Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
Well here (in Scotland), traditional music is very much a minority pastime, unfortunately. The majority of the population listen to what passes as modern popular music - most of it being absolute s**te. I'm sure you'll find that in pretty well most places, though, having said that, I'm not so sure about Shetland - country and western maybe (though there are an awful lot of very good Shetland fiddlers about....)? I hope any Shetlanders on this site can advise otherwise.
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
One of the preconceptions that was shattered after visiting Ireland was how few people there know of or care for trad. After I got over that and spent more time there I realized that regardless of the lack of interest from most Irish people, (and depending on where you are,) some of the best sessions are to be found there. I don't mind the weather, and I've gotten to know a lot of people there that I really enjoy, so I could easily see myself living there. But just like anywhere in the modern world -- it's no utopia, and it seems that the country is on a collision course with the future, but there's still plenty there I can appreciate.
As a Californian/San Franciscan the country side and medieval towns are exotic to look at and be in for me, and I enjoy the aesthetics of the country as a whole. As with anything though, my perspective would likely change if I actually lived there. But one thing’s for certain – I’d enjoy going for a tune whenever I wanted.
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
Sam
When I lived in Bath, I was amazed to find that the local people are not all fanatical about rugby, and passionate about roman antiquities. They don't go on coach trips to view the Royal Crescent.
Bizarrely, they live completely ordinary lives and get on with the ordinary mix of human activities (including inactivity) and do all the same things as people everywhere, with a few local specialities. They go to the shops, they have domestic arguments, they have children who keep pet guinea pigs, they listen to all sorts of music - including reggae and country and western.
Surprisingly enough, it's the same the whole world over. Scotland, Ireland and Shetland included.
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
A couple of years ago I was very shocked to find Karaoke was much more popular than the traditional music even in the Outer Hebrides. They even don't drink whiskey as much as I do.
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
You're quite right Ptarmy, time-share selling is not one of my activities.
A certain "Goldfinger" once dealt in gold bullion in a business less than 10 minutes walk from where I live, before he went into the time-share business. And we all know what happened to his unfortunate customers, and, later on, to him.
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
John J - You just reminded me of a story, told to us at a concert, by the King of Tory Island.
Some of the island's school children had been asked to write an essay about Ireland, & one of those essays started off by saying:
- "Ireland is a small island off the coast of Tory " - well, it made me smile!
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
Careful what you say, Trevor. I'm told the gentleman to whom you're referring has learned Advanced Bodhran skills during his time 'away' and monitors this site regularly....
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
As Norman Kennedy said a generation ago to a bunch of folk-mad students going on about how the travelling communities kept the oral tradition alive - "Truck-stop music, that's what they listen to these days."
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
And it's cold, rainy, and windy up there. That's why the people are short and squat. Minimum surface area for body mass.
Ever measured how tall Aly Bain isn't ?
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
".............They even don't drink whiskey as much as I do."
(Aye john, it should be "whisky").
slainte, you must have one mighty liver, or been drinking with the wrong people. Whenever I've been out to the Uists, the deoch was never drunk in wee glasses.
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
- and for those of you who couldn't be bothered to follow the link:
"The spelling whisky (plural whiskies) is generally used for those distilled in Scotland, Canada, and Japan, while whiskey (with an e; plural whiskeys) is used for the spirits distilled in Ireland and the United States; however, there are exceptions.
Kentucky, for example, usually spells its produce "whisky". A mnemonic used to remember which spelling is used is that "Ireland" and "United States" have at least one "e" in their names, while "Scotland," "Canada" and "Japan" do not. International law reserves the term "Scotch whisky" to those whiskies produced in Scotland; whiskies produced in other countries in the Scotch style must use another name.
Similar conventions exist for "Irish whiskey," "Canadian whisky," and "Bourbon Whiskey."
In North America, the abbreviated term "Scotch" is usually used for "Scotch Whisky."
In England, Scotland, and Wales, the term "Whisky" almost always refers to "Scotch Whisky", and the term "Scotch" is rarely used by itself."
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
When my husband and I were in Mayo back in 1985 to visit his family, the locals used to say "If you can see the top of Crough Patrick, it's goin' to rain. If you can't see the top of Crough Patrick - it IS raining."
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
I can only speak of Shetland as an English visitor, parts of years '85-'87.
That was before climate change kicked in: I worked outside from March to May '85 in continuous typhoons of hail and snow. From end May into July there could be calm days with magical twilights, light enough to read outside at midnight, with the local flowers out and birdlife all round.
But at the end of August '85 bitter cold cloud and wind and rain descended, and a local said, "This is what it's going to be like from now on" - i.e., winter had started, and it would only get worse. I heard or read that there were two kinds of people who came to Shetland to live there: those who stayed one winter and left, and those who stayed six years or so before the wind finally got to them to the point they wanted out.
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
Continued from above - there are a few plantations of conifers that have literally grown sideways along the ground, because of the wind.
Lerwick is Shetland's only real town and capital, and there was plenty of TM in a pub called "The Lounge". A key figure was Willie Johnson who played guitar and piano; he'd learned swing guitar in his youth and applied this style to TM accompaniment. There seemed to be a lot of people in Shetland who played fiddle or guitar; the late Tom Anderson revived or created a tradition of getting large numbers of fiddlers to play Shetland tunes en masse - very effective, incidentally - so someone's probably training them up.
Scotch - in NE England it's a horrible kind of beer
Re. Scotch whiskys and all that, mentioned by ptarmigan - don't ask for a "Scotch" in certain pubs in North-East England unless you want to be handed a pint of revolting stuff that tastes of chemicals and broken glass.
It's survived from the dark days before the knights of CAMRA got as far as here, when the brewing monopolies were content to sell stuff that was probably made out of sheepdip and nuclear waste, knowing of course that beggared for choice we'd drink it. So if in the NE, make it VERY clear it's a WHISKY you want!
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
Funny how this convo ended up being about alcohol in the end.
No, its not Country and Western. We play all kinds of traditional Shetland music, like reels, jigs, strathspeys, airs etc. Its no different to Irish or Scottish, except for the fact that Fiddle dominates and wind instruments like pipes n whistles are less common.
And living here is great if you can handle the bad weather. Usually its truely beautiful, but i never notice such things because i lived here all my life. And no we're not all short dwarfs or whatever sterotype you might put Shetlanders under. :P
Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
This is a thing that i have been thinking about for ages and cannot work out if it's true or not or not:
What is it like living in ireland, scotland or shetland?
Is it sessions and irish trad (or native music) everywhere?
Or are most people listening to rock and heavy metal and that kind of stuff?
Just a question of curiosity,
Sam
# Posted on October 18th 2005 by flamin fiddler
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
*What is it like living in ireland, scotland or shetland?*
- Och, see it's jist pure torture
*Is it sessions and irish trad (or native music) everywhere?*
- Well, it's not too hard to find a session and/or some trad musicians in most places
*Or are most people listening to rock and heavy metal and that kind of stuff?*
... and gangsta rap - yes.
# Posted on October 18th 2005 by Bren
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
Well here (in Scotland), traditional music is very much a minority pastime, unfortunately. The majority of the population listen to what passes as modern popular music - most of it being absolute s**te. I'm sure you'll find that in pretty well most places, though, having said that, I'm not so sure about Shetland - country and western maybe (though there are an awful lot of very good Shetland fiddlers about....)? I hope any Shetlanders on this site can advise otherwise.
# Posted on October 18th 2005 by On Sabbatical
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
My flat-mate listens to "progressive death/retro-cheese metal".
# Posted on October 18th 2005 by flanum
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
One of the preconceptions that was shattered after visiting Ireland was how few people there know of or care for trad. After I got over that and spent more time there I realized that regardless of the lack of interest from most Irish people, (and depending on where you are,) some of the best sessions are to be found there. I don't mind the weather, and I've gotten to know a lot of people there that I really enjoy, so I could easily see myself living there. But just like anywhere in the modern world -- it's no utopia, and it seems that the country is on a collision course with the future, but there's still plenty there I can appreciate.
As a Californian/San Franciscan the country side and medieval towns are exotic to look at and be in for me, and I enjoy the aesthetics of the country as a whole. As with anything though, my perspective would likely change if I actually lived there. But one thing’s for certain – I’d enjoy going for a tune whenever I wanted.
# Posted on October 18th 2005 by Phantom Button
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
It probably rains a lot - but then, it rains a lot in Gloucestershire!
# Posted on October 18th 2005 by Mark Harmer
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
It's well to remember that going to live permanently in a country is not necessarily the same as going there for a holiday.
Trevor
# Posted on October 19th 2005 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
So your not a 'Time-Share' salesman then Trevor?
# Posted on October 19th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
They're all full of bloody foreigners.
# Posted on October 19th 2005 by showaddydadito
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
Sam
When I lived in Bath, I was amazed to find that the local people are not all fanatical about rugby, and passionate about roman antiquities. They don't go on coach trips to view the Royal Crescent.
Bizarrely, they live completely ordinary lives and get on with the ordinary mix of human activities (including inactivity) and do all the same things as people everywhere, with a few local specialities. They go to the shops, they have domestic arguments, they have children who keep pet guinea pigs, they listen to all sorts of music - including reggae and country and western.
Surprisingly enough, it's the same the whole world over. Scotland, Ireland and Shetland included.
Go and see.
# Posted on October 19th 2005 by showaddydadito
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
thanks for all your replies,
sam
# Posted on October 19th 2005 by flamin fiddler
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
wet, wet ...wet
# Posted on October 19th 2005 by the wounded hussar
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
Gotya W H!
http://www.theyetties.co.uk/viewsong.php?page=1&letter=W&st=M&sid=8fc19a98e5daa297498c68e5104a511c&id=231
# Posted on October 19th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
A couple of years ago I was very shocked to find Karaoke was much more popular than the traditional music even in the Outer Hebrides. They even don't drink whiskey as much as I do.
# Posted on October 19th 2005 by slainte
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
They don't drink "whiskey" at all.
As MG says Scottish=diddly=whisky
Irish=diddley=whiskey
Unless, you consider Ireland to be a Scottish island in the Outer Hebrides, of course.
# Posted on October 19th 2005 by Johnny Jay
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
You're quite right Ptarmy, time-share selling is not one of my activities.
A certain "Goldfinger" once dealt in gold bullion in a business less than 10 minutes walk from where I live, before he went into the time-share business. And we all know what happened to his unfortunate customers, and, later on, to him.
Trevor
# Posted on October 19th 2005 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
John J - You just reminded me of a story, told to us at a concert, by the King of Tory Island.
Some of the island's school children had been asked to write an essay about Ireland, & one of those essays started off by saying:
- "Ireland is a small island off the coast of Tory " - well, it made me smile!
Tory Island:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tory_Island
# Posted on October 19th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
Careful what you say, Trevor. I'm told the gentleman to whom you're referring has learned Advanced Bodhran skills during his time 'away' and monitors this site regularly....
# Posted on October 19th 2005 by tom roscoe
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
As Norman Kennedy said a generation ago to a bunch of folk-mad students going on about how the travelling communities kept the oral tradition alive - "Truck-stop music, that's what they listen to these days."
# Posted on October 19th 2005 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
And it's cold, rainy, and windy up there. That's why the people are short and squat. Minimum surface area for body mass.
Ever measured how tall Aly Bain isn't ?
# Posted on October 19th 2005 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
".............They even don't drink whiskey as much as I do."
(Aye john, it should be "whisky").
slainte, you must have one mighty liver, or been drinking with the wrong people. Whenever I've been out to the Uists, the deoch was never drunk in wee glasses.
# Posted on October 19th 2005 by On Sabbatical
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
Hey, stop picking on the little people there - G P!
It's OK for you to laugh at our climate, from where you are:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guernsey%2C_Wyoming
# Posted on October 19th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
Sorry for my ignorance. But whisky comes from another damp little isle, huh?
# Posted on October 19th 2005 by slainte
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
Whisky - Scotland
WhiskEy - Ireland
# Posted on October 19th 2005 by On Sabbatical
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
Here's more info on the subject, just in case slainte didn't get the message Ron P:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiskies
# Posted on October 19th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
- and for those of you who couldn't be bothered to follow the link:
"The spelling whisky (plural whiskies) is generally used for those distilled in Scotland, Canada, and Japan, while whiskey (with an e; plural whiskeys) is used for the spirits distilled in Ireland and the United States; however, there are exceptions.
Kentucky, for example, usually spells its produce "whisky". A mnemonic used to remember which spelling is used is that "Ireland" and "United States" have at least one "e" in their names, while "Scotland," "Canada" and "Japan" do not. International law reserves the term "Scotch whisky" to those whiskies produced in Scotland; whiskies produced in other countries in the Scotch style must use another name.
Similar conventions exist for "Irish whiskey," "Canadian whisky," and "Bourbon Whiskey."
In North America, the abbreviated term "Scotch" is usually used for "Scotch Whisky."
In England, Scotland, and Wales, the term "Whisky" almost always refers to "Scotch Whisky", and the term "Scotch" is rarely used by itself."
Of course, there's also Hop Scotch!
# Posted on October 19th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
Aye - Hop-Scotch:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hop_scotch
& of course we also have:
Scotch Bonnet, Scotch game, Scotch Opening, Scotch Gambit, Scotch Plains, Scotch Corner, Scotch pie, Scotch egg
Scotch Broth, Scotch bonnet, Scotch Argus & Scotch Yoke
to be proud of!
# Posted on October 19th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
Scotch Broom: the kudzu of Oregon.
# Posted on October 19th 2005 by Michele Sims
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
Good old hootch. No label, no spellin'
# Posted on October 20th 2005 by Owell Mabee
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
When my husband and I were in Mayo back in 1985 to visit his family, the locals used to say "If you can see the top of Crough Patrick, it's goin' to rain. If you can't see the top of Crough Patrick - it IS raining."
# Posted on October 23rd 2005 by drinharp
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
I can only speak of Shetland as an English visitor, parts of years '85-'87.
That was before climate change kicked in: I worked outside from March to May '85 in continuous typhoons of hail and snow. From end May into July there could be calm days with magical twilights, light enough to read outside at midnight, with the local flowers out and birdlife all round.
But at the end of August '85 bitter cold cloud and wind and rain descended, and a local said, "This is what it's going to be like from now on" - i.e., winter had started, and it would only get worse. I heard or read that there were two kinds of people who came to Shetland to live there: those who stayed one winter and left, and those who stayed six years or so before the wind finally got to them to the point they wanted out.
# Posted on July 28th 2006 by nicholas
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
Continued from above - there are a few plantations of conifers that have literally grown sideways along the ground, because of the wind.
Lerwick is Shetland's only real town and capital, and there was plenty of TM in a pub called "The Lounge". A key figure was Willie Johnson who played guitar and piano; he'd learned swing guitar in his youth and applied this style to TM accompaniment. There seemed to be a lot of people in Shetland who played fiddle or guitar; the late Tom Anderson revived or created a tradition of getting large numbers of fiddlers to play Shetland tunes en masse - very effective, incidentally - so someone's probably training them up.
# Posted on July 29th 2006 by nicholas
Scotch - in NE England it's a horrible kind of beer
Re. Scotch whiskys and all that, mentioned by ptarmigan - don't ask for a "Scotch" in certain pubs in North-East England unless you want to be handed a pint of revolting stuff that tastes of chemicals and broken glass.
It's survived from the dark days before the knights of CAMRA got as far as here, when the brewing monopolies were content to sell stuff that was probably made out of sheepdip and nuclear waste, knowing of course that beggared for choice we'd drink it. So if in the NE, make it VERY clear it's a WHISKY you want!
# Posted on July 30th 2006 by nicholas
Re: Ireland, Scotland, Shetland what they like living there????
Funny how this convo ended up being about alcohol in the end.
No, its not Country and Western. We play all kinds of traditional Shetland music, like reels, jigs, strathspeys, airs etc. Its no different to Irish or Scottish, except for the fact that Fiddle dominates and wind instruments like pipes n whistles are less common.
And living here is great if you can handle the bad weather. Usually its truely beautiful, but i never notice such things because i lived here all my life. And no we're not all short dwarfs or whatever sterotype you might put Shetlanders under. :P
Hope that cleared things up for you.
# Posted on January 17th 2007 by tigershadow