It's probably a bit too early to ask this question as there's still a couple of days to go. However, for the few of us who won't get back again this year I thought it best to comment while memories are still fresh.
This thread is not for gripes about overcrowded pubs (although there were a few of these) or herds of bodhrán players upsetting the balance of your session (sorry BB, only joking), but the one that made your trip to Miltown worthwhile.
For me it was last night just as we were about to give up after travelling up and down the street without any success when we decided to give the Armada Hotel a try. No sooner than we walked into the lobby we were invited to join a session in progress which was being led by none other than Maurice Lennon. The group consisted of fiddles, a banjo, flute, whistle, guitar, concertina and a fantastic young piper from Drogheda. The night consisted of great driving reel sets mixed with jigs, solos and some of Maurice's own compositions - in fact he combined Stone of Destiny (one most of us knew) with the Road to Garrison (which hardly anyone knew) to great effect. The latter one is here on the Yellow Board at http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2698 so we won't have this problem next time. In conclusion this was one of the best sessions I've been to for some time and I wonder if anyone else has had a similar experience at Willie Week 2007!
No offence taken Bannerman. I personally have met very few good bodhran players, so I can understand the sentiment many express here. However, I cannot understand those who do not like the bodhran per se.
I haven't been in Miltown since 1974. And that was not Willie week.
I love Willie Week. How could you not love it, with a name like that. But I seldom go there during the Week. The sessions are too packed, there's no comfort, and I don't like sessions with more than six or so players.
But sessions in the surrounding area are invigorated and can be great. And I love meeting old friends who come to Clare for the week and drop in for a tune, a cup of tea, and the latest CDs.
Although I hardly played a note during the week, which seems to be the pattern for me the past few years, not liking crowded pubs and all, I caught a snatch of Harry Bradley and Emmet Gill in Friel's last saturday week and Tommy Keane, Jackie mac, Mary Bergin and was it Charlie Harris on the second saturday in Friel's again was pleasant too, until Antaine O F. started up in the front room and we essentially heard two sessions at the same time and left. The 'John Kelly Big Band' in the back of Friel's (taking refuge there now Fahey's closed) was as usual.
Other than that, most of it passed me by.
As you can gather from my multiple postings, I enjoyed the Session.org session for the social aspect of it and was also happy that so many of us who had not met before generated a nice big sound which was balanced and moderately paced and still had room for some up-tempo virtuosity.
I also enjoyed a quiet session with Harry and Emmet on our first Sunday night and listening to other quality players during afternnon and early evening sessions. I enjoyed the Uilleann Pipe classes (the reason I went there) and the recitals also.
The 'moment' for me this year was the flute performance at breakfast time in the B&B from a new found Polish friend who treated us to some Polish tunes (based mostly on song airs).
Kevin
I don't understand people who don't like the bodhrán per se either BB as, like all the other elements that go into making a good session, they can add enormously when played well and are not dominating the whole thing. But then this applies to all instruments; it's just that like with Kerryman stories (I don't think anyone really believes Kerry people are stupid) someone has to be the butt of the joke and in music it's usually the bodhrán!
There seems to be a consensus that even if the sessions are not ideal, the week creates a great opportunity to meet old friends and also to get up close to some of the greats in the trad world.
Miltown for a start did n't have alot of accompianist playing at sessions. I played in a few sessions where I was the only Acc. and the only bodhran players I saw were the two lyons brothers ,conan mc and and maybe one or two others all class exponents of the drum. As for miltown theres alot more than drums to worry about first of all the least the organisers could do is make the camp sites safe , security for the week would nt cost that much and someone would want to remind the gardai that miltown is nt a holiday for them someone is going to be seriously hurt if this is nt addressed. As for the tunes I had a great session with frank lunny ,tom hanaway ,timmy conners and a young girl from leitrim on tuesday night in lynchs.
Organisers stress it's everybody's own responsibility to find accomodation, they have long since stopped providing a location to camp. With the exception of 'regular' campsite's like Lahiff's in Lahinch most camping takes place in people's backgardens, in fields and at beaches near the White Strand and in Spanish Point all of which are various shades of illegal. So, really not the organisers cup of tea but a matter for the gardai although I don't think keeping illegal campsites safe is their first priority, busy as they are keeping things in town in check.
Sunday afternoon was quiet and sunny, nothing much going on, Watts and Hegarty on the job, playing to an empty hotel bar but nothing worth mentioning going. Even the traditional farewell session in Bflat with Padraig Mac, Henry Benagh, Tara and Dermy D, Bernadette Mac, Caoimhin O R., Conny Connell and all of them was nowhere to be found.
"busy as they are keeping things in town in check"
things certainly were not in check in the town I saw a few unprovoked attacks and I saw the gardai doing very little to move gangs of people who had no interest in music and were just looking for trouble . To have a festival of this size with no official campsite and a lack of security on the streets is a joke .
Monday morning I had a great session with Sean O Driscoll , Eamonn Cotter and others.................
'To have a festival of this size with no official campsite and a lack of security on the streets is a joke'
For your information: the organisers run a summerschool, which in fairness they do pretty well by now . The 'offical' campsite was abandoned during the 90s, for a reason.
What the hangers on do is a matter for the gardai. One night I noticed they had pretty much cordoned off the drunken bollixes outside Malone's but the way things are you can hardly expect them to keep each and every potential hairy situation covered.
I always make sure I go home or elsewhere before the place turns into a zoo.
kilfarboy if you think that there is no problems with security and that the camping situation is ok thats fine. But I don't and its a small town so yes I do expect the gardai to have it covered I wonder how many extra gardai were on duty in relation to the number of visiters to the town and I'll say it again something serious is going to happen.
I didn't say the camping was OK, you were giving out about the organisers not catering for campers and putting security in place.
Did you take classes Saint? If not, the organisers have no business at all providing you with anything because you didn't take part in the school they organise. That was more or less what I was saying. The organisers don't organise a 'festival' and they have no responsibility whatsoever towards the hangers on and drinkers. It would make more sense giving out about the publicans pouring drink into people barely able to walk, but that's the craic isn't it?
Providing security is a matter of the gardai and I don't think the situation was any different than anywhere in Ireland where the drinkers run rampant at night. We rarely see the guards at all in Miltown so from that point of view garda presence was up by at least a thousand percent for the week.
OK I'm sorry for thinking that it was the organisers responsability but its someones responsability and someone is going to get seriously hurt from what I saw .The town needs a proper security structure for the week thats in it and thats my professional opinion .I'm not trying to knock the week I'm just stating two facts that could improve the safety of the week.So Yes it is the Publicans and the Garda that need to sort it.
And I would have loved to gone to classes if they were provided for me but this also has probably nothing to do with the organisers ...........So who do I blame for the lack of bodhran and bouzouki lessons.
No names on the photos 'Bazouki Dave and Tooty Flutey' until the embargo is lifted ... I thought that since people write here semi-anonymously, I shouldn't go putting names on the photos ; then again I still can't name all of those in the photos myself. I can say that the photos included Kenny, Ron P, Peter Piper, the Silver Spear, Conán McDonnell and KevinOK ; the other screen names are still unknown to me.
Kevin.
Hi Kevin - thanks for posting the photos, and nice to meet yourself and the others.
The best session I was at, was one in the back of Moronie's in Mullagh on the Monday night (I wasn't playing at it - which is probably why it was so good ) Among those present were Harry Bradley Ciarán O'Maonaigh and John Blake.
Best session of the Willie Week for me was in Malone's on Friday afternoon... started around 3... B flat session with Mick O'Connor, Dermy Diamond, Caoimhin Ó Raghallaigh, Seamus Begely and others... just magic!
During the week, I had three fantastic sessions. The first was on the Wednesday night out in McCarthys. Fantastic tunes.....2 Boxes and 5 flutes for the most of it. Brilliant. Then on the thursday afternoon, out the back of cleary's there I had a brilliant session with stephen madden, and a few tyrone and clare fellas.
Surprisingly, on the saturday night out in the Bellbridge, we had a class session. Myself, and a few kerry/clare/limerick lads had brilliant tunes.
Was a strange willie week, but gud tunes thou!
I thought thesession.org sesh was great craic. The first five or six hours of a Friday session in the back of Cleary's was good as well, but I started to fall on my face and trip over my fingers during the last two or so hours.
The best session I listened to was in that little front room in the Crosses of Annagh. It was Kevin Rowsome, Caoimhin O'Raighallaigh, Gerry O'Connor, and some others. Amazing stuff.
Oh yes, you are all jogging my memory now. Enjoyed session in back of Moroney's (Mullagh) on Sunday night with John Blake and Ciarán O'Maonaigh as well as Harry Bradley and Emmett Gill. Also enjoyed a great session in the back kitchen of The Blondes (Cleary's in Miltown). Good sessions in the front of Michael A's (but the back room was a bit too heavy) where I saw Jesse Smith and in another pub nearby where Alec Finn and Jackie Daly were hanging out. Never made it in the front door of Friel's (Lynch's) due to the crowds.
Welcome back Ron and Emily.
Anyone else got posted photos from SSWC'07 ? Send me them by email if you can't post them yourself and I'll add them to my folder. Anyone take any when the big session.org session was in progress?
Best Willie week yet for me - thanks to everyone who stumbled into sessions with us, best of which were Clancy's, Michael A's, out in the shticks in O'Looney and a mad ol' time the Friday night in Coore. Still in recovery I reckon - Bulmers and vodka were a great mix ;)
Best Willie Week Session
Best Willie Week Session
It's probably a bit too early to ask this question as there's still a couple of days to go. However, for the few of us who won't get back again this year I thought it best to comment while memories are still fresh.
This thread is not for gripes about overcrowded pubs (although there were a few of these) or herds of bodhrán players upsetting the balance of your session (sorry BB, only joking), but the one that made your trip to Miltown worthwhile.
For me it was last night just as we were about to give up after travelling up and down the street without any success when we decided to give the Armada Hotel a try. No sooner than we walked into the lobby we were invited to join a session in progress which was being led by none other than Maurice Lennon. The group consisted of fiddles, a banjo, flute, whistle, guitar, concertina and a fantastic young piper from Drogheda. The night consisted of great driving reel sets mixed with jigs, solos and some of Maurice's own compositions - in fact he combined Stone of Destiny (one most of us knew) with the Road to Garrison (which hardly anyone knew) to great effect. The latter one is here on the Yellow Board at http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2698 so we won't have this problem next time. In conclusion this was one of the best sessions I've been to for some time and I wonder if anyone else has had a similar experience at Willie Week 2007!
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by Bannerman
Re: Best Willie Week Session
I've finally got my photos uploaded - not great quality with a mobile phone. You can take a look at some of the folks who were still in Malone's when the big Session.Org session took a break : http://www.flickr.com/photos/10061918@N03/sets/72157600817984967/
and see some photos from recitals and another session here :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10061918@N03/sets/72157600817979681/
I've left comments about the week already on the 2 other Willie week discussions at
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/14433/comments#comment297614
and
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/14255/comments#comment297457
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by KevinOK
Re: Best Willie Week Session
No offence taken Bannerman. I personally have met very few good bodhran players, so I can understand the sentiment many express here. However, I cannot understand those who do not like the bodhran per se.
I haven't been in Miltown since 1974. And that was not Willie week.
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Best Willie Week Session
I love Willie Week. How could you not love it, with a name like that. But I seldom go there during the Week. The sessions are too packed, there's no comfort, and I don't like sessions with more than six or so players.
But sessions in the surrounding area are invigorated and can be great. And I love meeting old friends who come to Clare for the week and drop in for a tune, a cup of tea, and the latest CDs.
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by Cocus
Re: Best Willie Week Session
Although I hardly played a note during the week, which seems to be the pattern for me the past few years, not liking crowded pubs and all, I caught a snatch of Harry Bradley and Emmet Gill in Friel's last saturday week and Tommy Keane, Jackie mac, Mary Bergin and was it Charlie Harris on the second saturday in Friel's again was pleasant too, until Antaine O F. started up in the front room and we essentially heard two sessions at the same time and left. The 'John Kelly Big Band' in the back of Friel's (taking refuge there now Fahey's closed) was as usual.
Other than that, most of it passed me by.
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by <>-_-_-<>
Re: Best Willie Week Session
As you can gather from my multiple postings, I enjoyed the Session.org session for the social aspect of it and was also happy that so many of us who had not met before generated a nice big sound which was balanced and moderately paced and still had room for some up-tempo virtuosity.
I also enjoyed a quiet session with Harry and Emmet on our first Sunday night and listening to other quality players during afternnon and early evening sessions. I enjoyed the Uilleann Pipe classes (the reason I went there) and the recitals also.
The 'moment' for me this year was the flute performance at breakfast time in the B&B from a new found Polish friend who treated us to some Polish tunes (based mostly on song airs).
Kevin
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by KevinOK
Re: Best Willie Week Session
I don't understand people who don't like the bodhrán per se either BB as, like all the other elements that go into making a good session, they can add enormously when played well and are not dominating the whole thing. But then this applies to all instruments; it's just that like with Kerryman stories (I don't think anyone really believes Kerry people are stupid) someone has to be the butt of the joke and in music it's usually the bodhrán!
There seems to be a consensus that even if the sessions are not ideal, the week creates a great opportunity to meet old friends and also to get up close to some of the greats in the trad world.
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by Bannerman
Re: Best Willie Week Session
Miltown for a start did n't have alot of accompianist playing at sessions. I played in a few sessions where I was the only Acc. and the only bodhran players I saw were the two lyons brothers ,conan mc and and maybe one or two others all class exponents of the drum. As for miltown theres alot more than drums to worry about first of all the least the organisers could do is make the camp sites safe , security for the week would nt cost that much and someone would want to remind the gardai that miltown is nt a holiday for them someone is going to be seriously hurt if this is nt addressed. As for the tunes I had a great session with frank lunny ,tom hanaway ,timmy conners and a young girl from leitrim on tuesday night in lynchs.
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by Saint
Re: Best Willie Week Session
Organisers stress it's everybody's own responsibility to find accomodation, they have long since stopped providing a location to camp. With the exception of 'regular' campsite's like Lahiff's in Lahinch most camping takes place in people's backgardens, in fields and at beaches near the White Strand and in Spanish Point all of which are various shades of illegal. So, really not the organisers cup of tea but a matter for the gardai although I don't think keeping illegal campsites safe is their first priority, busy as they are keeping things in town in check.
Sunday afternoon was quiet and sunny, nothing much going on, Watts and Hegarty on the job, playing to an empty hotel bar but nothing worth mentioning going. Even the traditional farewell session in Bflat with Padraig Mac, Henry Benagh, Tara and Dermy D, Bernadette Mac, Caoimhin O R., Conny Connell and all of them was nowhere to be found.
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by <>-_-_-<>
Re: Best Willie Week Session
"busy as they are keeping things in town in check"
things certainly were not in check in the town I saw a few unprovoked attacks and I saw the gardai doing very little to move gangs of people who had no interest in music and were just looking for trouble . To have a festival of this size with no official campsite and a lack of security on the streets is a joke .
Monday morning I had a great session with Sean O Driscoll , Eamonn Cotter and others.................
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by Saint
Re: Best Willie Week Session
'To have a festival of this size with no official campsite and a lack of security on the streets is a joke'
For your information: the organisers run a summerschool, which in fairness they do pretty well by now . The 'offical' campsite was abandoned during the 90s, for a reason.
What the hangers on do is a matter for the gardai. One night I noticed they had pretty much cordoned off the drunken bollixes outside Malone's but the way things are you can hardly expect them to keep each and every potential hairy situation covered.
I always make sure I go home or elsewhere before the place turns into a zoo.
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by <>-_-_-<>
Re: Best Willie Week Session
Nice pics of the session pity names were not put the some of the guilty parties
I reconised Emily and Eddie but not the others from the site.
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by bazouki dave
Re: Best Willie Week Session
I am permantly close to the greats, Bannerman. And the Cats to win again this year.
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Best Willie Week Session
kilfarboy if you think that there is no problems with security and that the camping situation is ok thats fine. But I don't and its a small town so yes I do expect the gardai to have it covered I wonder how many extra gardai were on duty in relation to the number of visiters to the town and I'll say it again something serious is going to happen.
Yes the Cats will win again and again.
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by Saint
Re: Best Willie Week Session
I didn't say the camping was OK, you were giving out about the organisers not catering for campers and putting security in place.
Did you take classes Saint? If not, the organisers have no business at all providing you with anything because you didn't take part in the school they organise. That was more or less what I was saying. The organisers don't organise a 'festival' and they have no responsibility whatsoever towards the hangers on and drinkers. It would make more sense giving out about the publicans pouring drink into people barely able to walk, but that's the craic isn't it?
Providing security is a matter of the gardai and I don't think the situation was any different than anywhere in Ireland where the drinkers run rampant at night. We rarely see the guards at all in Miltown so from that point of view garda presence was up by at least a thousand percent for the week.
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by <>-_-_-<>
Re: Best Willie Week Session
Galway were tipped to thrash the Banner but it didn't happen so I'm afraid all this stuff about the cats might be a bit premature!!
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by Bannerman
Re: Best Willie Week Session
OK I'm sorry for thinking that it was the organisers responsability but its someones responsability and someone is going to get seriously hurt from what I saw .The town needs a proper security structure for the week thats in it and thats my professional opinion .I'm not trying to knock the week I'm just stating two facts that could improve the safety of the week.So Yes it is the Publicans and the Garda that need to sort it.
And I would have loved to gone to classes if they were provided for me but this also has probably nothing to do with the organisers ...........So who do I blame for the lack of bodhran and bouzouki lessons.
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by Saint
Re: Best Willie Week Session
No names on the photos 'Bazouki Dave and Tooty Flutey' until the embargo is lifted ... I thought that since people write here semi-anonymously, I shouldn't go putting names on the photos ; then again I still can't name all of those in the photos myself. I can say that the photos included Kenny, Ron P, Peter Piper, the Silver Spear, Conán McDonnell and KevinOK ; the other screen names are still unknown to me.
Kevin.
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by KevinOK
Re: Best Willie Week Session
A couple of our lads arrived back tonight for our Sunday session. They said is was good to be back.
# Posted on July 16th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Best Willie Week Session
Hi Kevin - thanks for posting the photos, and nice to meet yourself and the others.
) Among those present were Harry Bradley Ciarán O'Maonaigh and John Blake.
The best session I was at, was one in the back of Moronie's in Mullagh on the Monday night (I wasn't playing at it - which is probably why it was so good
# Posted on July 16th 2007 by Ron P
Re: Best Willie Week Session
Best session of the Willie Week for me was in Malone's on Friday afternoon... started around 3... B flat session with Mick O'Connor, Dermy Diamond, Caoimhin Ó Raghallaigh, Seamus Begely and others... just magic!
# Posted on July 16th 2007 by I have chickens
Re: Best Willie Week Session
During the week, I had three fantastic sessions. The first was on the Wednesday night out in McCarthys. Fantastic tunes.....2 Boxes and 5 flutes for the most of it. Brilliant. Then on the thursday afternoon, out the back of cleary's there I had a brilliant session with stephen madden, and a few tyrone and clare fellas.
Surprisingly, on the saturday night out in the Bellbridge, we had a class session. Myself, and a few kerry/clare/limerick lads had brilliant tunes.
Was a strange willie week, but gud tunes thou!
# Posted on July 16th 2007 by garyfitz123
Re: Best Willie Week Session
I thought thesession.org sesh was great craic. The first five or six hours of a Friday session in the back of Cleary's was good as well, but I started to fall on my face and trip over my fingers during the last two or so hours.
The best session I listened to was in that little front room in the Crosses of Annagh. It was Kevin Rowsome, Caoimhin O'Raighallaigh, Gerry O'Connor, and some others. Amazing stuff.
# Posted on July 16th 2007 by TheSilverSpear
Re: Best Willie Week Session
Oh yes, you are all jogging my memory now. Enjoyed session in back of Moroney's (Mullagh) on Sunday night with John Blake and Ciarán O'Maonaigh as well as Harry Bradley and Emmett Gill. Also enjoyed a great session in the back kitchen of The Blondes (Cleary's in Miltown). Good sessions in the front of Michael A's (but the back room was a bit too heavy) where I saw Jesse Smith and in another pub nearby where Alec Finn and Jackie Daly were hanging out. Never made it in the front door of Friel's (Lynch's) due to the crowds.
Welcome back Ron and Emily.
# Posted on July 16th 2007 by KevinOK
Anyone else got Willie Week photos?
Anyone else got posted photos from SSWC'07 ? Send me them by email if you can't post them yourself and I'll add them to my folder. Anyone take any when the big session.org session was in progress?
If you are looking at my photos, you can see the comments by selecting detail rather than thumbnails at the top of the page.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10061918@N03/sets/72157600817984967/
Kevin
# Posted on July 16th 2007 by KevinOK
Re: Best Willie Week Session
Best Willie week yet for me - thanks to everyone who stumbled into sessions with us, best of which were Clancy's, Michael A's, out in the shticks in O'Looney and a mad ol' time the Friday night in Coore. Still in recovery I reckon - Bulmers and vodka were a great mix ;)
# Posted on July 27th 2007 by tbag