Off-season Irish traditional festivals

Subject: Off-season Irish traditional festivals
From: David Ingerson
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 04:45 AM

Do you have two (or three) favorite Irish traditional music festivals that occur within three or maybe four weeks of each other during the off-season? What would they be?

I'm planning a trip to Ireland and considering going during the off season. That would cut into my income (as a substitute teacher) but it might be well worth it to avoid the crush of tourists if I could attend several good quality festivals. I'm a sean nos singer with, for a Yank, fairly extensive experience in singing and collecting songs agus le cupla focal. I'd be looking for a good bit of singing, perhaps singing-only sessions, but lots of sessions at any rate, not just performances.

Or should I just go with the crush and attend the Willie Week?

And are there any traditional music schools during the off season?

Thanks for any info.

Cheers,

David

Subject: RE: Off-season Irish traditional festivals
From: pattyClink
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 09:34 AM

I don't have any personal knowledge of it, but there is an Inishowen singing festival March 2008, maybe some Mudcatter has knowledge of that and can fill you in.

Subject: RE: Off-season Irish traditional festivals
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 10:43 AM

no such thing as an off season for Irish music events!
If you are particularly interested in Irish language seán-nos singing, get along to Oireachtas na Gaeilge at the end of Oct/beginning of Nov each year. This year it will be held in Westport, Co Mayo. It is very much an Irish-language medium event, as is Seán-Nós Cois Life in Dublin around Easter-time, where the singing workshops are taught through Irish.

The first weekend in May provides very many options, including a Joe Heany memorial weekend in Carna, Conamara, Co Galway and a larger more comprehensive traditional music weekend in Louisburgh, Co Mayo.
I think there is a tradmusic weekend in an Rinn, Waterford Feb or March, in Cúil Aodha Co Cork in Nov, there's a couple of fests in Cork City, in Co Kerry and probably just about everywhere else.

What month suits you to travel? Though I wouldn't advise a trip close to Christmas for festivals, there would be pub and house sessions if you are in the know, and I know of two workshop weeks during the holidays - one in Co Donegal and one in Co Clare.

And yes, Inishowen trad singers gathering in late March is a very friendly weekend, mostly unaccompanied singing in English.

Subject: RE: Off-season Irish traditional festivals
From: GUEST,Danielle Day
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 02:30 PM

Unfortunately, Mr. Munelly passed recently. However, the Clare Festival of Traditional Singing (November 9-11, 2007) seems to be going forward. We've been to Clare in November, and it's empty of tourists.

Bellbridge House Hotel
Spanish Point, Co. Clare
Contact: Tom Munelly
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Founded in 1990 the Clare Festival of Traditional Singing promotes an interest in unaccompanied traditional singing with lectures, concerts, recitals and a multitude of informal sessions. The Festival also provides formal performances by the finest traditional singers from throughout the country. It is rightly regarded as the premier non-competitive Irish and English language singing event in Ireland.

Subject: RE: Off-season Irish traditional festivals
From: GUEST,Jim Carroll
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 02:54 PM

Danielle
The Clare Traditional Singing Festival has not taken place for several years.
As a resident of Miltown Malbay I am pretty certain that it is not taking place this year.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Off-season Irish traditional festivals
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 05:56 PM

And Inishowen is in early March next year. There's a note about it somewhere around here!



Regards

Subject: RE: Off-season Irish traditional festivals
From: greg stephens
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 05:57 PM

Six Mile Bridge, in the county Clare, has avery nice little festival in January that I very much enjoyed visiting last year.

Subject: RE: Off-season Irish traditional festivals
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 06:14 PM

Be sure and visit my ancestors and relatives in Dingle (Ballyferriter) in the Kingdom of Kerry. They are Fitzgeralds and Garveys, Sheas, Murphys, Mannings, etc. I am going next year, probably summer. mg

Subject: RE: Off-season Irish traditional festivals
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 06:15 PM

I forgot to say with great humility that I probably am related to the prosecutor, Patrick Fitzgerald, and possibly the late JFK..I have herad it said he had ancestors in Kerry as well as wherever they usually say they were from. mg

Subject: RE: Off-season Irish traditional festivals
From: David Ingerson
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 02:44 AM

Thank you all for your responses.

Terrible news about Tommy. I had heard at the Catskills Irish Arts Week in July that he was very ill; hadn't heard of his death. A bright light in the Irish traditional singing world has been extinguished. I'll miss seeing him this time, but I'll continue to share some of his choice stories about collecting songs and other folklore.

And it's too bad the Clare Festival is no more. It was just the sort of event I would plan my trip around.

Thanks, Philippa, for all the info. My timing is flexible enough that I hope to plan the trip based on which festivals I'd like to attend, regardless of the month. I think I'd be in over my head at the Oireachtas na Gaeilge, however. And of course there's no off season for the music, buiochas le Dia. I was meaning to imply (not very successfully, I guess) the off tourist season.

Thanks again,

Cheers,

David

Subject: RE: Off-season Irish traditional festivals
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 03:52 AM

David,
It is virtually impossible to throw a stone without hitting a festival here in Ireland at present, Micho Russell, Joe Heaney, Diarmuid O'Súilleabháin (last on of year - early December), Seamus Ennis, Joe Cooley - you name it.
Tom Munnelly, when he first became seriously ill last year, joked "I don't want a bloody festival".
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Off-season Irish traditional festivals
From: Brendy
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 09:30 PM

... let's not forget the Carrick Fleadh in S.W Donegal: last weekend in October

B.

Subject: RE: Off-season Irish traditional festivals
From: GUEST,Jerry O'Reilly
Date: 13 Sep 07 - 02:10 AM

You can add that one to the three other festivals that take place over the last weekend in October(A bank holiday in Ireland).
1. The Seamus Ennis Festival in Naul, North County Dublin.
2. The Cooley/Collins Festival in Gort Co. Galway.
3. The Paidraig O'Keefe Festival in Castleisland Co. Kerry

Subject: RE: Off-season Irish traditional festivals
From: mg
Date: 13 Sep 07 - 03:02 AM

I shall have to insist that you go to the Castleisland one...and take pictures...mg

Subject: RE: Off-season Irish traditional festivals
From: Rog Peek
Date: 13 Sep 07 - 03:17 AM

We'll be going to the Willie Keane memorial weekend in Doonbeg, Co. Clare on 26th to 29th October, mainly for the set dancing.
Rog

Subject: RE: Off-season Irish traditional festivals
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 13 Sep 07 - 10:42 PM

If you can get over this weekend, there's the Tulla Fest in E.Clare.

Subject: RE: Off-season Irish traditional festivals
From: David Ingerson
Date: 14 Sep 07 - 02:47 AM

Thanks again for all the information.

I guessed that asking on Mudcat would net me a lot more info than trolling the net. The most complete listing of festivals I was able to find was at www.irishmusicmagazine.com, but even they did not list any of the festivals Jerry mentioned above nor some of the ones Philippa suggested. (By the way, Hi Jerry. Haven't seen you in, what, 21 years? I was the Yank singer who recorded--and then learned!--The Irish Jubilee at your place in Chapelizod, was it? 1984?)

Might there be another site that has a more complete listing?

Anyway, thanks again, and keep the ideas coming!

Cheers,

David

Subject: RE: Off-season Irish traditional festivals
From: GUEST,Jim Carroll
Date: 14 Sep 07 - 04:47 AM

Try contacting the Irish Traditional Music Archive in Merrion Square Dublin - they might be able to help.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Off-season Irish traditional festivals
From: David Ingerson
Date: 15 Sep 07 - 01:54 AM

Thanks, Jim. You've provided valuable information several times. A quick glance through their website did not seem promising as far as a list of current traditional festivals goes, but I'll dig deeper in a few days. Looks like an invaluable resource in any case.

Cheers,

David

Subject: RE: Off-season Irish traditional festivals
From: GUEST,Jim Carroll
Date: 15 Sep 07 - 02:38 AM

David,
Don't think they put such information on their website; you might have to contact them direct and ask for the information you require (not sure they give out an e-mail address for practical reasons). They are an extremely pleasant and helpful crowd there.
Also you might try contacting Sean Laffey of Irish Music Magazine direct - the same description applies to him in my experience.
If I come across a list which may prove useful I'll put it up - is it song or music you're interested in?
I take it you are not a member of Irtrad (you'd be buried under responses if you were). It's somewhat dormant at present, but worth considering.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Off-season Irish traditional festivals
From: Declan
Date: 15 Sep 07 - 11:25 AM

David,

I get the impression your're more interested in singing festivals than those which mainly feature instrumental music.

If its tunes you're after I'd recommend the Ennis Trad Festival which is held on the second week-end in November - the same week-end as TOm Munnellyh's singing festival used to be on. There are hundreds of sessions in the pubs around the town together with concerts CD launches etc. There is usually a bit of singing over the week-end but most of the sessions are tunes oriented.

Subject: RE: Off-season Irish traditional festivals
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Sep 07 - 05:01 PM

Singing Weekend at Knockcroughry (spelling iffy) Roscommon.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Off-season Irish traditional festivals
From: David Ingerson
Date: 17 Sep 07 - 03:52 AM

Declan, yes, singing is what I love. Once I discovered sean nos and traditional Irish singing, all the fiddle playing and clarineting and French horning and choral singing faded away.

Thanks, Jim, for your suggestion of the Knockcroghery Festival. (I'm bad enough with English spelling and horrible with the Irish, but I have an Irish map above my desk.) I googled it and found Christopher Brennan's web pages of Irish singing festivals and sessions, the most complete and specific listings I've come across. Go raibh mile maith agat.

Cheers,

David

Subject: RE: Off-season Irish traditional festivals
From: GUEST,Jerry O'Reilly
Date: 18 Sep 07 - 01:01 AM

Hi Dave,Sorry for not reacting sooner, but I was in Brittany over the weekend. Nice to make contact again. BTW it was in Palmerstown not Chapelizod.

Subject: RE: Off-season Irish traditional festivals
From: David Ingerson
Date: 20 Sep 07 - 04:42 PM

One last refresh for this thread.

Thanks, everyone, for all the valuable information.

Cheers,

David