The Session >> Discussions >> For traditional music lovers planning a first trip to Ireland.
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For traditional music lovers planning a first trip to Ireland.
For traditional music lovers planning a first trip to Ireland.
In late October '06 I asked for some advice on this site about making a Traditional Music focused visit to the West of Ireland. The comments were very useful--Thanks. A hoped for extended stay was whittled down to a month (yes, it is expensive) and that was in off season--January ('07)--so my experience was limited. I went straight to Galway City, where there were some nice pubs with some good sessions, but expensive lodgings, gale force winds and freezing rain made it easy for an English couple to convince me to ride down to Ennis with them. That's where I spent my remaining 3 1/2 weeks. They took me to The Bargerooms where $38 a night with breakfast, T.V., nice room and hot bath is a very good price. Sessions downstairs twice a week. The pub next door (Tom something's) features sessions hosted by world class flute players. A mile stretch of the main street will provide traditional sessions in any number of pubs on any given night.
It's impossible to sit in a pub for more than a few minutes before someone engages you in conversation. Traditional music is very popular in Ennis right now and is home to many excellent players both young and old. Larger musical events descend on Ennis in the warmer months.
No doubt, Ireland provides many such genial--and musical--locales, but anyone who's never been there, and like me, has traditional music in mind and doesn't know where to start, will want to consider Ennis --even in winter. My only warning about Ennis is to make sure you're sober when you visit Custy's music store. If you're not it could empty your pockets (trust me!).
Re: For traditional music lovers planning a first trip to Ireland.
Nice of you to share that with us. It is good to hear Ennis is still alive and kickin' ~ and you had the great wisdom to settle in instead of trying to see all of the islands of Ireland in the limited time you had... You could have set up lessons with some damned fine musicians through Custy's, if you had the time, inclination and money, but it sounds like you've been well blessed and educated as it is...
Re: For traditional music lovers planning a first trip to Ireland.
"Tom something's" would be "Tom Steele's". I just got back from two weeks in Ennis. Mid-weeks were kind of quiet. Steele's on Sunday, Monday and Thursday, plenty on weekends, but nothing on Tuesdays after the Diamond cancelled Martin O'Brien & Eoin O'Neill's session in the middle of the month. I don't recall there being anything on Wednesdays either at the moment.
Fpr me, Ennis with a car is ideal. Wednesdays & Thursdays to Feakle, Fridays & Saturdays to Miltown, Sundays at the Old Ground or Steeles, Mondays at Steele's, and on the seventh day he rested.
Re: For traditional music lovers planning a first trip to Ireland.
Thanks, Guys, for your comments, and about the having transportation you're sure right about that. I would like to have been able to make day trips--for example to visit Eamonn Cotter 11 miles out of town to try a few of his flutes.
Re: For traditional music lovers planning a first trip to Ireland.
My first trip to Ireland was this last November. Galway was great, but it was a little too "touristy." Everywhere that advertised "traditional Irish music" or "traditional Irish food" seemed aimed just at the tourists and somehow that felt a little fake, not to mention expensive. So we hopped on a bus and kept going until we found a place where there were few tourists and the music that sessioners were playing was the music that THEY wanted to play and hear instead of what they were expected to play. A neat little town called Cliffden, that's where we found the craic on our trip.
Re: For traditional music lovers planning a first trip to Ireland.
Is there still a Domino's Pizza in Ennis ? I tell ya its always a treat after having to eat Irish Breakfast every morning for 2 weeks..
Also a great pizza place in Donegal town down the hill on the left before the public car lot...
Never had a slice in Cliffden..
OK, enough I'm going to lunch...
Re: For traditional music lovers planning a first trip to Ireland.
I myself just returned from Ireland (3.5) weeks. I am a kiltmaker who went there for business, but my partner took me to Co Clare and Ennis for a week because he knows how much I love and want to play the Irish fiddle. Spent every nite going pub to pub, but loved CRUISE'S the best. Definetly go there. It has the best atmosphere!
Now I know I want to play the fiddle for sure (all of my sisters are musicians; I feel so left out.) I SHOULD have spent all of my money at Custy's . No one here (in PA USA) has a clue how to point me to a good instrument to start with! Any advice for what I can get here? I did read all of the previous posts about the 'new fiddle (2006). I have already decided to get a better instrument, but NOT a $99 Chinese model.
PS - Yes, there is still a Domino's in Ennis. I laughed, but I had it for lunch Monday last anyway! How Irish
Re: For traditional music lovers planning a first trip to Ireland.
I am still dreaming of such an Irish tour, myself. I wondered about renting, or buying and then selling back, an inexpensive fiddle while I'm there, to avoid airline hassles. Has anyone here done that, or heard of it being done?
For traditional music lovers planning a first trip to Ireland.
For traditional music lovers planning a first trip to Ireland.
In late October '06 I asked for some advice on this site about making a Traditional Music focused visit to the West of Ireland. The comments were very useful--Thanks. A hoped for extended stay was whittled down to a month (yes, it is expensive) and that was in off season--January ('07)--so my experience was limited. I went straight to Galway City, where there were some nice pubs with some good sessions, but expensive lodgings, gale force winds and freezing rain made it easy for an English couple to convince me to ride down to Ennis with them. That's where I spent my remaining 3 1/2 weeks. They took me to The Bargerooms where $38 a night with breakfast, T.V., nice room and hot bath is a very good price. Sessions downstairs twice a week. The pub next door (Tom something's) features sessions hosted by world class flute players. A mile stretch of the main street will provide traditional sessions in any number of pubs on any given night.
It's impossible to sit in a pub for more than a few minutes before someone engages you in conversation. Traditional music is very popular in Ennis right now and is home to many excellent players both young and old. Larger musical events descend on Ennis in the warmer months.
No doubt, Ireland provides many such genial--and musical--locales, but anyone who's never been there, and like me, has traditional music in mind and doesn't know where to start, will want to consider Ennis --even in winter. My only warning about Ennis is to make sure you're sober when you visit Custy's music store. If you're not it could empty your pockets (trust me!).
# Posted on January 31st 2008 by Nick M
Re: For traditional music lovers planning a first trip to Ireland.
Nice of you to share that with us. It is good to hear Ennis is still alive and kickin' ~ and you had the great wisdom to settle in instead of trying to see all of the islands of Ireland in the limited time you had... You could have set up lessons with some damned fine musicians through Custy's, if you had the time, inclination and money, but it sounds like you've been well blessed and educated as it is...
# Posted on January 31st 2008 by ceolachan
Re: For traditional music lovers planning a first trip to Ireland.
"Tom something's" would be "Tom Steele's". I just got back from two weeks in Ennis. Mid-weeks were kind of quiet. Steele's on Sunday, Monday and Thursday, plenty on weekends, but nothing on Tuesdays after the Diamond cancelled Martin O'Brien & Eoin O'Neill's session in the middle of the month. I don't recall there being anything on Wednesdays either at the moment.
Fpr me, Ennis with a car is ideal. Wednesdays & Thursdays to Feakle, Fridays & Saturdays to Miltown, Sundays at the Old Ground or Steeles, Mondays at Steele's, and on the seventh day he rested.
# Posted on January 31st 2008 by GaryAMartin
Re: For traditional music lovers planning a first trip to Ireland.
Sorry, make that $28 a night at The Bargerooms (20 Euro).
# Posted on January 31st 2008 by Nick M
Re: For traditional music lovers planning a first trip to Ireland.
That is very reasonable... I second Gary's comment, to have some kind of transportation on hand...
# Posted on January 31st 2008 by ceolachan
Re: For traditional music lovers planning a first trip to Ireland.
Thanks, Guys, for your comments, and about the having transportation you're sure right about that. I would like to have been able to make day trips--for example to visit Eamonn Cotter 11 miles out of town to try a few of his flutes.
# Posted on January 31st 2008 by Nick M
Re: For traditional music lovers planning a first trip to Ireland.
11 miles, eh, you can do that on a bicycle...
# Posted on January 31st 2008 by ceolachan
Re: For traditional music lovers planning a first trip to Ireland.
.....well 22 miles return trip - still, that's easy on a pushbike......
# Posted on January 31st 2008 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: For traditional music lovers planning a first trip to Ireland.
My first trip to Ireland was this last November. Galway was great, but it was a little too "touristy." Everywhere that advertised "traditional Irish music" or "traditional Irish food" seemed aimed just at the tourists and somehow that felt a little fake, not to mention expensive. So we hopped on a bus and kept going until we found a place where there were few tourists and the music that sessioners were playing was the music that THEY wanted to play and hear instead of what they were expected to play. A neat little town called Cliffden, that's where we found the craic on our trip.
# Posted on January 31st 2008 by mistercliff
Re: For traditional music lovers planning a first trip to Ireland.
Is there still a Domino's Pizza in Ennis ? I tell ya its always a treat after having to eat Irish Breakfast every morning for 2 weeks..
Also a great pizza place in Donegal town down the hill on the left before the public car lot...
Never had a slice in Cliffden..
OK, enough I'm going to lunch...
# Posted on January 31st 2008 by lamh trom
Re: For traditional music lovers planning a first trip to Ireland.
lamh trom, you're talking about the Harbour café in Donegal town and, yes, it's still there.
# Posted on January 31st 2008 by Floss the Tethers
Re: For traditional music lovers planning a first trip to Ireland.
I myself just returned from Ireland (3.5) weeks. I am a kiltmaker who went there for business, but my partner took me to Co Clare and Ennis for a week because he knows how much I love and want to play the Irish fiddle. Spent every nite going pub to pub, but loved CRUISE'S the best. Definetly go there. It has the best atmosphere!
. No one here (in PA USA) has a clue how to point me to a good instrument to start with! Any advice for what I can get here? I did read all of the previous posts about the 'new fiddle (2006). I have already decided to get a better instrument, but NOT a $99 Chinese model.
Now I know I want to play the fiddle for sure (all of my sisters are musicians; I feel so left out.) I SHOULD have spent all of my money at Custy's
PS - Yes, there is still a Domino's in Ennis. I laughed, but I had it for lunch Monday last anyway! How Irish
# Posted on February 1st 2008 by kelster
Re: For traditional music lovers planning a first trip to Ireland.
I am still dreaming of such an Irish tour, myself. I wondered about renting, or buying and then selling back, an inexpensive fiddle while I'm there, to avoid airline hassles. Has anyone here done that, or heard of it being done?
# Posted on February 1st 2008 by mickray