I'm going to be in Ireland this April 08 and I'd love it if you know of any good sessions, fiddle lessons, workshops, dance instruction, or ANYthing else that's great to do ! Please HELP!!!!!!!!! I"m visiting relatives in May also in Donegal.
Both my sisters and I dance. I play fiddle.
Any tips thrown at me would be so very appreciated!!!!!!
WOW! Thankyou very much. That was extremely helpful!
Also, maybe you know of a good music store to buy a fiddle in Dublin or somewhere in Ireland? or maybe not. If not that's ok, it's just I wanted to find one while I'm there.
I will always be an advocate for the Fiddler's Retreat. It's a combination of a B&B, where Theresa will cook you gourmet meals (more than just breakfast, too), give you a fiddle lesson in the morning, take you sightseeing in the afternoon, and take you to local sessions most evenings. She has a 3 day and a 7 day program. You can find her at...
www.fiddlersretreat.com
She's located in Co. Tipperary, which has plenty of beauty and things to see. I went this last August for a 3 day package and hope to return in 2009 for a 7 day package. Whatever you do, you'll have a blast. What a great place!
Btw, I didn't travel all the way to Ireland for 3 days. I was there for 17, but 3 of those were with the Fiddler's Retreat. Just so you don't think I'm a nutjob.
I would defenitely reccomend you pay these guys a visit iif you are in Dublin:
Crehan Musical Instruments Ltd
6 Carberry rd Drumcondra 9 Co. Dublin
00353-(0)(1)8372351 , Drop the 0 if dialling from the US or if in Ireland and calling from outside Dublin use the 01.
If you're in Galway I would reccomend talking to this guy:
Kuros Torkzadeh
Straid Local Meandon Kinvara Co. Galway
00353-(0)91-637945
I recommend the town of Kenmare, Co. Kerry, just over the hills from Killarney. It´s a small town - bit of a touristy spot , but within tolerable limits- but with an amazing variety of music. In Crowley´s Pub they have a twice weekly traditional session, mostly fiddlers and the ocassional box player. Across the road there is The Coachman, where they usually have some very interesting, almost avantgarde-experimental but still very clearly traditional-based music - often Sean & Tony O´Connor (fiddle and guitar) and Michael O´Brien, an unbelievably fluent button accordion player from the area. (I hope the ITM police doesn´t come after me for `avantgarde-experimental´!). Around the corner - not hard to find once you got used to the lay-out of Kenmare - is a pub which I think is called O´Shea´s: there is - or at least was last summer, anyway, they were locals - a trio (female singer with guitar, fiddler and accordion player). They usually played a set of reels, O´Carolan tunes, Kerry polkas etc and then invited audience members to join them for a song or a tune - amazing things you could hear here, like e.g. a 92-year- old man singing a cappella (`Come all ye bold huntsmen´) and so forth. Strongly recommended. Lots of sessions in neighboring towns whose names sound familiar because they are in so many tune titles (like the Humours of Dingle, Bantry, Ballydehob, Schull, .....)
Yes, Kenmare ist very nice. And for fiddle lessons I can only recommend Gill Liddle, who lives nearby. She is a great teacher. Have a look at her homepage: http://www.kerryfiddles.com/
* Féile Átha Dá Chab ~ 18 April 2008 - 20 April 2008
Ballydehob - Co. Cork, Ireland
Telephone: +353 28 38973
E-mail: mbadjones@hotmail.com
Web Site: feileathadachab.blogspot.com
Féile Átha Dá Chab, Ballydehob Traditional Music, Song and Dance Festival 2008 will be held in the picturesque village of Ballydehob, County Cork, Ireland on April 18-20, 2008. This weekend will include a concert, céilí, pub sessions, children's session, and workshops in traditional music, song and dance.
Workshop teachers include Bobby Gardiner (button accordion), Edel Fox (concertina), Harry Bradley (flute), Jesse Smith (fliddle), Ronan Regan (seannós dancing), Eilís Ni Shuilleabháin (seannós and traditional singing), and Jim Murray (guitar).
* Ceol sa Ghleann ~ 08 April 2007 - 13 April 2007
Glencolmcille - Co. Donegal, Ireland
E-mail: ceolsaghleann@hotmail.com
Web Site: www.ceolsaghleann.com
The Glencolmcille Traditional Art Festival “Ceol sa Ghleann” is an annual Event celebrating Donegal music, song and dance. Glencolmcille’s longstanding fiddle tradition is at the heart of the event. Featuring performances from Donegal master fiddlers such as Tommy Peoples, James Byrne and Danny Meehan, the festival will also give the rare opportunity to listen to and learn from relatively unrecorded local tradition bearers who are the living links to Donegal’s musical heritage. Other festival events include workshops for Donegal fiddle, song and dance, plus Masterclasses, performances by up and coming talent from the younger generation of musicians and of course, sessions!
Sunday 8th: Opening Concert
Wednesday11: Donegal Fiddle Night with Tommy, James and Danny
Friday 13th: Final concert with local and visiting artists
Workshops daily Mo-Fri (Donegal fiddle, traditional singing, Donegal dances, Sean-nos dancing, recitals etc.
Comhaltas has regular classes most places, contact the branch in the area where you'll be, and ask them about anything else happening in the month of April. Their magazine is Treoir and it also lists events...
Na Píobairí Uilleann ~ also involved in workshops and promoting Irish music and dance http://www.pipers.ie/
Féile Átha Dá Chab, Community Hall, Ballydehob, Co Cork
19-20 April 2008
Ballydehob's big trad festival features a sean nós dancing workshop with Rónan Regan on Saturday from 10am to 4pm. In addition to pub dancing sessions on Friday and Saturday nights, there's a ceili with Jig Time Ceili Band on Sunday afternoon. Contact Miriam Jones.
ceolachan has already put a link to Féile Átha Dá Chab, last year was the first ever trad festival in Ballydehob, Co. Cork, and a great event it turned out to be. This years promises to be equally good,takes place in April, so hope to see you there. There is also a regular Friday night session in Ballydehob, which rotates round different pubs in the village.
In my view the best place to go if you're looking to buy a fiddle in Dublin is to violin-maker James Beatley. As well as his own instruments he always has a selection of various others he has fixed up. He's also a very nice chap who really knows his stuff. His workshop's very close to the city centre, a stone's throw from The Cobblestone bar. Here's his website: http://www.beatley.ie/
IRELAND - - County Wicklow
Hofmann, Willy 353.1.281.9614
Way Cottage
County Wicklow Kilpedder IRELAND
IRELAND - Connemara - Galway
Bradley, Paul 353 87 610 2030
20a Mill Street
Galway Connemara IRELAND Violin maker, restorer and sales.
Email: paulbradleyviolins@yahoo.com Website: www.paulbradleyviolins.ie
IRELAND - Northern Ireland - Co.Derry
McClean, Martin 00 44 (0)2886748371
39 Cookstown Rd. Moneymore
Co.Derry Northern Ireland BT457QF IRELAND Violin maker and dealer.Repairs,bow rehairs etc. Stocks the largest range of violins in Ireland
Email: martin@irishfiddles.com Website: www.irishfiddles.com
& the BVMA: British Violin Making Association, who I believe also have members in Ireland and could be worth contacting? http://www.bvma.org.uk/
I’ve tried out a fiddle by Martin McClean, a copy of a violin by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù, played by Paganini; this is a beautiful smallish bodied instrument with a very rich but mellow tone. (James Beatley also makes a copy of a violin by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù). Good call!
Ireland 2008
Ireland 2008
I'm going to be in Ireland this April 08 and I'd love it if you know of any good sessions, fiddle lessons, workshops, dance instruction, or ANYthing else that's great to do ! Please HELP!!!!!!!!! I"m visiting relatives in May also in Donegal.
Both my sisters and I dance. I play fiddle.
Any tips thrown at me would be so very appreciated!!!!!!
Thankyou all!!
# Posted on January 10th 2008 by IrishColleen
Re: Ireland 2008
Hope this helps: http://www.folkworld.de/frog/irlfst.html#apr
# Posted on January 10th 2008 by slainte
Re: Ireland 2008
WOW! Thankyou very much. That was extremely helpful!
Also, maybe you know of a good music store to buy a fiddle in Dublin or somewhere in Ireland? or maybe not. If not that's ok, it's just I wanted to find one while I'm there.
# Posted on January 10th 2008 by IrishColleen
Re: Ireland 2008
I will always be an advocate for the Fiddler's Retreat. It's a combination of a B&B, where Theresa will cook you gourmet meals (more than just breakfast, too), give you a fiddle lesson in the morning, take you sightseeing in the afternoon, and take you to local sessions most evenings. She has a 3 day and a 7 day program. You can find her at...
www.fiddlersretreat.com
She's located in Co. Tipperary, which has plenty of beauty and things to see. I went this last August for a 3 day package and hope to return in 2009 for a 7 day package. Whatever you do, you'll have a blast. What a great place!
# Posted on January 10th 2008 by nofrets
Re: Ireland 2008
Btw, I didn't travel all the way to Ireland for 3 days. I was there for 17, but 3 of those were with the Fiddler's Retreat. Just so you don't think I'm a nutjob.
# Posted on January 10th 2008 by nofrets
Re: Ireland 2008
I would defenitely reccomend you pay these guys a visit iif you are in Dublin:
Crehan Musical Instruments Ltd
6 Carberry rd Drumcondra 9 Co. Dublin
00353-(0)(1)8372351 , Drop the 0 if dialling from the US or if in Ireland and calling from outside Dublin use the 01.
If you're in Galway I would reccomend talking to this guy:
Kuros Torkzadeh
Straid Local Meandon Kinvara Co. Galway
00353-(0)91-637945
# Posted on January 10th 2008 by Eamonn Croke
Re: Ireland 2008
I recommend the town of Kenmare, Co. Kerry, just over the hills from Killarney. It´s a small town - bit of a touristy spot , but within tolerable limits- but with an amazing variety of music. In Crowley´s Pub they have a twice weekly traditional session, mostly fiddlers and the ocassional box player. Across the road there is The Coachman, where they usually have some very interesting, almost avantgarde-experimental but still very clearly traditional-based music - often Sean & Tony O´Connor (fiddle and guitar) and Michael O´Brien, an unbelievably fluent button accordion player from the area. (I hope the ITM police doesn´t come after me for `avantgarde-experimental´!). Around the corner - not hard to find once you got used to the lay-out of Kenmare - is a pub which I think is called O´Shea´s: there is - or at least was last summer, anyway, they were locals - a trio (female singer with guitar, fiddler and accordion player). They usually played a set of reels, O´Carolan tunes, Kerry polkas etc and then invited audience members to join them for a song or a tune - amazing things you could hear here, like e.g. a 92-year- old man singing a cappella (`Come all ye bold huntsmen´) and so forth. Strongly recommended. Lots of sessions in neighboring towns whose names sound familiar because they are in so many tune titles (like the Humours of Dingle, Bantry, Ballydehob, Schull, .....)
# Posted on January 10th 2008 by alexweger
Re: Ireland 2008
Yes, Kenmare ist very nice. And for fiddle lessons I can only recommend Gill Liddle, who lives nearby. She is a great teacher. Have a look at her homepage:
http://www.kerryfiddles.com/
# Posted on January 10th 2008 by fiddlinsue
Re: Ireland 2008
Irish Music Magazine
http://www.irishmusicmagazine.com/
TradMusic.Com
http://www.tradmusic.com/
http://www.tradmusic.com/festivalguide/index.asp
* Féile Átha Dá Chab ~ 18 April 2008 - 20 April 2008
Ballydehob - Co. Cork, Ireland
Telephone: +353 28 38973
E-mail: mbadjones@hotmail.com
Web Site: feileathadachab.blogspot.com
Féile Átha Dá Chab, Ballydehob Traditional Music, Song and Dance Festival 2008 will be held in the picturesque village of Ballydehob, County Cork, Ireland on April 18-20, 2008. This weekend will include a concert, céilí, pub sessions, children's session, and workshops in traditional music, song and dance.
Workshop teachers include Bobby Gardiner (button accordion), Edel Fox (concertina), Harry Bradley (flute), Jesse Smith (fliddle), Ronan Regan (seannós dancing), Eilís Ni Shuilleabháin (seannós and traditional singing), and Jim Murray (guitar).
* Ceol sa Ghleann ~ 08 April 2007 - 13 April 2007
Glencolmcille - Co. Donegal, Ireland
E-mail: ceolsaghleann@hotmail.com
Web Site: www.ceolsaghleann.com
The Glencolmcille Traditional Art Festival “Ceol sa Ghleann” is an annual Event celebrating Donegal music, song and dance. Glencolmcille’s longstanding fiddle tradition is at the heart of the event. Featuring performances from Donegal master fiddlers such as Tommy Peoples, James Byrne and Danny Meehan, the festival will also give the rare opportunity to listen to and learn from relatively unrecorded local tradition bearers who are the living links to Donegal’s musical heritage. Other festival events include workshops for Donegal fiddle, song and dance, plus Masterclasses, performances by up and coming talent from the younger generation of musicians and of course, sessions!
Sunday 8th: Opening Concert
Wednesday11: Donegal Fiddle Night with Tommy, James and Danny
Friday 13th: Final concert with local and visiting artists
Workshops daily Mo-Fri (Donegal fiddle, traditional singing, Donegal dances, Sean-nos dancing, recitals etc.
# Posted on January 10th 2008 by ceolachan
Sorry, I forgot to make the links live ~
Féile Átha Dá Chab, Ballydehob Traditional Music, Song, and Dance Festival
http://www.feileathadachab.blogspot.com/
Ceol sa Ghleann: Musical Traditions of Donegal ~ passing on the tradition
http://www.ceolsaghleann.com/
# Posted on January 10th 2008 by ceolachan
Re: Ireland 2008
Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann
http://comhaltas.ie/
Comhaltas has regular classes most places, contact the branch in the area where you'll be, and ask them about anything else happening in the month of April. Their magazine is Treoir and it also lists events...
Na Píobairí Uilleann ~ also involved in workshops and promoting Irish music and dance
http://www.pipers.ie/
Irish (square/quadrille) Set Dancing ~ etc.
http://www.setdancingnews.net/
Féile Átha Dá Chab, Community Hall, Ballydehob, Co Cork
19-20 April 2008
Ballydehob's big trad festival features a sean nós dancing workshop with Rónan Regan on Saturday from 10am to 4pm. In addition to pub dancing sessions on Friday and Saturday nights, there's a ceili with Jig Time Ceili Band on Sunday afternoon. Contact Miriam Jones.
# Posted on January 10th 2008 by ceolachan
Re: Ireland 2008
ceolachan has already put a link to Féile Átha Dá Chab, last year was the first ever trad festival in Ballydehob, Co. Cork, and a great event it turned out to be. This years promises to be equally good,takes place in April, so hope to see you there. There is also a regular Friday night session in Ballydehob, which rotates round different pubs in the village.
# Posted on January 10th 2008 by cathycook
Re: Ireland 2008
The Donegal Fleadh is on 16-18 May in Ardara.
# Posted on January 10th 2008 by deeor
Re: Ireland 2008: Fiddles in Dublin
In my view the best place to go if you're looking to buy a fiddle in Dublin is to violin-maker James Beatley. As well as his own instruments he always has a selection of various others he has fixed up. He's also a very nice chap who really knows his stuff. His workshop's very close to the city centre, a stone's throw from The Cobblestone bar. Here's his website:
http://www.beatley.ie/
# Posted on January 11th 2008 by neddiescotus
Re: Ireland 2008
Good one neddiescotus ~ always check out a maker before the music stores... If nothing else you'll meet a character and become better informed...
Here's another, but this isn't someone I'm familiar with, but they're in the North ~
Martin McClean: Maker, Repairer and Dealer of Violins, Violas and Cellos
http://www.irishfiddles.com/
& others ~
Brendan de Brun: violins, violas and cellos made, County Clare
http://www.brendandebrunviolins.com/
Jeremy LeGrand: violin maker, Cork
http://legrandviolins.com/
Kevin Sykes: violin maker, County Mayo
http://www.kevinsykes.com/
Jim McKillop, County Antrim ~ & gives lessons too
http://www.onlinemusicschool.com/
http://www.onlinemusicschool.com/instruments/instruments.htm
http://www.onlinemusicschool.com/jimmckillop/jimmckillop.htm
More ~
http://www.fritz-reuter.com/makers/qstate.IDC?tt=IRELAND
IRELAND - - Ballymurrin Lower
Ruiseal, Conchobhar 353.404.48388
Woodville House
Ballymurrin Lower Wicklow IRELAND
IRELAND - - County Wicklow
Hofmann, Willy 353.1.281.9614
Way Cottage
County Wicklow Kilpedder IRELAND
IRELAND - Connemara - Galway
Bradley, Paul 353 87 610 2030
20a Mill Street
Galway Connemara IRELAND Violin maker, restorer and sales.
Email: paulbradleyviolins@yahoo.com Website: www.paulbradleyviolins.ie
IRELAND - Northern Ireland - Co.Derry
McClean, Martin 00 44 (0)2886748371
39 Cookstown Rd. Moneymore
Co.Derry Northern Ireland BT457QF IRELAND Violin maker and dealer.Repairs,bow rehairs etc. Stocks the largest range of violins in Ireland
Email: martin@irishfiddles.com Website: www.irishfiddles.com
& the BVMA: British Violin Making Association, who I believe also have members in Ireland and could be worth contacting?
http://www.bvma.org.uk/
# Posted on January 11th 2008 by ceolachan
Re: Ireland 2008
I’ve tried out a fiddle by Martin McClean, a copy of a violin by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù, played by Paganini; this is a beautiful smallish bodied instrument with a very rich but mellow tone. (James Beatley also makes a copy of a violin by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù). Good call!
# Posted on January 11th 2008 by neddiescotus
Re: Ireland 2008: Looking for a fiddle in Dublin
Pay Charles Byrne's shop on Steven street a visit:
http://www.geocities.com/charlesbyrnemusic/index.htm
Its a little musical wonderland.
# Posted on January 11th 2008 by Cuileann
Re: Ireland 2008
One thing you won’t find in Charlie Byrne’s shop is politeness! (has to be said.)
# Posted on January 12th 2008 by neddiescotus
Re: Ireland 2008
I concur with Nofrets - co see Theresa ar Fiddlers reatreat - I had a great time there in Nov 2006.
Theresa also has a mate (he's a farmer up in the sticks somewhere) who deals in fiddles - he's a really nice guy and he may have something that suits
# Posted on January 17th 2008 by Steve Broadbent
Re: Ireland 2008
I know, I'm late, but here's another source, one of our own here on TheSesh ~
cos ~ Michael Costello ~ "I also collect violins and buy and sell them."
http://www.thesession.org/members/display/10506
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by ceolachan