As a proud Tullamore man (living in England) I would be much obliged if anyone could give some feedback on this years Fleadh.
Unfortunately, owing to family & friend commitments I did'nt get out as much this year.
I found last years Fleadh to be absolutely fantastic but unfortunately I did'nt get out enough this year to make a personal comparison.
Would be really grateful if you could comment (good, bad or indifferent).
Kind regards
Eiscir
Hi Eiscir - you should be able to get a flavour of it from the TG4 programme tomorrow night at 8.00pm - as you're based in England you probably won't be able to pick it up on air but you should be able to view it on the Internet at : http://www.tg4.ie/Bearla/Webt/webt.htm. My own view is that it was another great Fleadh on a par with Listowel. It also seems likely it will be back in Tullamore for a third year in 2009.
I live out past Rhode so I'm not too far away from Tullamore...I was over each night from the Wednesday through to the Monday night.
I thought it was quiter up to the Friday, and then of course the weather made s*it of it on the Saturday (you could have driven up High Street). Pity really, but what can ye do about the weather!
Then later, playing on Saturday evening was crazy because the rain forced all the punters into the pubs (as opposed to wandering round the streets) and then they got so packed there was beer spilling over musicians...hard to hear each other with all the noise...a bit messy, but really the fault of the weather.
I thought the hotel/pub owners feeding musicians was a great thing (noticed it much more than last year).
Sunday was a nice(r) day and there were some street sessions and families wandering round the streets...a real 'fleadh' feeling to it .
I thought the street-drinking each night (Fri/Sat/Sun, between midnight-3am ish) was a bit rough...didn't see any fights, but it felt like something was gonna kick off at any minute...kinda uncomfortable to be walking round to be honest.
They need to sort that out I think.
Overall though....I enjoyed it and had fun, just such a pity about the weather.
Andy says it was quieter from Wednesday to Friday but for me this what makes the Fleadh because as someone who enjoys a good session, this is when you'll find them. We had some great nights in Bob Smiths up until the Thursday. Whatever about the weather, thankfully it did hold up for the Friday night big session as otherwise there would have been no hope of getting 2,850 musicians into O'Connor Square!
yeah, that's a good point actually! There were some lovely sessions on Wed/Thr before all the crowds arrived at the weekend. It certainly can be more enjoyable at the sessions then alright (or even just watching - I saw John Wynne, Danny O'Mahony, and (I think) Hammie Hamilton playing there in Lee's on the Wed or Thurs night...pure class). I just thought the crowds were smaller than last year?
(was still a great week though!) ;)
It was too busy at the weekend, and the sessions were a bit of a pain until 2 am or so, then the p*ssed Dubs f**ked off and the music was great. Eugene Kelly's is a grand pub for music.
TG4 Abú! Must admit I got worried at first when they said they were also going to cover the Rose of Tralee - interminable interviews with contestants on how they were going to save the planet, etc. However, common sense prevailed and most of the programme was devoted to Tullamore. Weren't the young group "the Full Set" who opened and closed the programme class? I remember the box player, Janine Redmond, coming to sessions in Dublin when she would have only been 10 or 11 and she was good then. As for fiddle player Michael Harrison, I believe he's a grandson of East Galway's Aggie White so it has to be in the DNA! Only problem is it was all a bit short but let's be thankful for small mercies as it's the first year we don't have to wait for RTE1 at Christmas or even Easter on occasions to get a flavour of the All-Ireland Fleadh.
Some of my best friends are Dubs Robert so I hope you're only joking! In fact one of the best sessions of the weekend was on the Sunday night in O'Connor's pub (by the bridge) where the Kiely's, Donnybrook session group were in full flight - when I left them at 1.00am, they were just getting settled in, so it was probably an all-nighter.
A good fleadh but for me good sessions didn't kick off till Monday - all day and all night. Some class music. As for the Senior Ceili Band Competition - I thought the standard was extremely low. Innisfree should have won last year and got their just desserts at last. They were by far and away the best band in the competition. However, I could have slept through most of the other offerings. They just all sounded the same! no old Kilfenora's or old Tulla band here. They all invariably played every tune from march to jig to reel WAY too fast and basically at the same tempo. Very boring for the listener - and I listened to every single band for my sins. But I guess thats what the judges were looking for - conformity. As least Innisfree played 'musically', with some soul. They also played some very spirited music on the gig rig afterwards. Nice one Sligo!
Tullamore Fleadh 2008
Tullamore Fleadh 2008
As a proud Tullamore man (living in England) I would be much obliged if anyone could give some feedback on this years Fleadh.
Unfortunately, owing to family & friend commitments I did'nt get out as much this year.
I found last years Fleadh to be absolutely fantastic but unfortunately I did'nt get out enough this year to make a personal comparison.
Would be really grateful if you could comment (good, bad or indifferent).
Kind regards
Eiscir
# Posted on September 3rd 2008 by eiscir riada
Re: Tullamore Fleadh 2008
Hi Eiscir - you should be able to get a flavour of it from the TG4 programme tomorrow night at 8.00pm - as you're based in England you probably won't be able to pick it up on air but you should be able to view it on the Internet at : http://www.tg4.ie/Bearla/Webt/webt.htm. My own view is that it was another great Fleadh on a par with Listowel. It also seems likely it will be back in Tullamore for a third year in 2009.
# Posted on September 4th 2008 by Bannerman
Re: Tullamore Fleadh 2008
I live out past Rhode so I'm not too far away from Tullamore...I was over each night from the Wednesday through to the Monday night.
.
I thought it was quiter up to the Friday, and then of course the weather made s*it of it on the Saturday (you could have driven up High Street). Pity really, but what can ye do about the weather!
Then later, playing on Saturday evening was crazy because the rain forced all the punters into the pubs (as opposed to wandering round the streets) and then they got so packed there was beer spilling over musicians...hard to hear each other with all the noise...a bit messy, but really the fault of the weather.
I thought the hotel/pub owners feeding musicians was a great thing (noticed it much more than last year).
Sunday was a nice(r) day and there were some street sessions and families wandering round the streets...a real 'fleadh' feeling to it
I thought the street-drinking each night (Fri/Sat/Sun, between midnight-3am ish) was a bit rough...didn't see any fights, but it felt like something was gonna kick off at any minute...kinda uncomfortable to be walking round to be honest.
They need to sort that out I think.
Overall though....I enjoyed it and had fun, just such a pity about the weather.
just my 2c (euro) ;)
Andy
# Posted on September 4th 2008 by andy69
Re: Tullamore Fleadh 2008
The Band comp was of really high standard with a few exceptions. Congratulations to InisFree, they have been knocking on the door for a while.
# Posted on September 4th 2008 by fiddles29
Re: Tullamore Fleadh 2008
Andy says it was quieter from Wednesday to Friday but for me this what makes the Fleadh because as someone who enjoys a good session, this is when you'll find them. We had some great nights in Bob Smiths up until the Thursday. Whatever about the weather, thankfully it did hold up for the Friday night big session as otherwise there would have been no hope of getting 2,850 musicians into O'Connor Square!
# Posted on September 4th 2008 by Bannerman
Re: Tullamore Fleadh 2008
yeah, that's a good point actually! There were some lovely sessions on Wed/Thr before all the crowds arrived at the weekend. It certainly can be more enjoyable at the sessions then alright (or even just watching - I saw John Wynne, Danny O'Mahony, and (I think) Hammie Hamilton playing there in Lee's on the Wed or Thurs night...pure class). I just thought the crowds were smaller than last year?
(was still a great week though!) ;)
# Posted on September 4th 2008 by andy69
Re: Tullamore Fleadh 2008
It was too busy at the weekend, and the sessions were a bit of a pain until 2 am or so, then the p*ssed Dubs f**ked off and the music was great. Eugene Kelly's is a grand pub for music.
# Posted on September 4th 2008 by Dragut Reis
Re: Tullamore Fleadh 2008
TG4 Abú! Must admit I got worried at first when they said they were also going to cover the Rose of Tralee - interminable interviews with contestants on how they were going to save the planet, etc. However, common sense prevailed and most of the programme was devoted to Tullamore. Weren't the young group "the Full Set" who opened and closed the programme class? I remember the box player, Janine Redmond, coming to sessions in Dublin when she would have only been 10 or 11 and she was good then. As for fiddle player Michael Harrison, I believe he's a grandson of East Galway's Aggie White so it has to be in the DNA! Only problem is it was all a bit short but let's be thankful for small mercies as it's the first year we don't have to wait for RTE1 at Christmas or even Easter on occasions to get a flavour of the All-Ireland Fleadh.
# Posted on September 4th 2008 by Bannerman
Re: Tullamore Fleadh 2008
Some of my best friends are Dubs Robert so I hope you're only joking! In fact one of the best sessions of the weekend was on the Sunday night in O'Connor's pub (by the bridge) where the Kiely's, Donnybrook session group were in full flight - when I left them at 1.00am, they were just getting settled in, so it was probably an all-nighter.
# Posted on September 4th 2008 by Bannerman
Re: Tullamore Fleadh 2008
I would have expected a Donnybrook session to be in full fight, not flight.
# Posted on September 4th 2008 by GaryAMartin
Re: Tullamore Fleadh 2008
I've nothing against Dubs. p*ssed, Fields of Athenry-requesting Dubs however?
One bullet: bang, bang.
# Posted on September 4th 2008 by Dragut Reis
Re: Tullamore Fleadh 2008
Cheers guys'
Seems it was a fairly decent fleadh.
Hopefully get it again in 2009.
Regards, Eiscir.
# Posted on September 4th 2008 by eiscir riada
Re: Tullamore Fleadh 2008
A good fleadh but for me good sessions didn't kick off till Monday - all day and all night. Some class music. As for the Senior Ceili Band Competition - I thought the standard was extremely low. Innisfree should have won last year and got their just desserts at last. They were by far and away the best band in the competition. However, I could have slept through most of the other offerings. They just all sounded the same! no old Kilfenora's or old Tulla band here. They all invariably played every tune from march to jig to reel WAY too fast and basically at the same tempo. Very boring for the listener - and I listened to every single band for my sins. But I guess thats what the judges were looking for - conformity. As least Innisfree played 'musically', with some soul. They also played some very spirited music on the gig rig afterwards. Nice one Sligo!
# Posted on September 5th 2008 by mariaphilmurphy