The Gathering, Killarney: Who's been?

Subject: The Gathering, Killarney: Who's been?
From: Mick Tems
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 10:53 AM

We have just got back from The ninth Gathering traditional festival at the Gleneagles Hotel, Killarney. It was the fourth trip for us, and we are determined to go again next year.

This is a sample list of the stunning musicians: Jackie Daly, Seamus Creagh and Paul DeGrae; Lunasa; Zoe Conway and John McIntyre (feckin' great!); The Abbey Ceilidh Band; the sizzling accordion master Mairtin O'Connor, Cathal Hayden and Saemie O'Dowd; Sean Keane (of the Chieftains) and Liam O'Flynn; The Pauline Scanlon Band (positively jaw-dropping); Seamus Begley, Caomhin O'Raghallaigh and Jim Murray...

There was a Sliabh Luachra concert, from Ballydesmond, and a Sliabh Luachra lecture given by RTE's commissioning editor Peter Browne, and workshops in fiddle, flute/tin whistle, concertina, accordion with a singers' masterclass. But the set dance workshops and ceilidhs took some beating - 1,000 dancers took the floor, old and young.

Irish traditional music is kicking ass. It has attitude and it's proud. Over to you!

Subject: RE: The Gathering, Killarney: Who's been?
From: The Sandman
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 12:20 PM

Hi Doc,no I havent,but I know someone else who enjoyed it.
good to see you both again.

Subject: RE: The Gathering, Killarney: Who's been?
From: Mick Tems
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 08:19 AM

It was good to see you and Cathy, O Captain my Captain. We all met up for a session in Daly's Bar in Ballydehob, West Cork - such a tiny bar, we couldn't move! Roger the uilleann piper, Roger's wife Jen, Derek the accordion player, our two generous friends and hosts Bertie (aka Dublin) and Annie Moran. Olly and Cathy were good on the fiddle, and I played the tabwrdd really well.

The sad news is that Ireland is changing very fast. The Irish Government is targeting all pubs, with the Garda brandishing the almighty breathalyser, and they're closing down in droves. The Chestnut Tree used in Ballydehob used to have good sessions, and that has closed now; can Daly's survive?

Subject: RE: The Gathering, Killarney: Who's been?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 08:50 AM

That's the sad truth. But it's not just the gardai. Money's a lot tighter now: many people are on crippling mortgages; and quite a few of the big US companies are pulling out (or not coming, even after plans had been put in place) because the euro is too strong, so there are job losses too. The boom is definitely over and the pubs really are feeling the pinch. Everywhere you look. There's a good book out by the economist David McWilliams (he's the one who coined the phrase "the Celtic tiger") called The Generation Game. But it doesn't make cheerful reading.

Subject: RE: The Gathering, Killarney: Who's been?
From: Rapparee
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 09:12 AM

My god, we're hoping to get there in late May! Will there be anything left???????

Subject: RE: The Gathering, Killarney: Who's been?
From: The Sandman
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 09:47 AM

Dr Price,your paradiddle in the 17th bar of Rodneys Glory was superlative.

Subject: RE: The Gathering, Killarney: Who's been?
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 09:49 AM

Bonnie is right, before Christmas, the exchange rate was €1.50 to the £1, now it's €1.25! All because when the U.S. sneezes, the world catches a cold (the sub-prime mortgage market fiasco).

Putting aside the depressing news, 'The Gathering' was great, my legs have just about recovered after 3 days of lively set dancing!

Subject: RE: The Gathering, Killarney: Who's been?
From: The Sandman
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 02:36 PM

Dr Price,you were good.

Subject: RE: The Gathering, Killarney: Who's been?
From: Rog Peek
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 03:10 PM

Went last year and the year before. Great for the set dancing and the music. Would certainly recommend it. Sadly couldn't make it this year.

Rog

Subject: RE: The Gathering, Killarney: Who's been?
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 09:02 PM

Bonnie, regarding the book you recommend, Amazon lists one about that subject by that author called "The Pope's Children". Different name in the US, I wonder?

Subject: RE: The Gathering, Killarney: Who's been?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 05:57 AM

No, Amazon.com doesn't carry it for some reason - too specialised a subject? The Pope's Children is a different book by the same author. Here's an excellent online bookshop (based in Dublin) for material of Irish interest, who should be able to source Generation Game for you:

http://www.readireland.com/

Subject: RE: The Gathering, Killarney: Who's been?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 06:05 AM

On the same subject but with a more sociological emphasis, see if you can also lay hands on She Moves Through The Boom by Anne Marie Hourihane, though it was written in 2002 while the Celtic tiger was still roaring. Great book if you want a glimpse at the New Ireland. And there is one, believe me.