish fest tonder ect and we had no celtic festival of this scale untill world fleadh came along
i believe the organisers took a huge financial hitt on it last year but believe its getting huge support in portlaoise and i believe they are on a winner with yhe world fleadh
we need new events as the older events like fleadh nua which was brillant 20 years ago are now outdated
clare should have a national festival considering its the home of so many trad players and followers, miltown is going down year after year so something big for ennis 2008?
anyway micheal or should i say harry or Regog have a nice day and sorry for being the barer of such bad news for you on the world fleadh
finally am thinking of staying in the midlands for the national fleadh in tullamore but cant get accomodation any places out there have 3 lads from boston well known in the trad sene but cant get good hotel ?
You're confusing me with someone who gives a shight about the thing. Listen carefully while I acknowledge it thus: if Irish festivals have to go the way of tacky folk-ins and crap folk/ rock/ other acts to keep afloat or give an illusion of grandeur then I'll quite happily sit in a sleepy Milltown with a few of my friends and play the real thing.
I hope you enjoy the circus, everyone to their own.
And I didn't do the O'Toole thing: you, with your pseudo name, seem to be every bit the cowardly little TOOL that he/ she is/was... I have never needed to hide behind a crap non-name.
Yeah, good on you Harry, for being able to understand what on earth this person is droning on about. I got a headache just trying to put in "virtual" punctuation and grammar, in order to decipher the ravings. Then again he did name you in person, so maybe you felt obliged to reply. Yep, the cutting room floor sounds like a good resting place for this thread.
I live in Portlaoise and I’m really excited about the World Fleadh coming here. I have absolutely no time for most of the headline names, but I do realise that, in order to present lesser-known, more musically interesting acts, commercial realities must be faced and hence the likes of Katie Melua and Deacon Blue. The line-up for the theatre concerts is, I think, brilliant, and for anyone interested in masterclasses, there are acknowledged masters such as Joe Burke, Enda Scahill and Ronan Browne, to name only three. Already there is great excitement amongst local music-lovers and musicians. and I hope that the Fleadh is a huge success. If you are, incidentally, coming to Portlaoise, you might have a look at www.portlaoisepictures.com
To say that Miltown Malbay is going down says it all for this individual's grip on reality. WW is still a great week for trad musicians and with a format that it has, will continue to be so. Likewise Fleadh Nua had 70 separate events the week before last including something for everyone from eight to eighty. There's no way that circuses such as these other mega-festivals can ever offer this type of culture and entertainment and I sincerely hope Clare never hosts one.
These circuses and mega festivals promote Irish music, remember Ballisadare?
Now obviously they are not pure traditional music, but have inspired many in that direction. How many users of this site quote "Planxty" as their inspiration? A group of one musician and three backers.
However there are some who would rather let the music die that it become tainted with commercialism. Like most people, I fall between the two extremes, so I could tolerate Kate Whoever and such.
Having said that I must confess to a great dislike of Carlos Nunez, just a personal thing, his being the type of commercialism I do not like.
As do we all, have commercial recordings available that is. However there is commerce, and commerce as I tried to point out.
Dubliners, Planxty, Moving Hearts and others for instance were not pure traditional, yet influenced traditional music, attracting many people top take up traditional instruments, and contained some great traditional musicians.
Other groups, and I suspect Kate Whoever, may not fall into that category.
I know many who recoil at the mere mention of commerce, change, or innovation. These people would dismiss groups like Altan and The Bothy's, simply for appearing "in concert".
Perhaps age has given me a slight advantage, in that I may have met more musicians over the years.
BTW, Bliss, if you're arguing that the commercial recording industry brought the music back to life, remember it nearly killed it in the first place. In case you are, don't get to thinking we should always be thankful for that industry. Utilise its benefits but be wary, I say.......if asked.....
On this site, do we not always accept the word of people we do not know, ort even heard of? That's part and parcel of being on a website and responding to threads.
As for assuming, well we all do that on here. I assume you play an instrument, I assume you are not senile, merely set in your ways, and perhaps just a triffle argumentative.
Find it amusing to see people arguing with harry bradley about Trad Music and in particular a trad festival with katie melua headlining.I'd count yourselves lucky to have a proper musician in your midst.A real life one,that goes out and plays real music.Irony lost on everyone?
Harry its Mr, as for using other names im not saying its you as i dont think you need to do that.
if you go back over the discussions you will see mr o Tool logged on 24 August and was not heard of after 14 September once he tried to damage the names of these organisers who i know since last years event.
the dogs in the street knew who mr o tools proper name was he was using this forum to have a cut at one of the guys and then took off again when no one only your good self entertained him .
as for my pusado name,i will not do the vanishing act like O Tool and Regog ,Im here to stay harry and will become a fully fledged member.
As for key maniac, maybe as you seem so perfect wiyh your grammar, you might give me a few tips on proper ' virtual punctuation'
I did not know i had to have a third level degree to air my view so sorry maniac
finally bannerman i loved miltown but in yhr last few years its more about the ceili dancing and take that lot out it would seem that the crowd would be well back from the crowds of musicians who attended 10 years ago .
I love co clare but i do think that you have too many small festivals and ye should all come together and hold on big one each year,
As for the fleadh nua please bannerman it has been running on the fumes rather than a full tank for 10 years ,your trad week in the fall is by far a better event ,and it would be a wise move to replace it with something fresh than letting it run in its current state.
Finally back to portlaoise i cant see Joe burke or Enda scahillon the list ? i do see Frankie Gavin,Cherish The Ladies, Flook,Seamus Begley,Tim Edey Band,Grada,Slide ,Salsa Celtica, and the list goes on and on .
Well then i hope that instead of knocking we will hail this festival inovation of the New Ireland into the future,
As a 40 Plus guy this is what my kids want, A modern Irish festival for everyone AND NOT SOMETHING FOR THE DIE HARDS,And the guys in the Green jackets who push competitions as the main drive of their organisation.
In saying that we will be at the national fleadh just for the pub sessions not the competitions.im still needing accommodation?
we are not arguing with Harry Bradley,per say ,but did not agree with his comments towards the world fleadh last august.
Harry was the most out spoken critic of the world fleadh last august and went so far to raise questions over the money which we understood the festival got from the arts council.
Harry led us believe that this event recieved huge money and he said tax payers money which was waisted.
i did my own research and found out the event cost 900,000 euros to run and our great arts council gave the festival a staggering 3500 euro.
As a taxpayer with over 200 employees on my books , i found the tale of Harrys a bite rather harsh to say the least and found that the tales that were spun on this room was unfair to all the people who supported the event.
I LIKE MANY OTHERS WHO ATTENDED THE EVENT ,DECIDED TO AIR THE VIEWS OF THE TRUTH,Thus we have decided to come out once the event was anounced this year,
We are not having a go only correcting the wrong information which was put out last August and September by our so called traditionalists.
We should have a level playing field from now on .
As for your question Phantom Button this person is not you dont worrie , I dont think you would resort to the crap that Micheal o toole as it calls itself wrote last August when he made some serious alligations which went without reply.
In saying that the guys involved in the event might not like for me to comment as they are men who dont read into crap messages.
Why 12 mths later well i needed to know for sure that the event was on again and had a few friends check the arts council story .thats it in a nut shell END
I'm glad you've clarified that it was actually 900 grand that was blown. Silly old me, I should really get up to speed with the frivolity of the spirit of "New Ireland".
Irish Music 'coming home' via someone else's notion of spectacle on it...
"Lorient in France, Cambridge in England and Milwaukee in the United States of America (to mention but a few) all host major annual festivals at which many of the world's best-known Irish performers feature prominently. There are, of course, many festivals in Ireland which feature a selection of our most respected traditional musicians, but there was no national gathering of the stature and magnitude of the aforementioned overseas events. It is the objective of The World Fleadh organisation to fill this void and to develop an annual unique cultural festival which will take place in Ireland over a seven-day period in a specially designed festival village."
Not for the first time I'll say "We aren't getting our own jokes again".
900 grand, eh... yep, that should fill "the void" for a wee while, good ole' "New Ireland".
"I love co clare but i do think that you have too many small festivals and ye should all come together and hold on big one each year"
Bigger is only very occasionally better in general terms in my experience.
But I would guess the reason why its being run in Portlaoise is purely location, location etc. Closer to the big smoke and the commuter towns and the folks who might put bums on the seats. That'd be the core reasoning.
fluteplayerbelfast - it's not a case of perfect grammar etc. being required. I simply couldn't understand you and had to read your messages a few times. You may be as good a player as harry for all I know, but this is not a session but a website, and it helps to be understood. It's that simple. Be defensive if you want, but be understood first and foremost.
I have no axe to grind here – if that’s the kind of music festival you want to go to, fair play to you, I hope you have a good time. Two statements interested me, though.
“the organisers took a huge financial hitt” [ sic ]
“the event cost 900,000 euros to run”.
Leads me to wonder about 3 questions :
Who were the extremely generous individuals who bailed it out ?
Was public money used ?
Did all the performers who were booked to play there get paid ?
Thanks moloach missed that one some line up,
Kenny,I got paid as did all the people with me , As for who funded it?god and his mother, big coperate companies just give a look at last years website, Who bailed it out?dont know but will check it out.
As for Harry, gripe on, you had your say and put the knife in last year , WITHOUT SUCCESS so dream on and maybe some day you will get your facts right on OUR tax payers money,sorry now must rush because i have a job to attend .
HARRY SUCCESS IN YOUR EYES IS A' RELATIVE VALUE'
but from a tax payers piont of view success can be achieved by knowing that whatever i gave of that 3500 was well spent and i got huge enjoyement out of itduring my week in kerry.
Thank you for your support "Youralllosers" but although I am a real musician doing it "out there live" I still have time for others.
Being out there live means I listen to very little, I don't know Kate whoever or Harry. I never heard of Dervish until they appeared at Eurovision. I presume they have never heard of me either. However, if Kate Whoever can attract people somehow to Irish music, well and good.
I had this same argument with The GAA for years about opening up Croke Park to other sports. It might attract kids to the GAA.
Same principle, and yes I do object to the over commercial aspects nowadays, but there are swings and roundabouts.
"I had this same argument with The GAA for years about opening up Croke Park to other sports. It might attract kids to the GAA."
There are many issues there regarding GAA and money, but I don't really see a correlation here: are the GAA turning the games into an American/ English/ Whatever spectacle of a travesty of themselves?
I'm sure The World Fleadh (with their many thousands of euro) are just as scared and concerned with me as the GAA (with their thousands of Euro) are terrified of Grand Uncle Bliss there.
In fairness, BelfastfluteMr. you did weigh in like someone was about to pull an anonymous hatchet job... you might yet!
And bliss, if you really feel that age does entitle you to respect then you'll have to send me proof that you're not a thirteen year old school girl from Trent... you could be automatic post generating software for all I know... in fact you all could... its happening again... the bastards!
I never said that age entitles one to respect, I detest that notion. TV shows where the host goes "he/she is 95" and the audience claps is cringe inspiring.
Being able to conduct oneself in a reasonable manner, even when passionate about a subject, commands respect in my book. Resorting to nyah nah nah-nah nah, calling people son and pops, lets you down somewhat. I confess I have been winding you, but it is not very hard to do.
And after 30 years protest, struggle and debate, I did win one victory over the GAA. Garnerville Gaels coming to a stadium near you soon. And considering the amount of threats I received in that time, well you may well be right aboput the GAA being terrified of Good Old Bliss.
"Resorting to nyah nah nah-nah nah, calling people son and pops, lets you down somewhat. I confess I have been winding you, but it is not very hard to do."
Its basically what we try to do without the nicities of the delusion of netiquette and "manners": lets not pretend otherwise, or do, if it makes you feel better about yourself.
In truth, the GAA is of about as much concern to me as the price of p*ssbags in Petersbourgh. Alec Finn said it all for me about "Gaelic" football when he remarked:
Just listened to Harry on youtube, very impressive, and Belfast has many a fine player, as does/did Manchester where I used to dwell.
Right. I admit Flutep[layerbelfast is having a go at Harry, why I am not sure, but FPB does not appear to be a worthy adversary when looking for a good debate/row. And you do be a trifle pedantic, H. I know your profile says you do not like bullsh*t, but even crap events or whatever can inspire at times, in a strange way.
I personally would rather see the money being spent on real Irish musicians, and groups and singers, but the alternative, designed to cash in on the popularity of ITM, does have some good. I know it could be better, but half a loaf and all that.
It is easy to sneer at Riverdance/Corrs and all the rest, but it does have some effect, and does help to keep the tradition alive. Once people really learn to play, well they know the Corrs were a pop group.
Perhaps I spend all day negotiating with management and trade union full time officials (equally bad) and therefore I am used to accepting small victories and some progress for the ordinary union members.
It's well known that the World Fleadh got a lot more than €3500 from the Arts Council. In fact it got nearly €8000 for just one pre-launch event alone and then a huge amount for the main event. If you dispute this read through the link I pasted and you'll see it cost €1million to put on and had losses of €200,000. Failte Ireland gave €100,000 and local businesses gave €250,000, so where prey did the other €450,000 come from? The Arts Council of course, I remember clearly reading about this at the time so trying to deny this is simply propaganda.
I think the main reason people like Harry B and indeed myself would object to this gross misuse of public funds is that it went towards a huge commercial event with little or no value to the tradition it was supposed to be benefiting. This continues this year. If this festival is meant to be about promoting traditional Irish music then what the hell are the following headline acts there for?!!
Katie Melua , Deacon Blue , Lord of the Dance , The Proclaimers , Duke Special.
Now I've nothing against The Proclaimers, Katie Melua, Deacon Blue and Duke Special per se but none of them have much if anything to do with traditional Irish music or traditional music of any kind really do they? Let's face facts, these are pop/rock groups, it's fine if you want to have a festival with these acts as headliners but to call it Irelands answer to Celtic Connections or Tonder is a joke. Hell it's not even Ireland's answer to Womad, which would be something I'd be interested in. A festival of diverse music from around the world which mostly has roots in traditional music styles. At Womad the only Western pop/rock act you're likely to see is Peter Gabriel, which is fair enough because he organises the thing and he's actually very good at what he does!
The World Fleadh is hijacking the name of Irish music and then sweeping the geniune musicians under the carpet, replacing them with bland pop and Celtic Tiger trad . Aside from the odd group like Patrick Street, the only geniune trad musicians at this event are just giving masterclasses.
The only good thing I see about the World Fleadh this year is that it is on roughly the same time as the Feakle Festival, so it might draw the usual festival-wrecking p*ssheads to Portlaoise instead of Feakle!
So true lovers of trad come all ye to Feakle and let the trendy trad brigade descend upon Portlaoise and waste all their money on second rate trad and bland pop (sorry Duke Special to lump you in with this lot but I suppose you've only your booking agent to blame!)
Frisbee you are making statements you cant stand over .
i said a few days ago that the revenue grant we gave from the arts council was 3500 OF WHICH THEY DREW DOWN 1700
Dont be putting out false stories ,450,000 WAS NEVER GIVEN TO A TRADITIONAL OR ANY FESTIVAL WITH A MUSIC CONTENT SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE STATE.
Ups sorry your new county home land galway arts festival recieve 480,000 and wexford opera festival 1million.
you must be mixing up world fleadh with the national fleadh wo were given 500,000 a year for two years to bring the fleadh to Brian cownes home town in tullamore .
as for the 8000 euro,IT WAS GIVEN TO NORTH KERRY ARTS not the world fleadh to launch the event , this is council money tru Deis scheme .
so no 400 OR 500 THOUSAND EURO WAS GIVEN BY ANY SOURCE TO WORLD FLEADH.
iM SURE FRISBEE THEY MADE MONEY AT THE GATE?
Will know over the weekend am meeting a few of the organisers in longford and will then let you know where they got there money from,THATS IF ITS TAX PAYERS MONEY OF COURSE,and again it should only be of concern to us hard working TAX PAYERS,do you agree?
As for Feakle i dont think we ever saw a drunk there its always been a great few days .
Finally frisbee i see Gary Dunn A GREAT SINGER SONG WRITER ON THE LINE UP,maybe there is something for all taste at the fleadh after all
molaoch I don't know you or your son but well done anyway he sounds like a son to be proud of!
But FPB I don't get it!? Are you in the pay of the arts coucil? Some of your previous posts would suggest so. If this is the case can I just say that I don't believe you are doing your cause any favours on this site. You come across as beligerent and downright rude.
I'm sure you are not this way in real life, but maybe feel so strongly about this matter as to have difficulty remaining calm. Try writing what you want to say and then waiting 5 minutes before posting then reading it again.
This may give you the chance to think again before posting the ridiculously biased, poorly punctuated twaddle that you have been inflicting on us in this discussion.
Don't think I have any illusions about the rightness of my own writing ! But I do try hard not to be rude (however this comment may be and exception to the rule).
My apologies if I have come across as beligerent and rude, but you really know how to get up a persons nose.
I know nothing about the World Fleadh except what you have written here and believe me you have given me no reason to want to find out more. Katie Melua !!! AAAaaahhhh !!!!
Glad that you got paid, fluteplayerbelfast - and I'll assume therefore that everybody else did. Thank you for that answer.
But there still remains the question of who covered the 200,000 euro loss, and whether or not it was public money used, be it the Arts Council, County Councils, Tourist Boards or other tax-payer funded organisations.
And while I think about it, where would the money go to if it made a profit ?
the world fleadh portlaoise
the world fleadh portlaoise
for two years i have kept up to date with the world of irish festivals and events tru your great site.
however i have waited with a huge smile on my face since last august with the hope thst the organisers of last years world fleadh would return with their festival if only to prove the phantom mr micheal o toole got it so wrong wrong wrong . if you check o tools history he only signed in especially to slate the world fleadh and make serious alligations against the organisers .
i now ask micheal to maybe come out of your slumber and give a look at www.theworldfleadh.com so much for the event not moving out of kerry ha ha and never again to be heard of
maybe micheal might give us his verdict from his tru subscribers membership ???
and for harryb and regog they must be sick after looging on the fleadh site
i must say that the three guys were well out numbered by yhe pro ,s during that period last august
i spent the entire week in kerry and it was the best event for many years
im really looking forward to portlaoise to see and hear the duhks , katie melua , nizlopi,carlos nunez,and many many more not to menyion the pub trails.
i never get involved in discussions but decided to become a member after reading the crap from the phantom o toole
so see ye in portlaoise on 6 august and then on to the national fleadh in tullamore cant waite anyway anyone traveling down from donnegal ?
# Posted on June 5th 2007 by fluteplayerbelfast
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
I dont know... I was at it last year and it seemed very unorganised. Might give it one more go I suppose!
# Posted on June 5th 2007 by eurbanjo
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
Yeah, I feel terrible, I should really consider "The Sun" a quality literary endeavor I suppose due to the numbers reading it?
Get a life.
Regards,
Harry.
# Posted on June 5th 2007 by Harry B
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
Harry you missed the pt, forget what the papers said,i really wanted you and phantom o TOOL to acknowledge that it was not a one year wonder and wheather ye like or dislike the organisers its happening again and im told you wont have to travel far next year Harry its comming down your way in 2008
we need more of these festivals in ireland as its embarrassing when we go to celtic connections and irish fest tonder ect and we had no celtic festival of this scale untill world fleadh came along
i believe the organisers took a huge financial hitt on it last year but believe its getting huge support in portlaoise and i believe they are on a winner with yhe world fleadh
we need new events as the older events like fleadh nua which was brillant 20 years ago are now outdated
clare should have a national festival considering its the home of so many trad players and followers, miltown is going down year after year so something big for ennis 2008?
anyway micheal or should i say harry or Regog have a nice day and sorry for being the barer of such bad news for you on the world fleadh
finally am thinking of staying in the midlands for the national fleadh in tullamore but cant get accomodation any places out there have 3 lads from boston well known in the trad sene but cant get good hotel ?
# Posted on June 5th 2007 by fluteplayerbelfast
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
Mr/ Mrs. Fluteplayerbelfast,
You're confusing me with someone who gives a shight about the thing. Listen carefully while I acknowledge it thus: if Irish festivals have to go the way of tacky folk-ins and crap folk/ rock/ other acts to keep afloat or give an illusion of grandeur then I'll quite happily sit in a sleepy Milltown with a few of my friends and play the real thing.
I hope you enjoy the circus, everyone to their own.
Regards,
Harry.
# Posted on June 5th 2007 by Harry B
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
And I didn't do the O'Toole thing: you, with your pseudo name, seem to be every bit the cowardly little TOOL that he/ she is/was... I have never needed to hide behind a crap non-name.
Regards,
Harry.
# Posted on June 5th 2007 by Harry B
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
I think I feel a deletion coming on! Good on you Harry,
# Posted on June 5th 2007 by Backer
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
Yeah, good on you Harry, for being able to understand what on earth this person is droning on about. I got a headache just trying to put in "virtual" punctuation and grammar, in order to decipher the ravings. Then again he did name you in person, so maybe you felt obliged to reply. Yep, the cutting room floor sounds like a good resting place for this thread.
# Posted on June 5th 2007 by Alf Tupper
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
I live in Portlaoise and I’m really excited about the World Fleadh coming here. I have absolutely no time for most of the headline names, but I do realise that, in order to present lesser-known, more musically interesting acts, commercial realities must be faced and hence the likes of Katie Melua and Deacon Blue. The line-up for the theatre concerts is, I think, brilliant, and for anyone interested in masterclasses, there are acknowledged masters such as Joe Burke, Enda Scahill and Ronan Browne, to name only three. Already there is great excitement amongst local music-lovers and musicians. and I hope that the Fleadh is a huge success. If you are, incidentally, coming to Portlaoise, you might have a look at www.portlaoisepictures.com
# Posted on June 5th 2007 by molaoch
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
To say that Miltown Malbay is going down says it all for this individual's grip on reality. WW is still a great week for trad musicians and with a format that it has, will continue to be so. Likewise Fleadh Nua had 70 separate events the week before last including something for everyone from eight to eighty. There's no way that circuses such as these other mega-festivals can ever offer this type of culture and entertainment and I sincerely hope Clare never hosts one.
# Posted on June 5th 2007 by Bannerman
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
These circuses and mega festivals promote Irish music, remember Ballisadare?
Now obviously they are not pure traditional music, but have inspired many in that direction. How many users of this site quote "Planxty" as their inspiration? A group of one musician and three backers.
However there are some who would rather let the music die that it become tainted with commercialism. Like most people, I fall between the two extremes, so I could tolerate Kate Whoever and such.
Having said that I must confess to a great dislike of Carlos Nunez, just a personal thing, his being the type of commercialism I do not like.
# Posted on June 5th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
"However there are some who would rather let the music die that it become tainted with commercialism."
I know of possibly only one person who actually may think that, and he has commercial recordings available... who are these people you refer to?
Regards,
Harry.
# Posted on June 5th 2007 by Harry B
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
As do we all, have commercial recordings available that is. However there is commerce, and commerce as I tried to point out.
Dubliners, Planxty, Moving Hearts and others for instance were not pure traditional, yet influenced traditional music, attracting many people top take up traditional instruments, and contained some great traditional musicians.
Other groups, and I suspect Kate Whoever, may not fall into that category.
I know many who recoil at the mere mention of commerce, change, or innovation. These people would dismiss groups like Altan and The Bothy's, simply for appearing "in concert".
Perhaps age has given me a slight advantage, in that I may have met more musicians over the years.
# Posted on June 5th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
Nothing to do with these erudite chaps?
http://uk.video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=345696&fr=moz2
# Posted on June 5th 2007 by Alf Tupper
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
BTW, Bliss, if you're arguing that the commercial recording industry brought the music back to life, remember it nearly killed it in the first place. In case you are, don't get to thinking we should always be thankful for that industry. Utilise its benefits but be wary, I say.......if asked.....
# Posted on June 5th 2007 by Alf Tupper
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
I suppose we'll have to take your word for it, assuming you're not going senile.
Regards,
Harry.
# Posted on June 5th 2007 by Harry B
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
On this site, do we not always accept the word of people we do not know, ort even heard of? That's part and parcel of being on a website and responding to threads.
As for assuming, well we all do that on here. I assume you play an instrument, I assume you are not senile, merely set in your ways, and perhaps just a triffle argumentative.
However I could be wrong.
# Posted on June 5th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
Jaysus,
Good help the sap or sapette who doesn't take EVERYTHING here with a pillar of salt!
Regards,
H.
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by Harry B
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
"Argumentative" is good, that's based on sound observation. Scientific method and all that...
Hmmmm, maybe I should just spout the usual crap???
Regards,
Harry.
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by Harry B
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
No point in being predictable. As for over the top sarcasm, I have debated with experts.
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
But enough of this falseness. At times I just love an argument, and forget about discussion.
Sorry, that's the juvenile part of me.
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
Find it amusing to see people arguing with harry bradley about Trad Music and in particular a trad festival with katie melua headlining.I'd count yourselves lucky to have a proper musician in your midst.A real life one,that goes out and plays real music.Irony lost on everyone?
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by yourealllosers
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
Ah, we're all God's childurn.
We don't do irony on the internet so good.
Regards,
H.
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by Harry B
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
Harry its Mr, as for using other names im not saying its you as i dont think you need to do that.
if you go back over the discussions you will see mr o Tool logged on 24 August and was not heard of after 14 September once he tried to damage the names of these organisers who i know since last years event.
the dogs in the street knew who mr o tools proper name was he was using this forum to have a cut at one of the guys and then took off again when no one only your good self entertained him .
as for my pusado name,i will not do the vanishing act like O Tool and Regog ,Im here to stay harry and will become a fully fledged member.
As for key maniac, maybe as you seem so perfect wiyh your grammar, you might give me a few tips on proper ' virtual punctuation'
I did not know i had to have a third level degree to air my view so sorry maniac
finally bannerman i loved miltown but in yhr last few years its more about the ceili dancing and take that lot out it would seem that the crowd would be well back from the crowds of musicians who attended 10 years ago .
I love co clare but i do think that you have too many small festivals and ye should all come together and hold on big one each year,
As for the fleadh nua please bannerman it has been running on the fumes rather than a full tank for 10 years ,your trad week in the fall is by far a better event ,and it would be a wise move to replace it with something fresh than letting it run in its current state.
Finally back to portlaoise i cant see Joe burke or Enda scahillon the list ? i do see Frankie Gavin,Cherish The Ladies, Flook,Seamus Begley,Tim Edey Band,Grada,Slide ,Salsa Celtica, and the list goes on and on .
Well then i hope that instead of knocking we will hail this festival inovation of the New Ireland into the future,
As a 40 Plus guy this is what my kids want, A modern Irish festival for everyone AND NOT SOMETHING FOR THE DIE HARDS,And the guys in the Green jackets who push competitions as the main drive of their organisation.
In saying that we will be at the national fleadh just for the pub sessions not the competitions.im still needing accommodation?
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by fluteplayerbelfast
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
Uh... who's "phantom o TOOL"?
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by Phantom Button
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
Uh... who's "phantom o TOOL"?
A mischevious cynic, or a realist depending on your view of the "New Ireland", whatever the hell that is (shudder).
Regards,
Harry.
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by Harry B
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
we are not arguing with Harry Bradley,per say ,but did not agree with his comments towards the world fleadh last august.
Harry was the most out spoken critic of the world fleadh last august and went so far to raise questions over the money which we understood the festival got from the arts council.
Harry led us believe that this event recieved huge money and he said tax payers money which was waisted.
i did my own research and found out the event cost 900,000 euros to run and our great arts council gave the festival a staggering 3500 euro.
As a taxpayer with over 200 employees on my books , i found the tale of Harrys a bite rather harsh to say the least and found that the tales that were spun on this room was unfair to all the people who supported the event.
I LIKE MANY OTHERS WHO ATTENDED THE EVENT ,DECIDED TO AIR THE VIEWS OF THE TRUTH,Thus we have decided to come out once the event was anounced this year,
We are not having a go only correcting the wrong information which was put out last August and September by our so called traditionalists.
We should have a level playing field from now on .
As for your question Phantom Button this person is not you dont worrie , I dont think you would resort to the crap that Micheal o toole as it calls itself wrote last August when he made some serious alligations which went without reply.
In saying that the guys involved in the event might not like for me to comment as they are men who dont read into crap messages.
Why 12 mths later well i needed to know for sure that the event was on again and had a few friends check the arts council story .thats it in a nut shell END
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by fluteplayerbelfast
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
I'm glad you've clarified that it was actually 900 grand that was blown. Silly old me, I should really get up to speed with the frivolity of the spirit of "New Ireland".
Irish Music 'coming home' via someone else's notion of spectacle on it...
"Lorient in France, Cambridge in England and Milwaukee in the United States of America (to mention but a few) all host major annual festivals at which many of the world's best-known Irish performers feature prominently. There are, of course, many festivals in Ireland which feature a selection of our most respected traditional musicians, but there was no national gathering of the stature and magnitude of the aforementioned overseas events. It is the objective of The World Fleadh organisation to fill this void and to develop an annual unique cultural festival which will take place in Ireland over a seven-day period in a specially designed festival village."
Not for the first time I'll say "We aren't getting our own jokes again".
900 grand, eh... yep, that should fill "the void" for a wee while, good ole' "New Ireland".
Regards,
Harry.
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by Harry B
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
fluteplayerbelfast...
Joe and Enda are there alright.... look under MASTERCLASSES
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by molaoch
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
"I love co clare but i do think that you have too many small festivals and ye should all come together and hold on big one each year"
Bigger is only very occasionally better in general terms in my experience.
But I would guess the reason why its being run in Portlaoise is purely location, location etc. Closer to the big smoke and the commuter towns and the folks who might put bums on the seats. That'd be the core reasoning.
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by the wounded hussar
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
fluteplayerbelfast - it's not a case of perfect grammar etc. being required. I simply couldn't understand you and had to read your messages a few times. You may be as good a player as harry for all I know, but this is not a session but a website, and it helps to be understood. It's that simple. Be defensive if you want, but be understood first and foremost.
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by Alf Tupper
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
I have no axe to grind here – if that’s the kind of music festival you want to go to, fair play to you, I hope you have a good time. Two statements interested me, though.
“the organisers took a huge financial hitt” [ sic ]
“the event cost 900,000 euros to run”.
Leads me to wonder about 3 questions :
Who were the extremely generous individuals who bailed it out ?
Was public money used ?
Did all the performers who were booked to play there get paid ?
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by Kenny
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
Thanks moloach missed that one some line up,
Kenny,I got paid as did all the people with me , As for who funded it?god and his mother, big coperate companies just give a look at last years website, Who bailed it out?dont know but will check it out.
As for Harry, gripe on, you had your say and put the knife in last year , WITHOUT SUCCESS so dream on and maybe some day you will get your facts right on OUR tax payers money,sorry now must rush because i have a job to attend .
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by fluteplayerbelfast
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
Dear Fluteplayerbelfast/ donegal/ Space,
Success is a relative value.
Regards,
Harry.
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by Harry B
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
HARRY SUCCESS IN YOUR EYES IS A' RELATIVE VALUE'
but from a tax payers piont of view success can be achieved by knowing that whatever i gave of that 3500 was well spent and i got huge enjoyement out of itduring my week in kerry.
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by fluteplayerbelfast
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
Thank you for your support "Youralllosers" but although I am a real musician doing it "out there live" I still have time for others.
Being out there live means I listen to very little, I don't know Kate whoever or Harry. I never heard of Dervish until they appeared at Eurovision. I presume they have never heard of me either. However, if Kate Whoever can attract people somehow to Irish music, well and good.
I had this same argument with The GAA for years about opening up Croke Park to other sports. It might attract kids to the GAA.
Same principle, and yes I do object to the over commercial aspects nowadays, but there are swings and roundabouts.
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
Dear FPB/fast/Space,
I'm delighted for you. You can calm down now, son.
Regards,
Harry.
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by Harry B
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
"I had this same argument with The GAA for years about opening up Croke Park to other sports. It might attract kids to the GAA."
There are many issues there regarding GAA and money, but I don't really see a correlation here: are the GAA turning the games into an American/ English/ Whatever spectacle of a travesty of themselves?
Regards,
Harry.
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by Harry B
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
Yes. Now you got summat right.
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
And I am beginning to like the idea of being senile, sure beats being immature.
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
Is that right, nyah nah nah-nah nah?
Yeah, real big of you, Pops.
Regards,
H.
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by Harry B
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
Aw Lads, I'm only winding.
I'm sure The World Fleadh (with their many thousands of euro) are just as scared and concerned with me as the GAA (with their thousands of Euro) are terrified of Grand Uncle Bliss there.
In fairness, BelfastfluteMr. you did weigh in like someone was about to pull an anonymous hatchet job... you might yet!
And bliss, if you really feel that age does entitle you to respect then you'll have to send me proof that you're not a thirteen year old school girl from Trent... you could be automatic post generating software for all I know... in fact you all could... its happening again... the bastards!
Regards,
Harry.
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by Harry B
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
I never said that age entitles one to respect, I detest that notion. TV shows where the host goes "he/she is 95" and the audience claps is cringe inspiring.
Being able to conduct oneself in a reasonable manner, even when passionate about a subject, commands respect in my book. Resorting to nyah nah nah-nah nah, calling people son and pops, lets you down somewhat. I confess I have been winding you, but it is not very hard to do.
And after 30 years protest, struggle and debate, I did win one victory over the GAA. Garnerville Gaels coming to a stadium near you soon. And considering the amount of threats I received in that time, well you may well be right aboput the GAA being terrified of Good Old Bliss.
Those were the days.
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
"Resorting to nyah nah nah-nah nah, calling people son and pops, lets you down somewhat. I confess I have been winding you, but it is not very hard to do."
Its basically what we try to do without the nicities of the delusion of netiquette and "manners": lets not pretend otherwise, or do, if it makes you feel better about yourself.
In truth, the GAA is of about as much concern to me as the price of p*ssbags in Petersbourgh. Alec Finn said it all for me about "Gaelic" football when he remarked:
"Why don't they give them all a f**king ball!"
Regards,
Harry.
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by Harry B
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
It's the hurling I like.
Just listened to Harry on youtube, very impressive, and Belfast has many a fine player, as does/did Manchester where I used to dwell.
Right. I admit Flutep[layerbelfast is having a go at Harry, why I am not sure, but FPB does not appear to be a worthy adversary when looking for a good debate/row. And you do be a trifle pedantic, H. I know your profile says you do not like bullsh*t, but even crap events or whatever can inspire at times, in a strange way.
I personally would rather see the money being spent on real Irish musicians, and groups and singers, but the alternative, designed to cash in on the popularity of ITM, does have some good. I know it could be better, but half a loaf and all that.
It is easy to sneer at Riverdance/Corrs and all the rest, but it does have some effect, and does help to keep the tradition alive. Once people really learn to play, well they know the Corrs were a pop group.
Perhaps I spend all day negotiating with management and trade union full time officials (equally bad) and therefore I am used to accepting small victories and some progress for the ordinary union members.
Or maybe I really am getting old.
Sincere regards,
Bliss
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
To find out more about how the World Fleadh gets its funds read this page
http://archives.tcm.ie/laoisnationalist/2006/12/28/story24895.asp
It's well known that the World Fleadh got a lot more than €3500 from the Arts Council. In fact it got nearly €8000 for just one pre-launch event alone and then a huge amount for the main event. If you dispute this read through the link I pasted and you'll see it cost €1million to put on and had losses of €200,000. Failte Ireland gave €100,000 and local businesses gave €250,000, so where prey did the other €450,000 come from? The Arts Council of course, I remember clearly reading about this at the time so trying to deny this is simply propaganda.
I think the main reason people like Harry B and indeed myself would object to this gross misuse of public funds is that it went towards a huge commercial event with little or no value to the tradition it was supposed to be benefiting. This continues this year. If this festival is meant to be about promoting traditional Irish music then what the hell are the following headline acts there for?!!
Katie Melua , Deacon Blue , Lord of the Dance , The Proclaimers , Duke Special.
Now I've nothing against The Proclaimers, Katie Melua, Deacon Blue and Duke Special per se but none of them have much if anything to do with traditional Irish music or traditional music of any kind really do they? Let's face facts, these are pop/rock groups, it's fine if you want to have a festival with these acts as headliners but to call it Irelands answer to Celtic Connections or Tonder is a joke. Hell it's not even Ireland's answer to Womad, which would be something I'd be interested in. A festival of diverse music from around the world which mostly has roots in traditional music styles. At Womad the only Western pop/rock act you're likely to see is Peter Gabriel, which is fair enough because he organises the thing and he's actually very good at what he does!
The World Fleadh is hijacking the name of Irish music and then sweeping the geniune musicians under the carpet, replacing them with bland pop and Celtic Tiger trad . Aside from the odd group like Patrick Street, the only geniune trad musicians at this event are just giving masterclasses.
The only good thing I see about the World Fleadh this year is that it is on roughly the same time as the Feakle Festival, so it might draw the usual festival-wrecking p*ssheads to Portlaoise instead of Feakle!
So true lovers of trad come all ye to Feakle and let the trendy trad brigade descend upon Portlaoise and waste all their money on second rate trad and bland pop (sorry Duke Special to lump you in with this lot but I suppose you've only your booking agent to blame!)
Dave
# Posted on June 7th 2007 by Bring back Tigh Hughes!
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
Frisbee you are making statements you cant stand over .
i said a few days ago that the revenue grant we gave from the arts council was 3500 OF WHICH THEY DREW DOWN 1700
Dont be putting out false stories ,450,000 WAS NEVER GIVEN TO A TRADITIONAL OR ANY FESTIVAL WITH A MUSIC CONTENT SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE STATE.
Ups sorry your new county home land galway arts festival recieve 480,000 and wexford opera festival 1million.
you must be mixing up world fleadh with the national fleadh wo were given 500,000 a year for two years to bring the fleadh to Brian cownes home town in tullamore .
as for the 8000 euro,IT WAS GIVEN TO NORTH KERRY ARTS not the world fleadh to launch the event , this is council money tru Deis scheme .
so no 400 OR 500 THOUSAND EURO WAS GIVEN BY ANY SOURCE TO WORLD FLEADH.
iM SURE FRISBEE THEY MADE MONEY AT THE GATE?
Will know over the weekend am meeting a few of the organisers in longford and will then let you know where they got there money from,THATS IF ITS TAX PAYERS MONEY OF COURSE,and again it should only be of concern to us hard working TAX PAYERS,do you agree?
As for Feakle i dont think we ever saw a drunk there its always been a great few days .
Finally frisbee i see Gary Dunn A GREAT SINGER SONG WRITER ON THE LINE UP,maybe there is something for all taste at the fleadh after all
# Posted on June 7th 2007 by fluteplayerbelfast
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
fluteplayerbelfast...
Don't know you from Adam but thanks for the nice mention of Gary Dunne. I'm his proud Dad!
# Posted on June 7th 2007 by molaoch
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
molaoch I don't know you or your son but well done anyway he sounds like a son to be proud of!
But FPB I don't get it!? Are you in the pay of the arts coucil? Some of your previous posts would suggest so. If this is the case can I just say that I don't believe you are doing your cause any favours on this site. You come across as beligerent and downright rude.
I'm sure you are not this way in real life, but maybe feel so strongly about this matter as to have difficulty remaining calm. Try writing what you want to say and then waiting 5 minutes before posting then reading it again.
This may give you the chance to think again before posting the ridiculously biased, poorly punctuated twaddle that you have been inflicting on us in this discussion.
Don't think I have any illusions about the rightness of my own writing ! But I do try hard not to be rude (however this comment may be and exception to the rule).
# Posted on June 7th 2007 by flossie
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
My apologies if I have come across as beligerent and rude, but you really know how to get up a persons nose.
I know nothing about the World Fleadh except what you have written here and believe me you have given me no reason to want to find out more. Katie Melua !!! AAAaaahhhh !!!!
# Posted on June 8th 2007 by flossie
Re: the world fleadh portlaoise
Glad that you got paid, fluteplayerbelfast - and I'll assume therefore that everybody else did. Thank you for that answer.
But there still remains the question of who covered the 200,000 euro loss, and whether or not it was public money used, be it the Arts Council, County Councils, Tourist Boards or other tax-payer funded organisations.
And while I think about it, where would the money go to if it made a profit ?
# Posted on June 8th 2007 by Kenny