Irish Music Pubs - Conventions?

Subject: RE: Irish Music Pubs - Conventions?
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 12:03 PM

I think you can safely ignore those somewhat laborious threads listed by George. Sessions, like life, are fairly relaxed in west Ireland. Play along where you can; where you can't, don't. And chat to people - you'll tune into the local mood quicker.

Subject: RE: Irish Music Pubs - Conventions?
From: GUEST,T-boy
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 07:38 AM

I may be mis-remembering, but there is a place in Dingle called Conor's which put music on every night, and on Wednesdays it was open to anybody.

Subject: RE: Irish Music Pubs - Conventions?
From: dulcimer
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 06:43 AM

Listen, listen,listen. Don't play loudly, especially if you don't know the tune. Ask the pub owner ahead of time if it is open to all and then ask the players. I found only one session in Adare that was suppose to start before 10. Remember sessions are times to chat about music as much as to play, so you may not be about to follow the conversation at times. Often sessions are times for people to catch up on music or personal news since last week. If you feel tension as you enter the group or they tell you they play in some strange tuning or it seem to be waiting for a friend before really getting down to music or ignore you between tunes, you may be in a close group.

Subject: RE: Irish Music Pubs - Conventions?
From: mooman
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 04:31 AM

Dear Alan,

Yes An Droichead Beag is a good one, O'Flaherty's is another possibility with regular music although this may be more aimed at the tourists who will be plentiful at that time (but I have had good sessions there nevertheless). Dick Mac's is another possibility and you can have your shoes repaired or a guitar strap made while you play there. In fact, the mightiest session I ever had was in Dick Mac's. We went in for a coffee at about 11am and met a musician friend. A session quickly ensued which continued without break until about 4am the following morning after which we repaired to another pub. Almost everybody in Kerry came into the (tiny) pub at some point and I do not remember buying any of the pints (probably in excess of a dozen) or knowing where the food arrived from. This is how a session should always be!

Enjoy your break in Dingle! You will certainly be made welcome with your guitar...just observe the usual basic session conventions much expounded already at the 'Cat.

moo

Subject: RE: Irish Music Pubs - Conventions?
From: GUEST,still cookieless paddymac
Date: 30 Jul 03 - 09:55 PM

If I remember correctly, during the height of the season when all the joints are open, Dingle has the highest concentration of watering holes of any place in Ireland - something like one for every 52 residents. Of course, the place is over-run with tourists during the summer. Many of the allegedly licensed licensed premises supposedly started out as smuggler's dens. Smugglers and their dens are a staple feature of most isolated waterfront communities the world over. Aside from the people, the peninsula has a fascinating natural history as well. Not infrequently brushed by the Gulf Stream, and not glaciated during the Wurm period, era, epoch, or whatever is the correct term.

Subject: RE: Irish Music Pubs - Conventions?
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jul 03 - 09:06 PM

A friend (Sean Wood) I knew from my rubgy-playing days, and currently the lead singer with local Irish band, "The Curragh Sons", went on a rubgy tour round parts of Ireland.

One night, the team descended on a pub in a remote area of Connemara, and proceeded to enjoy the porter and the craic, not necessarily in that order. At some point, someone looked at the clock behind the bar, and noticed that it was well past what would be regarded as "Last Orders", and "Time gentlemen, please", and "Haven't you got homes to go to ?" in England.

He asked the publican, "What time do you stop serving ?"

The publican answered, "October !"

Subject: RE: Irish Music Pubs - Conventions?
From: vectis
Date: 30 Jul 03 - 07:41 PM

Yes in Ireland, especially Kerry everything is dead until 9.30 or even later 10ish is not an unusual time for the locals to stroll in with their instruments and set to playing.

Subject: RE: Irish Music Pubs - Conventions?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 30 Jul 03 - 02:35 PM

But remember that the really good sessions dont start till 9.30 ish and are liable to carry on till dawn if the atmosphere is right.

Subject: RE: Irish Music Pubs - Conventions?
From: greg stephens
Date: 30 Jul 03 - 02:05 PM

I forgot to answer your question about conventions, Alan. As a guide to etiquette on entering a pub where music is in progress, I cant do better than tell you what happened one night in Dingle. I was playing in the Droichead Beag with the Boat Band.It was a bit crowded, and we were set up just inside the door, with Rob the Bones playing standing on a bench with his back to the door. Seamus Begley came in as we were in the middle of a tune, put his hand between Rob's legs and squeezed his bollocks. Rob fell off the bench onto a table and spilled several pints. That is how I would suggest you might try approaching a session in progress, it's a great ice-breaker.

Subject: RE: Irish Music Pubs - Conventions?
From:
Date: 30 Jul 03 - 01:50 PM

Here are some threads to start with:

10 Jamments
Jam Etiquette
Rules of the Session
Song Circle Etiquette
Etiquette for Slow Jams
Ten Commandments for Jamming

Subject: RE: Irish Music Pubs - Conventions?
From: greg stephens
Date: 30 Jul 03 - 01:49 PM

I recall the centre for a lot of Dingle music was An Droichead Beag(sp?), the pub by the little bridge. But there's always plenty going on there, or there was a few years ago anyway. Hang around a bit witha guitar, and something will happen, it normally does. Some great sessions occur in the hostel, I forget the name. The big famous man on the local scene is the famous Seamus Begley, if you are lucky enough to run into him you will have a treat.
   Have fun...you're bound to. And dont make the mistake of thinking that people speaking Irish are Dutch or German, as some confused visitors do!! And to add to the confusion, some people speaking Irish actually are German or Dutch. And, for sure, nearly everyone playing jigs and reels will be German or Dutch.

Subject: Irish Music Pubs - Conventions?
From: Lanfranc
Date: 30 Jul 03 - 01:29 PM

I have never before holidayed in Ireland, but will be spending a few days in Dingle in August.

Apart from admiring the scenery and having a rest, I plan to take a guitar with me, as is my habit on holiday.

Now the reason for this thread.

What are the conventions for holidaying Brits toting guitars?
Can I just wander in to any music pub with my instrument and hope to be invited to participate?

Guidance, and any recommendations as to where the best craic on the peninsula may be found, would be appreciated.

Alan