Hey all, so I really don't think this will count against me as a "Where can I find a sesh?" thread - definitely more of a travel question. So hope you can help!
I'm living in Berlin for a year and planning on heading over to Ireland for a long weekend in March (March 4-8). I was pretty set on going to Doolin, because I play with John Williams and his family is from there and he talks about it a lot and it seems really lovely...but after reading a lot of threads here it seems like the town has become incredibly touristy. Like I said, I've already read a lot of what people have said but some of the info is outdated so I'd love some fresh opinions!
I've been trying to come up with an alternative, so hopefully with a few criteria you all can help: I want to spend Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday on the West Coast somewhere, preferably close-ish to Shannon Airport. I would like to be able to finally see the Aran Islands. I'm a "young people", so to speak, 21 years of age, so a place where I might be able to play with other such young people is nice. And of course I'd love to have a sesh every night (I play bodhrán for the record, but I promise I've been playing for a fairly long time and know what I'm doing!).
I think that's about it. From what I've read, Lisdoonvarna, Ennistimon, and Kilfenora seem like good, less-touristy, Doolin-like alternatives. But when I put the names of the towns into our session search engine, I get absolutely nothing! I know this can't be true - does anyone know what the deal is with that? Literally for all three it says "no matches found".
Ennis, I know, is slightly larger, but maybe better for young bloods? At any rate I'm not opposed to a slightly larger place at all. Been to Galway though - loved it, but I'd like to check out somewhere else if possible.
Sorry that's a lot of information, but please help me out if you can! Thanks so much!!
Just ask a few people where the best sessions are, there are also some very good festivals that you should check out this year.
If you stay in B&B ask the lady and then double check with a few people, there are lots of good places, the Roadside Tavern in Lisdoonvarna has some great sessions
There will be far fewer sessions in the coastal area in March than in the Summer, but you should be able to find something. Midweek sessions in Doolin dry up during the Winter, but will probably restart after the Russell weekend in February, so you should be OK there any night; the horrendous crowds of tourists won't have arrived yet either.
Shylock is right about the Roadside Tavern in Lisdoon. You'll find a session on Fridays (with Christy Barry) and Saturdays (but not other nights until the Summer).
There are sessions in Cooley's House, Ennistimon but I don't remember which night. You'll find a tune almost any night in Ennis; Brogan's usually have something going on.
If you want to go to the Aran Islands - and I reccommend that you do if you get the chance - you'll have to get a boat from Galway or Rossaveel, as the Doolin boats won't be sailing that early in the year.
Ennis would be the place for a wandering 21 yr. old musician looking for young blood. Ennistymon's Cooley's House has sessions on Wed and Friday but who knows for how long that will hold. Across the street there is weekend music in Willie Daly's, Ennistymon.
Doolin is touristy, yes- but maybe not so bad in March as in the summer. And there are plenty of young people having a grand time there. Bodhrans are never in great demand but probably more tolerated in Doolin.
To be honest, I'd consider Ennis over the other choices at this time of the year. You'll always find a session somewhere in the town somewhere every night, and they're all full of "younger people." I played at the Russel weekend a few times, that's the best time to be in Doolin. I think the sessions get more scarce there after that. Other than that, I'd probably recommend Caron in the Burren. I've never been but I've heard there's plenty of music there.
You can't beat the festival's we have around that time of the year in Ennis though!
'Other than that, I'd probably recommend Caron in the Burren. I've never been but I've heard there's plenty of music there.'
Carran has one pub - Cassidy's. Frank Custy held classes there on Friday nights this year, usually followed by a session, and most Saturday nights also featured some kind of music. But we're talking about May to September - there'll probably be beggar all happening in March and, unless you've your own transport, it's a hell of a walk from Kilnaboy, Kilfenora or Boston (and I don't mean Boston, MA).
Ennis, Lisdoonvarna, Kilfenora, Ennistimon...
Ennis, Lisdoonvarna, Kilfenora, Ennistimon...
Hey all, so I really don't think this will count against me as a "Where can I find a sesh?" thread - definitely more of a travel question. So hope you can help!
I'm living in Berlin for a year and planning on heading over to Ireland for a long weekend in March (March 4-8). I was pretty set on going to Doolin, because I play with John Williams and his family is from there and he talks about it a lot and it seems really lovely...but after reading a lot of threads here it seems like the town has become incredibly touristy. Like I said, I've already read a lot of what people have said but some of the info is outdated so I'd love some fresh opinions!
I've been trying to come up with an alternative, so hopefully with a few criteria you all can help: I want to spend Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday on the West Coast somewhere, preferably close-ish to Shannon Airport. I would like to be able to finally see the Aran Islands. I'm a "young people", so to speak, 21 years of age, so a place where I might be able to play with other such young people is nice. And of course I'd love to have a sesh every night (I play bodhrán for the record, but I promise I've been playing for a fairly long time and know what I'm doing!).
I think that's about it. From what I've read, Lisdoonvarna, Ennistimon, and Kilfenora seem like good, less-touristy, Doolin-like alternatives. But when I put the names of the towns into our session search engine, I get absolutely nothing! I know this can't be true - does anyone know what the deal is with that? Literally for all three it says "no matches found".
Ennis, I know, is slightly larger, but maybe better for young bloods? At any rate I'm not opposed to a slightly larger place at all. Been to Galway though - loved it, but I'd like to check out somewhere else if possible.
Sorry that's a lot of information, but please help me out if you can! Thanks so much!!
# Posted on November 22nd 2008 by Bard
Re: Ennis, Lisdoonvarna, Kilfenora, Ennistimon...
Just ask a few people where the best sessions are, there are also some very good festivals that you should check out this year.
If you stay in B&B ask the lady and then double check with a few people, there are lots of good places, the Roadside Tavern in Lisdoonvarna has some great sessions
Regards
# Posted on November 22nd 2008 by Shylock
Re: Ennis, Lisdoonvarna, Kilfenora, Ennistimon...
There will be far fewer sessions in the coastal area in March than in the Summer, but you should be able to find something. Midweek sessions in Doolin dry up during the Winter, but will probably restart after the Russell weekend in February, so you should be OK there any night; the horrendous crowds of tourists won't have arrived yet either.
Shylock is right about the Roadside Tavern in Lisdoon. You'll find a session on Fridays (with Christy Barry) and Saturdays (but not other nights until the Summer).
There are sessions in Cooley's House, Ennistimon but I don't remember which night. You'll find a tune almost any night in Ennis; Brogan's usually have something going on.
If you want to go to the Aran Islands - and I reccommend that you do if you get the chance - you'll have to get a boat from Galway or Rossaveel, as the Doolin boats won't be sailing that early in the year.
# Posted on November 22nd 2008 by DaveL35
Re: Ennis, Lisdoonvarna, Kilfenora, Ennistimon...
Ennis would be the place for a wandering 21 yr. old musician looking for young blood. Ennistymon's Cooley's House has sessions on Wed and Friday but who knows for how long that will hold. Across the street there is weekend music in Willie Daly's, Ennistymon.
Doolin is touristy, yes- but maybe not so bad in March as in the summer. And there are plenty of young people having a grand time there. Bodhrans are never in great demand but probably more tolerated in Doolin.
# Posted on November 22nd 2008 by David Levine
Re: Ennis, Lisdoonvarna, Kilfenora, Ennistimon...
My colleagues and I ate at the roadhouse in July, and then played from 7pm to 9pm.
There was a notice saying that there would be musicians at 9pm, which is why we stopped.
# Posted on November 23rd 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: Ennis, Lisdoonvarna, Kilfenora, Ennistimon...
Now there is a hostel in Lisdoonvarna: http://www.anoige.ie/ezine/0110/new-irish-yha-hostel-in-the-burren-clare It's only 2-minute walk from the Roadside. I heard Davy Spillane plays there on Saturdays.
# Posted on November 23rd 2008 by slainte
Re: Ennis, Lisdoonvarna, Kilfenora, Ennistimon...
Yes, Davy S plays there on Saturdays. For reasons unknown to me (and I did not ask), he usually plays low whistle rather than pipes in this session.
# Posted on November 23rd 2008 by DaveL35
Re: Ennis, Lisdoonvarna, Kilfenora, Ennistimon...
You'll be lucky if you catch Davy playing the whistle, let alone the pipes. These days he's far more interested in blues guitar.
# Posted on November 24th 2008 by MacCruiskeen
Re: Ennis, Lisdoonvarna, Kilfenora, Ennistimon...
To be honest, I'd consider Ennis over the other choices at this time of the year. You'll always find a session somewhere in the town somewhere every night, and they're all full of "younger people." I played at the Russel weekend a few times, that's the best time to be in Doolin. I think the sessions get more scarce there after that. Other than that, I'd probably recommend Caron in the Burren. I've never been but I've heard there's plenty of music there.
You can't beat the festival's we have around that time of the year in Ennis though!
# Posted on November 25th 2008 by jlocky
Re: Ennis, Lisdoonvarna, Kilfenora, Ennistimon...
'Other than that, I'd probably recommend Caron in the Burren. I've never been but I've heard there's plenty of music there.'
Carran has one pub - Cassidy's. Frank Custy held classes there on Friday nights this year, usually followed by a session, and most Saturday nights also featured some kind of music. But we're talking about May to September - there'll probably be beggar all happening in March and, unless you've your own transport, it's a hell of a walk from Kilnaboy, Kilfenora or Boston (and I don't mean Boston, MA).
# Posted on November 25th 2008 by MacCruiskeen