Spotlight on Doolin and Irish Trad

Subject: Spotlight on Doolin and Irish Trad
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 19 Apr 10 - 07:23 PM

I was overjoyed to open my new Atlantic Magazine and turn to an article on Ireland's economic woes, and how, at least in Doolin in County Clare, traditional Irish music is a joyful cure.
The article speaks about Gus O'Connor's, McGann's and McDermott's Pubs in Doolin, and names several local heroes, including Geraldine McGowan and Orla McGovern. There's a video here.
Good on Ye, Doolin!

Subject: RE: Spotlight on Doolin and Irish Trad
From: michaelr
Date: 19 Apr 10 - 09:30 PM

Is that the actor Andrew McCarthy?

Any minute now, someone will be along to bewail how Doolin has for years been corrupted by the tourist trade and isn't "authentic" anymore at all, at all, at least since Micho Russell died. How the session in Gus O'Connor's isn't open to all, and there is - gasp - a microphone hanging in the midst of it.

Pay no attention. Doolin is a lovely village (if you can stomach the color scheme) and I had a great time there.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Spotlight on Doolin and Irish Trad
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 19 Apr 10 - 11:19 PM

Yes, it is the actor.
And as for Doolin, well, nothin's ever quite as good as it used to be, is it? I'm sure there are other towns with fewer tourists and more acoustically authentic venues, but God Bless The Atlantic and McCarthy for printing the following...
"outside, a light rain's begun. I make my way over the stone bridge and past McCann's Pub. The band inside is slashing into a reel and
I stand under the glow of the lone street lamp, listening. The music burns to a crescendo and then breaks hard. There's a moment of absolute silence in the countryside, and then it's shattered as the crowd inside erupts. In Ireland, the day may have written checks the night can't cash, but out here in Doolin, on this night at least, the credit's still good."
..and for saying "trad music's in the midst of a rennaissance."

Subject: RE: Spotlight on Doolin and Irish Trad
From: michaelr
Date: 20 Apr 10 - 12:40 AM

"trad music's in the midst of a rennaissance."

Yes, that surely appears to be true in Ireland (from where I sit). And good news it is indeed.

Glad to see no bewailers here yet - I guess I was thinking about the mustard board... ;-)

Subject: RE: Spotlight on Doolin and Irish Trad
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 20 Apr 10 - 03:14 AM

Between the ocean, the cliffs and the coast Doolin is a lovely setting.

Between the huge buildings, rent-a-cottage estates and developments that have overgrown everything between Fisherstreet and Roadford, the general atmosphere of regarding every person as a business opportunity without even attempt to bid you the time of day, it makes me feel dirty each time I go there. And that's during the winter time, I don't go near it during the tourist season.

It siphons off the crowds nicely though, keeping them all in the one place.

Subject: RE: Spotlight on Doolin and Irish Trad
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 20 Apr 10 - 08:24 AM

Peter,

Doesn't that apply to a lot of Ireland, not just Doolin? I've noticed a lot of these negative changes in the relatively short time (9 yrs)I've been here!

Subject: RE: Spotlight on Doolin and Irish Trad
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 20 Apr 10 - 10:08 AM

I don't know, most places I go to don't seem to be affected in the same way. The sheer scale of some of the developments in Doolin compared to what was there, the way people in shops approach you (or actually don't approach you, they just charge you as much as they can without as much as looking at you), the way the 'visitors' go about (I suppose those last two are typical of any resort) and all that. It's just not particularly attractive and certainly not friendly in any way (compared to any other place in North or West Clare).

Two years ago a friend was visiting and he wanted to see Doolin, fair enough. We walked into O 'Connors and were met by an accordeonplayer singing/playing The Forty Shades of Green for a package bustour of senior americans in green Aran jumpers doing the Oirish thing. If that's authenticity or renaissance of traditional music, they can keep it. We didn't make it past the door anyway.

Then again, the new visitors centre and the admission/parking charges at the Cliffs of Moher put me off as well. Enough to do here without being ripped off.