My 2 pence.
In 1990 my band took a field trip to Ireland We started up in Donegal city and made our way down the west coast. We had great times in the Schooner pub. after closing, the landlady wouldn't let us buy our drinks. She wuldn't let us buy them drinks.There were about 10 locals playing. They played C&W for us, we played Irish music for them, and we all found common ground in Beatles tunes.
We traded versions and had a great time.
We also had a great time in Spiddel. A little place called Hughes Pub.
It was a similar story. We ran into Tommy Lyons. A wonderful guy
We headed south and landed in Doolin. McGann's. I should have noted the Time Magazine article on the wall proclaiming it the best pub in the universe, or some such thing.
Miko Russell was there and a few young folk on cittern, guitar and concertina. We would do some tunes with them, but I would take a break to listen every few minutes. after all, I didn't realy go to Ireland to teach them how to play their music. The concertina would lean into me and bleat,"Plaaaye, plaaaaaye".
I would begin playing. The guy would get a sour look on his face each time like he had just licked a pissy toad. After this happened a few times I realized that he was being payed to give the tourists wonderful memories of playing with REAL IRISH MUSICIANS so they could brag about it when they got back home. He clearly would have rather been having his eyelids cut off.
If we didn't play along, the owner would think these guys were failing and can their asses. It wasn't the right feel.
That's when I realized that you could buy bad craic in Ireland. We went to O'Conner's the next night and had a good time. Previous posters make me think that O'Conner's may also have slid into the same trap.
Too bad if this was so.
Of course, I was dumbish and more stupidy back then. I might have a differnt slant on things now.
Cheers.
PS This was late in the year...the off season.