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22 Nov 07 - 11:33 AM (#2199939) Subject: Seamus Kennedy's Tours to Ireland, WOW! From: Big Jim from Jackson I recently returned from a tour to Northern Ireland led by Mudcat's own Seamus Kennedy. If there are any of you interested in Irish music and Ireland itself then by all means check out Seamus' web page and watch for the next tours to be scheduled. That may not be until next summer, but you may want to do some advanced planning. On the other hand, if you want to take a break from winter, I think he is going to be performing on a cruise with an Irish theme this winter. Seamus is a fantastic host who takes great care that his guests are well guided and shown some really fine sites. We in my group were given the opportunity to meet and shake hands with Gerry Adams himself! The places we visited, the countryside we drove through, the accomodations we stayed in were all top notch. The driver of the tour bus was wonderfully informative and a fine fellow to talk to; the meals were extraordinary; Seamus was an old mother hen, shepherding his straggeling chicks as we scattered out to explore the sites and making sure no one was left behind or had a problem. I can't begin to express the fun I had. And it didn't cost an arm and a leg! If there are any other 'Catters who have been on the tours or who would like to know more about them, I'd like to respond. And I am not shilling for Seamus. In fact, I hope he doesn't mind me posting this. |
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22 Nov 07 - 12:37 PM (#2200000) Subject: RE: Seamus Kennedy's Tours to Ireland, WOW! From: SINSULL A whole week of Seamus Kennedy! I barely survived a weekend. He is like the Energizer Bunny - never quits. Must have been fun! |
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22 Nov 07 - 12:44 PM (#2200009) Subject: RE: Seamus Kennedy's Tours to Ireland, WOW! From: artbrooks We are |
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22 Nov 07 - 12:47 PM (#2200016) Subject: RE: Seamus Kennedy's Tours to Ireland, WOW! From: artbrooks Oh yeah...more here. |
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22 Nov 07 - 12:47 PM (#2200017) Subject: RE: Seamus Kennedy's Tours to Ireland, WOW! From: The Sandman Yes, we played with Seamus down at Middleton co Cork,Good musician and sound guy.Dick Miles |
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22 Nov 07 - 01:40 PM (#2200065) Subject: RE: Seamus Kennedy's Tours to Ireland, WOW! From: wysiwyg Well, if a nonstop good time is what you're looking for, washed in tradtion, humor, and good spirits, then I GUESS one could stand to hang out with Seamus for a week or two most anywhere, but if you also want to have good, genuine Irish craic then I suppose one could suffer the tour, as well. :~) But you're likely to come back crazier than when you left, while Seamus himself seem strangely unaffected by the experience. ~Susan |
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22 Nov 07 - 08:51 PM (#2200346) Subject: RE: Seamus Kennedy's Tours to Ireland, WOW! From: Big Jim from Jackson I sure hope that ship has reasonably priced drinks, too; but most of all I hope they have drinks in abundance. Seamus likes a drop now and then, plus the passengers will find themselves in the mood for adult beverages. I really can't convey the good times I had on the tour. Not only did I get a first hand feel for a beautiful part of the world and its history, but I met with some very fine people. The tour participants were congenial, the Irish we met were very hospitable and friendly, and Seamus is a considerate and accomodating host. You are not likely to have a better time in your life. I know from past threads that many of you are Seamus fans. We had people on the tour from all over the USA. Next summer, if you want a fantastic trip, sign up. I know this sounds like I'm shilling for Seamus, but I'm not. I just want any who are interested in Ireland and its music to know about the opportunity. I came away with a much greater appreciation than I previously held---and I was a fan of Irish music before I went. |
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22 Nov 07 - 10:51 PM (#2200413) Subject: RE: Seamus Kennedy's Tours to Ireland, WOW! From: Seamus Kennedy Jim, thanks for the kind words. From you sir, praise indeed. Just as I did with Captain Birdseye - the estimable Dick Miles - and his partner in Co. Cork last summer, I like to feature local performers in an intimate setting for my tour guests. So I had a wonderful Tyrone man, poet, raconteur, singer, artist, reciter and musician called Declan Forde come and perform some of his works for the group. A great night was had by all. By the way, Big Jim from Jackson is no slouch in the performing department either. He regaled us a few times with some of his own picking and singing. Thank you, Jim. Dick, I'll be in touch when we're headed down your way again. Seamus |
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22 Nov 07 - 10:52 PM (#2200414) Subject: RE: Seamus Kennedy's Tours to Ireland, WOW! From: Seamus Kennedy Oops, I forgot. Art, I look forward to renewing acquaintance qith you on the cruise. Seamus |
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23 Nov 07 - 10:26 AM (#2200698) Subject: RE: Seamus Kennedy's Tours to Ireland, WOW! From: GUEST,cobra Ah yes! I well remember one of Seamus's early trips. He has clearly decided to pursue a different market niche now. That said, the brothels and knocking shops he introduced us to were outstanding, of their kind. And I liked the fact that he was on first name terms with so many of these fine business people. IIRC, he didn't always take his 10% introduction fee in coinage of the realm either. Certainly not, by all accounts, in the gay sauna he took some of my companions too in Cootehill. DISCLAIMER The management wishes to distance itself from the above remarks. We only report the truth, we do not necessarily endorse it. Thank you.For the avoidance of doubt, this messageboard is registered in Liberia and no extradition treaty exist between us and the US. Thank you. |
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23 Nov 07 - 12:11 PM (#2200762) Subject: RE: Seamus Kennedy's Tours to Ireland, WOW! From: Seamus Kennedy Damn! My past has tracked me down! Cootehill? I didn't think anyone saw us. I was only helping that sheep over the hedge. The poor thing was hurt and couldn't jump, you see. God be with the days when there wasn't a cell-phone camera in sight. Seamus |
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23 Nov 07 - 12:14 PM (#2200765) Subject: RE: Seamus Kennedy's Tours to Ireland, WOW! From: SINSULL Nicely done, Seamus. |
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23 Nov 07 - 12:18 PM (#2200768) Subject: RE: Seamus Kennedy's Tours to Ireland, WOW! From: MartinRyan Seamus Do you hit Galway/Kinvara on these trips? Should we be warned? Regards |
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24 Nov 07 - 10:51 AM (#2201314) Subject: RE: Seamus Kennedy's Tours to Ireland, WOW! From: Big Jim from Jackson Refreash |
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26 Nov 07 - 12:11 AM (#2202192) Subject: RE: Seamus Kennedy's Tours to Ireland, WOW! From: Seamus Kennedy Martin, I do take the groups to Galway/Kinvara. We usually stay at the Imperial in Eyre Square, and I organize sessions with some musical friends. I'd be glad to give you a heads-up next time; perhaps you could join us for a bit of singing and playing? Seamus |
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26 Nov 07 - 04:30 AM (#2202254) Subject: RE: Seamus Kennedy's Tours to Ireland, WOW! From: MartinRyan Drop me a PM ahead of time and I'll be there if possible. Regards |
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26 Nov 07 - 11:47 AM (#2202484) Subject: RE: Seamus Kennedy's Tours to Ireland, WOW! From: Seamus Kennedy Martin, will do. Thanks. Big Jim, time to get back to that strange tuning thing that you do. Seamus |
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26 Nov 07 - 02:10 PM (#2202579) Subject: RE: Seamus Kennedy's Tours to Ireland, WOW! From: Big Jim from Jackson Sure, Seamus. Beat me up just because I changed ONE STRING (OK, the first time I played it I changed three) will ya"!!!! :-) Open G is a tuning frequently used by blues players (and others---including me). I had an uncle who showed me how to tune a 5 string banjo when I bought one at an auction ($5.00). About a year later I bought a guitar at an auction (another $5.00!) and he wasn't around to show me how to tune it, so I just dropped the first string down and then used only the first 4 strings. Years later I found that by droping the 2 bass strings down a step that it sounced "right". Then I read in a book that Woody Guthrie experimented with Open G. Hey, man! Me and Woody---two great musical minds on the same path! How can that be wrong? One advantage I have noticed is that other pickers in a jam circle seldom ask to borrow my guitar. For other readers of this comment: Seamus very kindly let a rank ameture not only borrow his Tak, but he allowed me to twist the strings to suit myself. A good man, that Seamus. Later this evening I'll hoist a drop of the Bushmill Black that I brought back with me in his honor. |
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26 Nov 07 - 05:19 PM (#2202705) Subject: RE: Seamus Kennedy's Tours to Ireland, WOW! From: Seamus Kennedy |
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26 Nov 07 - 05:21 PM (#2202707) Subject: RE: Seamus Kennedy's Tours to Ireland, WOW! From: Seamus Kennedy Oops. Hit the Submit button first! Jim, save me a drop of that Black Bush, and you can tune my guitar any damn way you please. Keep a-pickin' and a grinnin', sir. Seamus |