For me, one of the highlights was seeing the flute player [name?] who played at the Ben Lennon tribute. His version of the Cup of Tea... Oh jeez.... ::melt::
Anywho, as for meeting people, I did run into Conan at a piping recital and Kenny at the Central Hotel session [which I attended nightly]. It was so cool! Hahaha
I hope everyone had a good time, I'm sure you all did. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it this year, but next year for sure, I hope they'll introduce a Bouzouki course!
I'm sure the sessions were great.
Phil
Aaaaaaw! Another great week over!Just got home last night having been to the Connaught Fleadh first. Need at least a week to recover and get rid of the music ringing in my ears!! God bless the crosses of annagh, best craic all year!
Awesome week - I met some wonderful people, but I dunno if any of them are session members! If you are - I was only playing the fiddle last week - I spent most nights in Malone's or Fahey's and was in Central a couple of times during the day. I go by the real name of Tricia, from Derbyshire. If any of yous did meet me keep in touch, since everyone I met was lovely!
Hey, Tize/Tricia! the night/day you were in Central Hotel, were you whistling as well? If you are the one I'm thinking about, I let you borrow me fiddle, remember?! If this is not you, then err. Awkward.
just awake now! Think i met you tize. I was in Faheys and michael a's most of the week, following the healy brothers and blackie (michael mcconnell i think) the piper everywhere! amazing !! got some amazing tapes of sesiuns(as well as my classes). Martin mccormick was brilliant, he even put some tunes onto my tape recorder and told me what tracks they were on his cd cos i havent bought it yet(guilt guilt)! i lay in bed last night listening to the tapes and it brought me straight back!! cant stop lilting and grinning.
Thanks for that Mark. The Wooden Flute Obsession CD looks wonderful: checked it out on Amazon.
Then came across another album on Amazon with Cathal McConnell on his own: Long Expectant comes at Last by Cathal McConnell. Anyone got any reviews? He also has done done teach yourself tin whistle CD's. Imagine getting lessons from him!
I was told by someone that he might have done an album with Charlie Lennon. Don't know if there is any truth in that. I'd love to hear him play along side a fiddler.
Fiddlinviolinin - I wasn't whistling as well (unless I was really drunk but I didn't normally reach that point until much later on in Malone's!)
Flanum - I was in a session with Blackie and the lads at Fahey's sometime midweek - I forget when.
If it's any help visit my website and check out some pictures of me, then you'll get some idea of whether it was me or not! (http://patriciaclark.co.uk)
Long Expectant is a brilliant CD. Cathal is an expressive and wonderful singer as well. Check out Boys of the Lough for ensemble playing. Wasn't he also involved in the Hidden Fermanagh project?
Cathal's a complete gentleman, great craic, has great tunes and songs alike. The man knows how to enjoy himself and has great stamina. If you are looking for reviews try:
I went out to Coore. Alot of great sessions were on out there. Lots of musicians were playing and drinking out there till dawn! FDirst Willie week never saw hor heard anything like it before. Met alot from ennis out there. Even though they were really drunk they were still really friendly and nice.
Glad to see McConnell getting some well-deserved homage here. I have been listening to his music for over 30 years and never tire of it, as I do with some other big-name fluters. Unfortunately, his comparatively straight forward flute playing doesn't seem to be sufficently impressive technique-wise for some I have tried to introduce to his music - though he is more than capable of flute/whistle fireworks displays when he wants to. I think it was John Skelton who offered this comment : when you listen to McConnell playing, he is saying "Hear what a great tune this is" not "Hear what a great flute player I am". By the way, an early 1981 version of McConnell's "Cup of Tea" as played by Gary Hastings can be found on Henrik's site.
Bought Long Expectant on the strength of your recommendations and have been listening to it all day. A lovely album.
Its definately taking the edge of the pain of being back at work instead of at Willie week.
Generally had good time at the Willy week, and really enjoyed the music of many good musicians, with highlights of playing with many people I'd never encountered before, e.g. the 2 Glasgow lassies as well as the Danish contingent. However, speaking as a guitar backer, I was dissappointed by the number of rude backers who insisted on joining in the sessions I was already playing in, ususally to the detriment of the music. Indeed, at 3 sessions, I just put my guitar away. I simply don't understand backers who join a session where someone else is accompanying already - all that is achieved, usually, is a racket!
Cathal is Director of the Hidden Fermanagh Project. He can be heard playing and singing on both CDs and there is an interview, pictures, and some of his tunes in the book.
As well as 'Long Expectant..." there was an earlier solo album 'On Lough Erne's Shore".
All Boys of the Lough albums feature Cathal (my personal favourite is 'Wish you were here' recorded live on the Highlands and Islands tour)
Also 'Irish Jubilee' with Robin Morton and two compilations, 'Good Friends Good Music' and 'Ulster's Flowery Vale' (I think you might be lucky to find that last one)
So how was everyone's Willie Week?
So how was everyone's Willie Week?
Highlights? Meeting people from theSession? Eh?
For me, one of the highlights was seeing the flute player [name?] who played at the Ben Lennon tribute. His version of the Cup of Tea... Oh jeez.... ::melt::
Anywho, as for meeting people, I did run into Conan at a piping recital and Kenny at the Central Hotel session [which I attended nightly]. It was so cool! Hahaha
See ya'll next year hmm?
Cheers,
Armand
# Posted on July 10th 2005 by armandale
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
I hope everyone had a good time, I'm sure you all did. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it this year, but next year for sure, I hope they'll introduce a Bouzouki course!
I'm sure the sessions were great.
Phil
# Posted on July 10th 2005 by ecidralla
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
Hi ,the Flute player with the rare cup of tea version was Cathal McConnell ,Fermanagh man ,he is a rare man
# Posted on July 10th 2005 by Martin Donohoe
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
just got home now. wrecked!! it was mental!
# Posted on July 10th 2005 by flanum
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
Aaaaaaw! Another great week over!Just got home last night having been to the Connaught Fleadh first. Need at least a week to recover and get rid of the music ringing in my ears!! God bless the crosses of annagh, best craic all year!
# Posted on July 10th 2005 by JM
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
I got a tape of Cathal, he played the Cupof Tea, Old Cup of Tea, and New Cup of Tea. In old books it was also called the Unfortunate Cup of Tea.
# Posted on July 10th 2005 by KLR
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
!! If anyone could transcribe all of the versions [besides the session-friendlyone] that would be my cup of tea =]
Cheers,
Armand
PS. His version he gave at the tribute was so... ::melt:: I think I already mentioned that... Anyways, I loved how he faded away at the end hahaha
# Posted on July 11th 2005 by armandale
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
I was also blown away by Cathal McConnell's playing. Are there any CDs/cassettes where I can hear more of him please?
# Posted on July 11th 2005 by dontshoutout
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
Awesome week - I met some wonderful people, but I dunno if any of them are session members! If you are - I was only playing the fiddle last week - I spent most nights in Malone's or Fahey's and was in Central a couple of times during the day. I go by the real name of Tricia, from Derbyshire. If any of yous did meet me keep in touch, since everyone I met was lovely!
# Posted on July 11th 2005 by tbag
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
I wish that I had made it down there...next year definitely though. Great to hear that the craic was mighty
F.D.
# Posted on July 11th 2005 by flauta dolce
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
Hey, Tize/Tricia! the night/day you were in Central Hotel, were you whistling as well? If you are the one I'm thinking about, I let you borrow me fiddle, remember?! If this is not you, then err. Awkward.
# Posted on July 11th 2005 by armandale
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
Ah hmm.. And well it seems like it shall be the latter.
# Posted on July 11th 2005 by armandale
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
just awake now! Think i met you tize. I was in Faheys and michael a's most of the week, following the healy brothers and blackie (michael mcconnell i think) the piper everywhere! amazing !! got some amazing tapes of sesiuns(as well as my classes). Martin mccormick was brilliant, he even put some tunes onto my tape recorder and told me what tracks they were on his cd cos i havent bought it yet(guilt guilt)! i lay in bed last night listening to the tapes and it brought me straight back!! cant stop lilting and grinning.
# Posted on July 11th 2005 by flanum
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
Dontshoutout,
Cathal can be found on all the Boys Of The Lough's albums,
And he has a great track on the Wooden Flute Obsession CD.
Mark
# Posted on July 11th 2005 by Ottery
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
Thanks for that Mark. The Wooden Flute Obsession CD looks wonderful: checked it out on Amazon.
Then came across another album on Amazon with Cathal McConnell on his own: Long Expectant comes at Last by Cathal McConnell. Anyone got any reviews? He also has done done teach yourself tin whistle CD's. Imagine getting lessons from him!
I was told by someone that he might have done an album with Charlie Lennon. Don't know if there is any truth in that. I'd love to hear him play along side a fiddler.
# Posted on July 11th 2005 by dontshoutout
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
Fiddlinviolinin - I wasn't whistling as well (unless I was really drunk but I didn't normally reach that point until much later on in Malone's!)
Flanum - I was in a session with Blackie and the lads at Fahey's sometime midweek - I forget when.
If it's any help visit my website and check out some pictures of me, then you'll get some idea of whether it was me or not! (http://patriciaclark.co.uk)
# Posted on July 11th 2005 by tbag
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
Go to Edinburgh if you want to see Cathal. Not very regularly, but he sometimes turns up in Sandy Bells sessions. H.
# Posted on July 11th 2005 by slainte
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
He turns up everywhere in Edinburgh. It's only because he visits so many sessions that you might not think he's a regular in a particular pub.
Still, Sandy Bells is the best bet.
# Posted on July 11th 2005 by Johnny Jay
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
Long Expectant is a brilliant CD. Cathal is an expressive and wonderful singer as well. Check out Boys of the Lough for ensemble playing. Wasn't he also involved in the Hidden Fermanagh project?
# Posted on July 11th 2005 by Jode
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
I have Long expectant...id recommend it.
# Posted on July 11th 2005 by Hugo Chavez
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
Cathal's a complete gentleman, great craic, has great tunes and songs alike. The man knows how to enjoy himself and has great stamina. If you are looking for reviews try:
• http://www.boysofthelough.com/cathal.html
• http://www.mustrad.org.uk/reviews/mcconnel.htm
• http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/inart483.htm
Loads more on-line.
# Posted on July 11th 2005 by Murrough
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
I went out to Coore. Alot of great sessions were on out there. Lots of musicians were playing and drinking out there till dawn! FDirst Willie week never saw hor heard anything like it before. Met alot from ennis out there. Even though they were really drunk they were still really friendly and nice.
# Posted on July 11th 2005 by eurbanjo
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
Glad to see McConnell getting some well-deserved homage here. I have been listening to his music for over 30 years and never tire of it, as I do with some other big-name fluters. Unfortunately, his comparatively straight forward flute playing doesn't seem to be sufficently impressive technique-wise for some I have tried to introduce to his music - though he is more than capable of flute/whistle fireworks displays when he wants to. I think it was John Skelton who offered this comment : when you listen to McConnell playing, he is saying "Hear what a great tune this is" not "Hear what a great flute player I am". By the way, an early 1981 version of McConnell's "Cup of Tea" as played by Gary Hastings can be found on Henrik's site.
# Posted on July 11th 2005 by LongNote
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
Well deserved praise indeed. Cathal is a joy to listen to (and mighty company too)
Check out www.wfmu.org archives there's loads of Irish stuff (you need to search for it)
This link has some live Cathal McConnell
http://www.wfmu.org/Playlists/Irene/irene.200410.html
# Posted on July 11th 2005 by ab
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
Bought Long Expectant on the strength of your recommendations and have been listening to it all day. A lovely album.
Its definately taking the edge of the pain of being back at work instead of at Willie week.
Thanks to everyone for their comments.
# Posted on July 12th 2005 by dontshoutout
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
Generally had good time at the Willy week, and really enjoyed the music of many good musicians, with highlights of playing with many people I'd never encountered before, e.g. the 2 Glasgow lassies as well as the Danish contingent. However, speaking as a guitar backer, I was dissappointed by the number of rude backers who insisted on joining in the sessions I was already playing in, ususally to the detriment of the music. Indeed, at 3 sessions, I just put my guitar away. I simply don't understand backers who join a session where someone else is accompanying already - all that is achieved, usually, is a racket!
Ceart, sin agad e.
# Posted on July 13th 2005 by On Sabbatical
Re: So how was everyone's Willie Week?
Cathal is Director of the Hidden Fermanagh Project. He can be heard playing and singing on both CDs and there is an interview, pictures, and some of his tunes in the book.
As well as 'Long Expectant..." there was an earlier solo album 'On Lough Erne's Shore".
All Boys of the Lough albums feature Cathal (my personal favourite is 'Wish you were here' recorded live on the Highlands and Islands tour)
Also 'Irish Jubilee' with Robin Morton and two compilations, 'Good Friends Good Music' and 'Ulster's Flowery Vale' (I think you might be lucky to find that last one)
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by The Archivist