Hi everyone I’m going to Willy Week and this will be my 1st time in Ireland. I have a place to stay at McAuley house for the school, so I’m ok there. But my friend is going to meet me and we have a few days to hang around before Willy Week starts. I rented a car so transportation shouldn’t be a problem. I’m so overwhelmed at everything there is to see. I have a few questions I’m hoping that some of you may be able to help me with. Is it easy enough to find a place to stay when you get there or should you try to book ahead? Should you try to look for B&B’s, hotels, or something else for a reasonable place to stay?
I’m trying to map some kind of route out but don’t know where to begin. So far I think Cork, Galway and Clare would be nice. Does anyone have advice on towns in those Counties that would be good to stay? Is there any place or town that I absolutely should not miss while I’m there? There are so many beautiful places and so much history.
Of course I want to hit the best music towns too. I see from some of the past discussions that Ennis, Doolin and Cork seem to be good places for that. Where else is the best Town’s or Counties to go for great traditional music to be heard? I did look at some of the session links and they helped.
I would like to record some of the sessions would that be out of line? Also, I read on the Willie site that recording is not allowed. Has any one that’s been to Willy Clancy School been able to recorded the classes that they took? Any advice is welcome and I would love to hear about some of your experiences in Ireland or Willy Clancy School. It would also be nice meet of some of you that are going this year.
I personally would go for youth hostels or B&B depending on my mood, or who was with me, but that's because I'm skint and stingy. I also wouldn't bother booking ahead because I love danger and challenges, but that's also just silly me. Maybe it might be an idea if there are going to be lots of people. Do what you think is best. Buy a Lonely Planet guide or something, have a look at some colour pictures and maps and decide from that what you'd like to see. Go by what people recommend to you, especially people on this site. (Apart from me).
Where to go depends on what you want to do - you mentioned a few towns but to me this kind of focus does not fit on Ireland. so naming a town like Cork, Ennis or Galway might just point in a general direction but might not mean in general to visit this town (but well, go ahead, if you want to feel one of these towns for a couple of days - whatever you do you´ll miss everything else and there´s a lot to miss - anyway a couple of days in Cork or Galway surely is great) ...
I prefer travelling the Countryside and see what surprisingly touches my attention - although Ireland is small you´ll never have the chance to go far with this kind of travelling.
B&B is always a great choice (host normally help you to find the right places on your day trips and nights out at the pubs) - some Hostal or Campground nights in between can lower the pressure on your budget....
oooops once again one of these quick in between work at the office responses ..... anyway what I said about towns is ok but you said Counties: make a decision by a flip of a coin, because all three might not work (or do you have weeks?) ...
recording: go ask the session people - most say yes some say no. The Summer school participants I know so far all took back Cassettes or MDs from their classes ....
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Should you visit Ennis, you have two ideal places to go to and find about about local sessions. They are Custy´s Music Shop (see Links, under Musical Instruments) and The Knotted Cord music shop (Links, under Sessions).
The staff in Custy´s are extremely helpful as well as being first class musicians themselves and will tell you about any sessions in Ennis or further afield (Kilfenora, Feakle, etc.).
Don´t miss the Thursday night session in Feakle run by Seamus Bugler at Lina´s bar (the bar doesn´t have a sign saying "Lina´s" outside so you´ll have to ask when you get to the town).
The Knotted Cord in Ennis also has very helpful staff and an informative notice board. I called there on a recent trip to Ennis and saw the staff clearing up the remains of a broken window.
It seems that a local lad had had a row with his girlfriend and she had given him his marching orders.
Overcome by grief and fury, he picked up a rock and hurled it at the nearest window, which unfortunately happened to be that of the Knotted Cord. Luckily it was lunch time and the shop was closed.
No sooner had he done the foul deed, he was filled with remorse and took himself off to the local garda station to report himself.
Upon arrival, he could find nobody to attend to him and had to wait half an hour before an official was able to take his confession.
Am I wrong, or could this *only* have happened in Ireland?
Cuts in public services have resulted in fewer police patrols . You now have "Spot the Garda" competitions where you win a prize if you see one.
On my recent 12 day visit which consisted of session hopping in Limerick, Clare and Galway as well as daytime driving, we saw only one uniformed garda manning a road block on the way out of Shannon airport - and that was all!
Deb, I hope I haven´t given you the impression that Ireland is a crime ridden country devoid of law enforcement officers- it´s just that, like the beltless skinny man´s trousers, things seem to hang together in spite of everything ()
Have a good stay in Ireland and soak up loadsa music.
Mike
Just a couple of points I forgot to mention:
B&Bs: Don´t bother about booking in advance. B&B is the national industry, you´ll find them everywhere. If one is full, just go to the next one - it´s never more than 5 mins drive away.
Recording at sessions: At most of the sessions I´ve been to in Ireland (and that goes back over 30 years!) there´s usually somebody recording. The musicians don´t seem to mind. It´s probably a good idea to ask, though.
Mike
I just got back from Ireland a few weeks ago. I went to a nice music festival up in Mayo that took place during the May Bank Holiday weekend. We flew into Shannon a few days early and had to figure out where we wanted to hang until the festival. From the airport we drove straight up to Galway City and stayed in a B&B (Salthill which is walking distance from downtown). Galway is one of my favorite cities in Ireland. I would recommend it for sessions, good food, and a fun place to shop and just walk around. We caught some good sessions at the Crane Bar. From Miltown Malbay it's probably 2-3 hours north. But Ennis is also another good option which is closer. Doolin will have good music, but the 3 pubs will be packed with European tourists at that time of year.
When choosing B&B's, ALWAYS look for the clover which means it's been approved. (like the US equivalent to AAA) We accidentally chose a B&B in Kinvara one night w/o the clover. The rug hadn't been cleaned in weeks and there were crumbs on the bedside table. I won't mention what I found in the shower.......there are tons of B&B's. Some are great and some are not so great.......
I've never been to Willie Week. I hope to go someday. Have fun!
One more thing about recording: Always ask permission before you record. A little courtesy goes a long way. I asked the festival organizer if it would be ok to record the evening concerts and it was fine.
I emptied my purse and stuck my mini-disc recorder and mic inside. I was able to discretely record some amazing music. I made it look like I was just checking my cell phone every so often. (Everyone in Ireland including children and the elderly carry a cell phone so my little ploy worked well - no one knew I was really recording)
Caveat to the "don't book in advance" thing -- the week before Willy Week, you may not find anything...word to the wise! If you find yourself without accomodation, throw yourself on the mercy of the first friendly looking innkeeper who says there's no room -- they all know each other and might help you find an open room...
This is so true. 3 years ago we were in Kilkenny during a comedy festival and the city was packed. A nice innkeeper sent us up to her friend's B&B which was a little off the beaten path, but a nice place not too far from downtown. Otherwise we probably would have been driving around for a while...
Joyce & Zina I have to agree. If I was backpacking, which I"ve done a lot of, I would leave much of the trip up to chance. But Willie Week is a big deal, learning-wise, socializing, etc, & that would be one trip I would feel comfortable spending a bit of money securing nice lodging etc ahead of time. Maybe next summer. See Dow, this is what happens when you turn 30 apparently.
Gosh, since I've hit the 30's, my backpacking days seem to be over. There was a time when sleeping on a park bench was not an uncommon thing to do, but now I need a hot shower and clean sheets : )
Yeah, if I do a summer school, next year in Ireland, I'll probably book a B&B months in advance if I can get my sh*t together.....
Yay Joyce! A college dorm won't exactly be roughing it, eh? I'm looking forward to seeing pix & hearing all the good stories from your recent trip!! But also learning some tunes!! 3 weeks....
Thank you all so much. You all have great responses and advice. This is sort of an example of ideal community – so much kindness and willingness to help from all. You know it takes a village to raise a good traditional musician. ha. So thanks for letting me lean on you and ask things that may seem silly to more experienced travelers and musicians.
I do have a couple of books - the Lonely Planet and The Eyewitness Travel both are good books. The lonely planet has a couple of stories that would only happen in Ireland as you said Murfbox. One about the Rock of Cashel and how St. Patrick in the 5th century accidentally stabbed King Aengus in the foot. Thinking this a painful initiation rite, the king bore the pain with fortitude. I’m looking forward to ‘it could only happen experiences’.
In making some sort of plan, or having idea’s on what to do, (besides just aimlessly taking of on the wrong side of the road) hearing it from someone that’s actually been there is important. Especially others that have the Musical interest that I do. I wanted to leave some of the trip to chance would be fun, then you wouldn’t be committed to drive a long way if your having a good time and a few pints. Perhaps booking ahead in some of the areas that will be impacted by Willie Week would be a good idea.
Up until now I’ve been kind of on Ottery’s mate’s plan as far as being a kind of closet player until I get good enough to show up a Zina’s session and everyone can say – “Whoa where has this girl been” He He. However, I know that it’s important to play with others and I’ll likely show up long before that day, a little timid to even play at least at first. And look at me taking off to Ireland for Willy Week so much for my ‘wait to show up till your good plan…’
Thanks Crannog for your good advice. How neat that your staying at McAuely House too!!! What you said made me think that maybe I’m trying to be ambitious by wanting to see as much as I can. Perhaps facing the fact that you can’t see it all and focus on a few or couple of places to really soak up and enjoy would be better.
Joyce thanks for the tip about the 3 leaf clover!! Your comments definitely will have me looking at Galway and Salthill B&B. I just got a MD recorder and have a lot of reading to figure out how to get full use of the complicated little thing. So far I’m pleased that I managed to get it to record. Now if I can manage to download to my PC – burn a CD.
I’ll look at Cleggan to Inishbofin too.
I’m not much of a traveler anyway (if you didn’t already notice). So this is a tremendous help!! Keep the suggestions coming!
Deblittle - the B&B I referred to is called The White House which was in Salthill, a small town right next to Galway City. We like the Salthill area so we just followed the signs to get there. It's right on the ocean. I went for a nice long morning run on a bike-path right on the water. Just ask someone to point you in the direction of Salthill. It's easy to get there and you can walk home from the Galway City pubs at night. It's a very safe place (like most of Ireland)Yeah, Galway is so much fun. Very hip and happening little city!
Hi Emily! Yay, 3 weeks! Can't wait! I hear the Boston College dorms are very nice. Dorms are always fine with me : )
Thanks for clearing that up for me Joyce. I'm with you as far as my idea of roughing it goes. Clean, friendly and a bed are at the top of my wish list. By the way, I bet that was the quickest shower ever at the non-3 leaf clover B&B. lol.
Yeah, we were out of there pretty quickly! We had just come down from Mayo after staying up 'til 4 in the morning for 4 nights in a row. We were headed down to Doolin on a Tuesday but had to stay over for one early night in Kinvara cuz we were so tired! So we stayed at the B&B right on the main drag and didn't check out the room first or notice the clover. (always ask to see the room first even if there is a clover). It was really gross but we were too tired to find another place or make a fuss.......
I'm really not very fussy, but the pubic hairs in the shower really skeeved me out........ok maybe too graphic, but damn.....it was gross! I can laugh about it now : )
Yeah, my husband and I stayed at a B&B in Salthjll, too--it was very nice.
RE: backpacking--when I turned 30 (or should I say 32) that's when I discovered it! I also discovered I am not as rugged as I thought I was. Don't stay at the YHA youth hostel in Belfast unless you don't mind severely cramped and very co-ed quarters. Not that you are going to be all the way on that side of Ireland--just a word of caution.....
Oh God, Deb, I only JUST remembered that you e-mailed me looking for advice, didn't you, and I've been so swamped with the house that I completely forgot about it! many abject apologies for my dereliction. Want to get together for coffee or something, and I'll give you some good recs?
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Hi, I've been to the Clancy Week several times and I usually spend the first week based in Kinvara. It's a beautiful village at the top of Galway Bay and usually has several local sessions.There's a good hostel called Johnsons and I think a new one has opened recently.It's a short drive to Galway, I think it has a website with local sessions etc. Try a search on Google.
Hey 290 - Great!! Your 1st time too. I see you play fiddle to. Can you hardly wait for the fiddle recital on monday night?! What a line-up James Kelly, Paddy and Kevin Glackin, Liz Doherty just to mention a few -wow. Talk about brilliant - It will be fiddle heaven. Maybe we could try to catch the monday night recital together. Email me if your interested. That's one I'd really like to record. Are you staying at McAuely House to?
Richewhistle - Thanks for the tip on Kinvara, I'd like my friend to get a glimpse of Willie Week and Galway before he has to go. That may be a good place for us to stay a night. I'll look for the website. What kind of experiences have you had at Clancy week? Tell me about the lessons are they big classes?
Zina - Yeah I did email you but don't worry about it. No problem at all, I've done that myself more than a couple of times. Once to Liz Doherty darn it. Getting together sounds good too. Do you have a session on the 1st sunday of the month? That might be good time. I'll buy you a drink or coffee.
No session this Sunday, actually, we have a gig! (Good thing you reminded me, too, I gotta put that out on the list.) Let me know when's good for you the rest of the week or even the week after that -- we will have a session the second Sunday of the month!
Yep! We'll be at the Small Circle at 12:30 to 2, and then we'll be playing Flanagan's Pub in Niwot until 5 or so. Show up at either, we'll hoist either coffee at the former or a pint at the latter!
My advice is to pick a place central to several things you want to see and make that your base. Stay there for a few nights and make day trips. (Or evening/night trips, if all your destinations are pubs!) This way, you simplify the logistics. You don't spend all your time driving, finding your way around a new location, etc. Ireland may be small, but so are a lot of the roads, and it can take a surprising amount of time to get to where you're going if you're not on the major motorways. I've traveled a good bit, so now it seems preferable to BE someplace --- really experience it --- rather than go and see and do a lot of places, but I understand that's not for everybody.
My favorite way to travel is to rent a house, cottage or apartment for a few nights or a week and go out from there. (For Ireland, type in "self-catering" and your chosen destination when you do a Web search.) I've traveled this way (in Ireland, Scotland, Italy and France) with a group of four, so I'm not sure what you'd get with only two: probably a one bedroom apartment or maybe a bed-sit. In my experience it has worked out that you get a nice place, with a living room, dining room, kitchen, maybe a washer and dryer, garden, etc., for about the same as you'd pay for a decent B&B. You have your own space, and it's very comfortable. If you like to cook (or even pick up breads and cheeses, etc.), you can save a bunch of money on dining, too. (Can you tell I'm basically a homebody who loves to travel?)
Let us know what you decide and how your trip turns out. I want a full report on Willie Week.
If you're in the Ennis area, look up Paddy and Mary in Corofin. We stayed in the Rent-An-Irish Cottages there (the ones up the mountain) and they were wonderful. More later!
Oh Yes!! I briefly checked out the self-catering cottages and they look really nice. A fair price too, especially during off season. I really like that idea!! I would like to go to Scotland someday too.
deblittle-
I'm pretty sure i can make the monday night concert- the lineup is incredible!!!!!!! i'm staying in a house outside of town, (not the McAuely House. ) is that where you are staying??
290
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
A word of warning, to avoid disappointment. From past experience, there is no guarantee that every musician listed to appear at any concert in the Willie Clancy programme will in fact perform. There will be a high percentage of those on the programme, but I can almost guarantee you won't get them all.
That most definitely does not mean you shouldn't go . Just for a change, I went to the fiddle concert last year, and it was excellent. The only problem is there are so many good players to put on stage, that they only get to play one or two sets, and nobody gets a chance to "settle in" or relax on stage. You won't be disappointed ! Make sure you have a recorder of some type. Commercial recording is not allowed, but it's OK I think if it's for your own personal use. Whether or not it's permitted, there were enough mini-disc recorders in last year's audience to fit out a music store.
Kenny - it's all good to know I'm sure I'll love it I'm sure no matter what I imagine all of Clancy Week to be it will probably be different. I have heard that you play a tune and they decide what tutor to put you with. Hope they don't tell me to go home and Practice. ha.
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
I was never so assertive as to ask, Joyce !. The tutors I got were all very good players - some were not so good teachers. There is an initial grading on the first morning, and I would generally trust the tutors to send you to an appropriate class. I don't know if they'll let you go to a particular tutor , - probably not if they thought the class you wanted to go to was way above or below your ability, because that would be a waste of both your time and the tutor's efforts. Having said that, I'm sure they'r open to reasonable discussion. Class size generally tends to be 12 - 15 students. If they sent you home for not being good enough, I would never have got into a concertina class three years ago, but I don't want to discuss that !
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Placement in classes at Willie Week is done by audition. On Monday morning at 10:00 you report to whatever venue has been assigned for your particular instrument. Then the various instructors will sort you out into particular classes and you will proceed with the teacher to the location of the class into which you have been placed.
Typically the sorting out will be done by having everyone play a bit. But sometimes the sheer number of students makes this impractical and they resort to other means. Keep in mind that it is possible to register for class at Willie Week on Monday morning, and many people do so - in particular loads of youngsters whose parents bring them into class every morning. There is always a large traffic jam of cars outside the instruction venues at 10:00 every morning when these kids get dropped off, and again at 1:00 when they get picked up after class. But the point is that the organizers never know exactly how many students they will have until Monday morning when classes begin. There is often a scramble then for additional instructors or venues if more students than expected show up.
I was there for flute in 1998, 1999 and 2001. In '98 all the flute students were in one classroom and they made us play one by one (very briefly) and they then decided (very quickly) where we would go. In '99, they had us divide up at first into a couple of different rooms based on how long we'd been playing, and then had us play there and sorted us out. In 2001, there were so many there that after they had us split into different rooms, in the room I was in they didn't make us play but just divvied us up ad hoc among the various instructors assigned to that level.
As for being able to select a particular teacher, there is no provision for this (i.e. they are not going to ask you whose class you'd like to be in) but obviously deals do happen under the table. And once you're placed into a class, if it's really not working out for you they do let you change fairly easily into another class. But keep in mind that there are a large number of classes/teachers (for flute/whistle usually about 20, for fiddle upwards of 30). For a first-timer Yank being there, unless you're a real afficianado of the music you are not even going to know who half of these instructors are! But they are all great players, some are even great teachers (although many aren't), and you can learn something from any of them. And no matter how good you think you are (or may even be), you will immediately be brought down to size by some 10-year-old kid in your class who is playing rings around you even though he's only been playing for 6 months. You can learn from that as well...
Bottom line: If your lifelong dream is to take a fiddle class from Martin Hayes, don't go to Willie Week expecting to fulfill it. But go anyway, because there is always some chance you might get into his class, but even if you don't you will still learn a lot!
Wow, thanks Johnkerr for this information. Sounds a little hectic. The reason I ask is because I would love to have lessons with Catherine McEvoy. Not only is she one of my favorite flute players, but I've heard wonderful things about her teaching. Besides teaching flute, she's also a school teacher. I know 3 flute players who've had week long classes with her and have raved about her teaching style. She's one of the tutors this year at Willie Week. Anyone who lands in her class will be very lucky!
I would hate to travel all the way to Ireland and end up with someone who doesn't teach very well. (I've been to workshops by some amazing Irish musicians, but they weren't the best teachers and I didn't really learn too much).
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Catherine is indeed a great teacher - one of the best. It was to her class that I was sent (fortuitously as it turned out) at my first WCSS placement audition in 1998. The year after, she was at Boston College Gaelic Roots and I had her again. A few weeks after that I went to Willie Week and got placed in another class, which turned out not to be so good for me not so much due to the teacher but rather because of the venue (a long narrow corridor in the library). So I ran into Catherine at the end of the first day and asked if I could switch to her class. She let me come in, but told me that it was a beginner class and thus it would be below my level (the year before she was assigned a more advanced class). I switched despite that, and although she did not "teach up" to me but stayed at the beginner level, it was still useful to me. When she came again to Gaelic Roots last year and saw me in her class, she protested (in good spirits) by saying "You already know all my tricks!" Which I guess I do, but knowing them and doing them are two different things...
So as you see, the particular level that an instructor is teaching that year at WCSS may also complicate things if you want to get into their class. They do switch around from year to year. But two other good teachers I have had who are probably teaching there this year are John Wynne and Marcas O Murchu. Marcas may be an even better teacher than Catherine. He has a very "hands on" style of teaching (literally) that puts some people off, but if you take class with him you will be a better flute player coming out than you were going in. And that's what you want, isn't it?
As I said before, though, don't let the particular style of teaching color your impression of WCSS to an extreme. There's more to the week than just the class, and there is always something that can be learned no matter how bad the teacher may be - although you may have to work at it a bit harder if the teacher is bad. Note also that this same advice does not necessarily apply at your American summer schools. WCSS is different, because there you are directly at the source, and that counts for a lot!
I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Hi everyone I’m going to Willy Week and this will be my 1st time in Ireland. I have a place to stay at McAuley house for the school, so I’m ok there. But my friend is going to meet me and we have a few days to hang around before Willy Week starts. I rented a car so transportation shouldn’t be a problem. I’m so overwhelmed at everything there is to see. I have a few questions I’m hoping that some of you may be able to help me with. Is it easy enough to find a place to stay when you get there or should you try to book ahead? Should you try to look for B&B’s, hotels, or something else for a reasonable place to stay?
I’m trying to map some kind of route out but don’t know where to begin. So far I think Cork, Galway and Clare would be nice. Does anyone have advice on towns in those Counties that would be good to stay? Is there any place or town that I absolutely should not miss while I’m there? There are so many beautiful places and so much history.
Of course I want to hit the best music towns too. I see from some of the past discussions that Ennis, Doolin and Cork seem to be good places for that. Where else is the best Town’s or Counties to go for great traditional music to be heard? I did look at some of the session links and they helped.
I would like to record some of the sessions would that be out of line? Also, I read on the Willie site that recording is not allowed. Has any one that’s been to Willy Clancy School been able to recorded the classes that they took? Any advice is welcome and I would love to hear about some of your experiences in Ireland or Willy Clancy School. It would also be nice meet of some of you that are going this year.
# Posted on May 26th 2003 by deblittle
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
I personally would go for youth hostels or B&B depending on my mood, or who was with me, but that's because I'm skint and stingy. I also wouldn't bother booking ahead because I love danger and challenges, but that's also just silly me. Maybe it might be an idea if there are going to be lots of people. Do what you think is best. Buy a Lonely Planet guide or something, have a look at some colour pictures and maps and decide from that what you'd like to see. Go by what people recommend to you, especially people on this site. (Apart from me).
# Posted on May 26th 2003 by Dow
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Where to go depends on what you want to do - you mentioned a few towns but to me this kind of focus does not fit on Ireland. so naming a town like Cork, Ennis or Galway might just point in a general direction but might not mean in general to visit this town (but well, go ahead, if you want to feel one of these towns for a couple of days - whatever you do you´ll miss everything else and there´s a lot to miss - anyway a couple of days in Cork or Galway surely is great) ...
I prefer travelling the Countryside and see what surprisingly touches my attention - although Ireland is small you´ll never have the chance to go far with this kind of travelling.
B&B is always a great choice (host normally help you to find the right places on your day trips and nights out at the pubs) - some Hostal or Campground nights in between can lower the pressure on your budget....
See you at McAuley House. Volker
# Posted on May 26th 2003 by crannog
oooops once again one of these quick in between work at the office responses ..... anyway what I said about towns is ok but you said Counties: make a decision by a flip of a coin, because all three might not work (or do you have weeks?) ...
recording: go ask the session people - most say yes some say no. The Summer school participants I know so far all took back Cassettes or MDs from their classes ....
# Posted on May 26th 2003 by crannog
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Should you visit Ennis, you have two ideal places to go to and find about about local sessions. They are Custy´s Music Shop (see Links, under Musical Instruments) and The Knotted Cord music shop (Links, under Sessions).
The staff in Custy´s are extremely helpful as well as being first class musicians themselves and will tell you about any sessions in Ennis or further afield (Kilfenora, Feakle, etc.).
Don´t miss the Thursday night session in Feakle run by Seamus Bugler at Lina´s bar (the bar doesn´t have a sign saying "Lina´s" outside so you´ll have to ask when you get to the town).
The Knotted Cord in Ennis also has very helpful staff and an informative notice board. I called there on a recent trip to Ennis and saw the staff clearing up the remains of a broken window.
It seems that a local lad had had a row with his girlfriend and she had given him his marching orders.
Overcome by grief and fury, he picked up a rock and hurled it at the nearest window, which unfortunately happened to be that of the Knotted Cord. Luckily it was lunch time and the shop was closed.
No sooner had he done the foul deed, he was filled with remorse and took himself off to the local garda station to report himself.
Upon arrival, he could find nobody to attend to him and had to wait half an hour before an official was able to take his confession.
Am I wrong, or could this *only* have happened in Ireland?
)
Cuts in public services have resulted in fewer police patrols . You now have "Spot the Garda" competitions where you win a prize if you see one.
On my recent 12 day visit which consisted of session hopping in Limerick, Clare and Galway as well as daytime driving, we saw only one uniformed garda manning a road block on the way out of Shannon airport - and that was all!
Deb, I hope I haven´t given you the impression that Ireland is a crime ridden country devoid of law enforcement officers- it´s just that, like the beltless skinny man´s trousers, things seem to hang together in spite of everything (
Have a good stay in Ireland and soak up loadsa music.
Mike
# Posted on May 26th 2003 by murfbox
Help in Ireland
Just a couple of points I forgot to mention:
B&Bs: Don´t bother about booking in advance. B&B is the national industry, you´ll find them everywhere. If one is full, just go to the next one - it´s never more than 5 mins drive away.
Recording at sessions: At most of the sessions I´ve been to in Ireland (and that goes back over 30 years!) there´s usually somebody recording. The musicians don´t seem to mind. It´s probably a good idea to ask, though.
Mike
# Posted on May 26th 2003 by murfbox
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
I just got back from Ireland a few weeks ago. I went to a nice music festival up in Mayo that took place during the May Bank Holiday weekend. We flew into Shannon a few days early and had to figure out where we wanted to hang until the festival. From the airport we drove straight up to Galway City and stayed in a B&B (Salthill which is walking distance from downtown). Galway is one of my favorite cities in Ireland. I would recommend it for sessions, good food, and a fun place to shop and just walk around. We caught some good sessions at the Crane Bar. From Miltown Malbay it's probably 2-3 hours north. But Ennis is also another good option which is closer. Doolin will have good music, but the 3 pubs will be packed with European tourists at that time of year.
When choosing B&B's, ALWAYS look for the clover which means it's been approved. (like the US equivalent to AAA) We accidentally chose a B&B in Kinvara one night w/o the clover. The rug hadn't been cleaned in weeks and there were crumbs on the bedside table. I won't mention what I found in the shower.......there are tons of B&B's. Some are great and some are not so great.......
I've never been to Willie Week. I hope to go someday. Have fun!
Joyce
# Posted on May 27th 2003 by JMH
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
One more thing about recording: Always ask permission before you record. A little courtesy goes a long way. I asked the festival organizer if it would be ok to record the evening concerts and it was fine.
I emptied my purse and stuck my mini-disc recorder and mic inside. I was able to discretely record some amazing music. I made it look like I was just checking my cell phone every so often. (Everyone in Ireland including children and the elderly carry a cell phone so my little ploy worked well - no one knew I was really recording)
Joyce
# Posted on May 27th 2003 by JMH
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Caveat to the "don't book in advance" thing -- the week before Willy Week, you may not find anything...word to the wise! If you find yourself without accomodation, throw yourself on the mercy of the first friendly looking innkeeper who says there's no room -- they all know each other and might help you find an open room...
Zina
# Posted on May 27th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
This is so true. 3 years ago we were in Kilkenny during a comedy festival and the city was packed. A nice innkeeper sent us up to her friend's B&B which was a little off the beaten path, but a nice place not too far from downtown. Otherwise we probably would have been driving around for a while...
Joyce
# Posted on May 27th 2003 by JMH
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Joyce & Zina I have to agree. If I was backpacking, which I"ve done a lot of, I would leave much of the trip up to chance. But Willie Week is a big deal, learning-wise, socializing, etc, & that would be one trip I would feel comfortable spending a bit of money securing nice lodging etc ahead of time. Maybe next summer. See Dow, this is what happens when you turn 30 apparently.
# Posted on May 27th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
If you have time, take the mail boat from Cleggan to Inishbofin.
# Posted on May 27th 2003 by lcox
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Gosh, since I've hit the 30's, my backpacking days seem to be over. There was a time when sleeping on a park bench was not an uncommon thing to do, but now I need a hot shower and clean sheets : )
Yeah, if I do a summer school, next year in Ireland, I'll probably book a B&B months in advance if I can get my sh*t together.....
Joyce
# Posted on May 27th 2003 by JMH
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Yay Joyce! A college dorm won't exactly be roughing it, eh? I'm looking forward to seeing pix & hearing all the good stories from your recent trip!! But also learning some tunes!! 3 weeks....
# Posted on May 27th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Thank you all so much. You all have great responses and advice. This is sort of an example of ideal community – so much kindness and willingness to help from all. You know it takes a village to raise a good traditional musician. ha. So thanks for letting me lean on you and ask things that may seem silly to more experienced travelers and musicians.
I do have a couple of books - the Lonely Planet and The Eyewitness Travel both are good books. The lonely planet has a couple of stories that would only happen in Ireland as you said Murfbox. One about the Rock of Cashel and how St. Patrick in the 5th century accidentally stabbed King Aengus in the foot. Thinking this a painful initiation rite, the king bore the pain with fortitude. I’m looking forward to ‘it could only happen experiences’.
In making some sort of plan, or having idea’s on what to do, (besides just aimlessly taking of on the wrong side of the road) hearing it from someone that’s actually been there is important. Especially others that have the Musical interest that I do. I wanted to leave some of the trip to chance would be fun, then you wouldn’t be committed to drive a long way if your having a good time and a few pints. Perhaps booking ahead in some of the areas that will be impacted by Willie Week would be a good idea.
Up until now I’ve been kind of on Ottery’s mate’s plan as far as being a kind of closet player until I get good enough to show up a Zina’s session and everyone can say – “Whoa where has this girl been” He He. However, I know that it’s important to play with others and I’ll likely show up long before that day, a little timid to even play at least at first. And look at me taking off to Ireland for Willy Week so much for my ‘wait to show up till your good plan…’
Thanks Crannog for your good advice. How neat that your staying at McAuely House too!!! What you said made me think that maybe I’m trying to be ambitious by wanting to see as much as I can. Perhaps facing the fact that you can’t see it all and focus on a few or couple of places to really soak up and enjoy would be better.
Joyce thanks for the tip about the 3 leaf clover!! Your comments definitely will have me looking at Galway and Salthill B&B. I just got a MD recorder and have a lot of reading to figure out how to get full use of the complicated little thing. So far I’m pleased that I managed to get it to record. Now if I can manage to download to my PC – burn a CD.
I’ll look at Cleggan to Inishbofin too.
I’m not much of a traveler anyway (if you didn’t already notice). So this is a tremendous help!! Keep the suggestions coming!
# Posted on May 27th 2003 by deblittle
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Deblittle - the B&B I referred to is called The White House which was in Salthill, a small town right next to Galway City. We like the Salthill area so we just followed the signs to get there. It's right on the ocean. I went for a nice long morning run on a bike-path right on the water. Just ask someone to point you in the direction of Salthill. It's easy to get there and you can walk home from the Galway City pubs at night. It's a very safe place (like most of Ireland)Yeah, Galway is so much fun. Very hip and happening little city!
Hi Emily! Yay, 3 weeks! Can't wait! I hear the Boston College dorms are very nice. Dorms are always fine with me : )
Joyce
# Posted on May 27th 2003 by JMH
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
I love hearing the " It could only happen in Ireland" stories too. Keep them coming too.
# Posted on May 27th 2003 by deblittle
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Thanks for clearing that up for me Joyce. I'm with you as far as my idea of roughing it goes. Clean, friendly and a bed are at the top of my wish list. By the way, I bet that was the quickest shower ever at the non-3 leaf clover B&B. lol.
# Posted on May 27th 2003 by deblittle
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Yeah, we were out of there pretty quickly! We had just come down from Mayo after staying up 'til 4 in the morning for 4 nights in a row. We were headed down to Doolin on a Tuesday but had to stay over for one early night in Kinvara cuz we were so tired! So we stayed at the B&B right on the main drag and didn't check out the room first or notice the clover. (always ask to see the room first even if there is a clover). It was really gross but we were too tired to find another place or make a fuss.......
I'm really not very fussy, but the pubic hairs in the shower really skeeved me out........ok maybe too graphic, but damn.....it was gross! I can laugh about it now : )
Joyce
# Posted on May 27th 2003 by JMH
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Yeah, my husband and I stayed at a B&B in Salthjll, too--it was very nice.
RE: backpacking--when I turned 30 (or should I say 32) that's when I discovered it! I also discovered I am not as rugged as I thought I was. Don't stay at the YHA youth hostel in Belfast unless you don't mind severely cramped and very co-ed quarters. Not that you are going to be all the way on that side of Ireland--just a word of caution.....
# Posted on May 27th 2003 by Andee
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
I'll see you there! This is my first time to Ireland and Willie Clancy- should be brilliant!
ps. I was wondering the same thing about recording the sessions/lessions as well. From what I hear, all we have to do is ask!
# Posted on May 27th 2003 by Kallie
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Oh God, Deb, I only JUST remembered that you e-mailed me looking for advice, didn't you, and I've been so swamped with the house that I completely forgot about it! many abject apologies for my dereliction. Want to get together for coffee or something, and I'll give you some good recs?
Zina
# Posted on May 27th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Hi, I've been to the Clancy Week several times and I usually spend the first week based in Kinvara. It's a beautiful village at the top of Galway Bay and usually has several local sessions.There's a good hostel called Johnsons and I think a new one has opened recently.It's a short drive to Galway, I think it has a website with local sessions etc. Try a search on Google.
# Posted on May 27th 2003 by ricthewhistle
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Buy "The Rough Guide to Ireland" its full of info on B+Bs, sessions, places to eat etc
# Posted on May 28th 2003 by ricthewhistle
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Hey 290 - Great!! Your 1st time too. I see you play fiddle to. Can you hardly wait for the fiddle recital on monday night?! What a line-up James Kelly, Paddy and Kevin Glackin, Liz Doherty just to mention a few -wow. Talk about brilliant - It will be fiddle heaven. Maybe we could try to catch the monday night recital together. Email me if your interested. That's one I'd really like to record. Are you staying at McAuely House to?
# Posted on May 28th 2003 by deblittle
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Richewhistle - Thanks for the tip on Kinvara, I'd like my friend to get a glimpse of Willie Week and Galway before he has to go. That may be a good place for us to stay a night. I'll look for the website. What kind of experiences have you had at Clancy week? Tell me about the lessons are they big classes?
# Posted on May 28th 2003 by deblittle
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Zina - Yeah I did email you but don't worry about it. No problem at all, I've done that myself more than a couple of times. Once to Liz Doherty darn it. Getting together sounds good too. Do you have a session on the 1st sunday of the month? That might be good time. I'll buy you a drink or coffee.
# Posted on May 28th 2003 by deblittle
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
I've started marking the Lonely Planet book with colored pencil with all the suggestions and notes for easy reference.
# Posted on May 28th 2003 by deblittle
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
No session this Sunday, actually, we have a gig! (Good thing you reminded me, too, I gotta put that out on the list.) Let me know when's good for you the rest of the week or even the week after that -- we will have a session the second Sunday of the month!
zls
# Posted on May 28th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
So that would be the 8th right? That would work good for me.
# Posted on May 28th 2003 by deblittle
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Yep! We'll be at the Small Circle at 12:30 to 2, and then we'll be playing Flanagan's Pub in Niwot until 5 or so. Show up at either, we'll hoist either coffee at the former or a pint at the latter!
zls
# Posted on May 28th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Hello, Deblittle ---
My advice is to pick a place central to several things you want to see and make that your base. Stay there for a few nights and make day trips. (Or evening/night trips, if all your destinations are pubs!) This way, you simplify the logistics. You don't spend all your time driving, finding your way around a new location, etc. Ireland may be small, but so are a lot of the roads, and it can take a surprising amount of time to get to where you're going if you're not on the major motorways. I've traveled a good bit, so now it seems preferable to BE someplace --- really experience it --- rather than go and see and do a lot of places, but I understand that's not for everybody.
My favorite way to travel is to rent a house, cottage or apartment for a few nights or a week and go out from there. (For Ireland, type in "self-catering" and your chosen destination when you do a Web search.) I've traveled this way (in Ireland, Scotland, Italy and France) with a group of four, so I'm not sure what you'd get with only two: probably a one bedroom apartment or maybe a bed-sit. In my experience it has worked out that you get a nice place, with a living room, dining room, kitchen, maybe a washer and dryer, garden, etc., for about the same as you'd pay for a decent B&B. You have your own space, and it's very comfortable. If you like to cook (or even pick up breads and cheeses, etc.), you can save a bunch of money on dining, too. (Can you tell I'm basically a homebody who loves to travel?)
Let us know what you decide and how your trip turns out. I want a full report on Willie Week.
Best,
Carol
# Posted on May 28th 2003 by carolsviolin
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Thanks Carol for that advice. I'm going to look into these self-catering cottages for my next trip to Ireland.
# Posted on May 29th 2003 by JMH
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
If you're in the Ennis area, look up Paddy and Mary in Corofin. We stayed in the Rent-An-Irish Cottages there (the ones up the mountain) and they were wonderful. More later!
zls
# Posted on May 29th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Oh Yes!! I briefly checked out the self-catering cottages and they look really nice. A fair price too, especially during off season. I really like that idea!! I would like to go to Scotland someday too.
# Posted on May 29th 2003 by deblittle
And speaking of fair prices. I got my ticket for 470.00 on expedia.com. From Denver, round trip! What a deal I just couldn't pass it up.
Thanks Deb
# Posted on May 29th 2003 by deblittle
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
deblittle-
I'm pretty sure i can make the monday night concert- the lineup is incredible!!!!!!! i'm staying in a house outside of town, (not the McAuely House. ) is that where you are staying??
290
# Posted on May 29th 2003 by Kallie
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
A word of warning, to avoid disappointment. From past experience, there is no guarantee that every musician listed to appear at any concert in the Willie Clancy programme will in fact perform. There will be a high percentage of those on the programme, but I can almost guarantee you won't get them all.
That most definitely does not mean you shouldn't go . Just for a change, I went to the fiddle concert last year, and it was excellent. The only problem is there are so many good players to put on stage, that they only get to play one or two sets, and nobody gets a chance to "settle in" or relax on stage. You won't be disappointed ! Make sure you have a recorder of some type. Commercial recording is not allowed, but it's OK I think if it's for your own personal use. Whether or not it's permitted, there were enough mini-disc recorders in last year's audience to fit out a music store.
# Posted on May 29th 2003 by Kenny
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Kenny - do you get to choose the tutor you so desire??
Joyce
# Posted on May 30th 2003 by JMH
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Yeah 290 - I'll be at McAuely House.
Kenny - it's all good to know I'm sure I'll love it I'm sure no matter what I imagine all of Clancy Week to be it will probably be different. I have heard that you play a tune and they decide what tutor to put you with. Hope they don't tell me to go home and Practice. ha.
Deb
# Posted on May 30th 2003 by deblittle
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
I was never so assertive as to ask, Joyce !. The tutors I got were all very good players - some were not so good teachers. There is an initial grading on the first morning, and I would generally trust the tutors to send you to an appropriate class. I don't know if they'll let you go to a particular tutor , - probably not if they thought the class you wanted to go to was way above or below your ability, because that would be a waste of both your time and the tutor's efforts. Having said that, I'm sure they'r open to reasonable discussion. Class size generally tends to be 12 - 15 students. If they sent you home for not being good enough, I would never have got into a concertina class three years ago, but I don't want to discuss that !
# Posted on May 30th 2003 by Kenny
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Placement in classes at Willie Week is done by audition. On Monday morning at 10:00 you report to whatever venue has been assigned for your particular instrument. Then the various instructors will sort you out into particular classes and you will proceed with the teacher to the location of the class into which you have been placed.
Typically the sorting out will be done by having everyone play a bit. But sometimes the sheer number of students makes this impractical and they resort to other means. Keep in mind that it is possible to register for class at Willie Week on Monday morning, and many people do so - in particular loads of youngsters whose parents bring them into class every morning. There is always a large traffic jam of cars outside the instruction venues at 10:00 every morning when these kids get dropped off, and again at 1:00 when they get picked up after class. But the point is that the organizers never know exactly how many students they will have until Monday morning when classes begin. There is often a scramble then for additional instructors or venues if more students than expected show up.
I was there for flute in 1998, 1999 and 2001. In '98 all the flute students were in one classroom and they made us play one by one (very briefly) and they then decided (very quickly) where we would go. In '99, they had us divide up at first into a couple of different rooms based on how long we'd been playing, and then had us play there and sorted us out. In 2001, there were so many there that after they had us split into different rooms, in the room I was in they didn't make us play but just divvied us up ad hoc among the various instructors assigned to that level.
As for being able to select a particular teacher, there is no provision for this (i.e. they are not going to ask you whose class you'd like to be in) but obviously deals do happen under the table. And once you're placed into a class, if it's really not working out for you they do let you change fairly easily into another class. But keep in mind that there are a large number of classes/teachers (for flute/whistle usually about 20, for fiddle upwards of 30). For a first-timer Yank being there, unless you're a real afficianado of the music you are not even going to know who half of these instructors are! But they are all great players, some are even great teachers (although many aren't), and you can learn something from any of them. And no matter how good you think you are (or may even be), you will immediately be brought down to size by some 10-year-old kid in your class who is playing rings around you even though he's only been playing for 6 months. You can learn from that as well...
Bottom line: If your lifelong dream is to take a fiddle class from Martin Hayes, don't go to Willie Week expecting to fulfill it. But go anyway, because there is always some chance you might get into his class, but even if you don't you will still learn a lot!
# Posted on May 30th 2003 by johnkerr
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Wow, thanks Johnkerr for this information. Sounds a little hectic. The reason I ask is because I would love to have lessons with Catherine McEvoy. Not only is she one of my favorite flute players, but I've heard wonderful things about her teaching. Besides teaching flute, she's also a school teacher. I know 3 flute players who've had week long classes with her and have raved about her teaching style. She's one of the tutors this year at Willie Week. Anyone who lands in her class will be very lucky!
I would hate to travel all the way to Ireland and end up with someone who doesn't teach very well. (I've been to workshops by some amazing Irish musicians, but they weren't the best teachers and I didn't really learn too much).
Joyce
# Posted on May 30th 2003 by JMH
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Catherine is indeed a great teacher - one of the best. It was to her class that I was sent (fortuitously as it turned out) at my first WCSS placement audition in 1998. The year after, she was at Boston College Gaelic Roots and I had her again. A few weeks after that I went to Willie Week and got placed in another class, which turned out not to be so good for me not so much due to the teacher but rather because of the venue (a long narrow corridor in the library). So I ran into Catherine at the end of the first day and asked if I could switch to her class. She let me come in, but told me that it was a beginner class and thus it would be below my level (the year before she was assigned a more advanced class). I switched despite that, and although she did not "teach up" to me but stayed at the beginner level, it was still useful to me. When she came again to Gaelic Roots last year and saw me in her class, she protested (in good spirits) by saying "You already know all my tricks!" Which I guess I do, but knowing them and doing them are two different things...
So as you see, the particular level that an instructor is teaching that year at WCSS may also complicate things if you want to get into their class. They do switch around from year to year. But two other good teachers I have had who are probably teaching there this year are John Wynne and Marcas O Murchu. Marcas may be an even better teacher than Catherine. He has a very "hands on" style of teaching (literally) that puts some people off, but if you take class with him you will be a better flute player coming out than you were going in. And that's what you want, isn't it?
As I said before, though, don't let the particular style of teaching color your impression of WCSS to an extreme. There's more to the week than just the class, and there is always something that can be learned no matter how bad the teacher may be - although you may have to work at it a bit harder if the teacher is bad. Note also that this same advice does not necessarily apply at your American summer schools. WCSS is different, because there you are directly at the source, and that counts for a lot!
# Posted on May 30th 2003 by johnkerr
Re: I’m going to Ireland and need help. Please
Great input from both of you guys. Thanks for the insight.
Deb
# Posted on May 30th 2003 by deblittle