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I'm going to Ireland!
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Subject: I'm going to Ireland! From: Cara Date: 01 Sep 00 - 04:58 PM Hello, Hi guys! I haven't been around in a while due to work and such but now I have a question that I'm sure you can help with. My sister, a friend, and I are going to Ireland over Thanksgiving (I KNOW they don't have T-giving in Ireland--we're going the equvalent weekend. We'll be staying for five evenings, making our way from Shannon to Dublin. I'm sure we'll be doing some "cultural" type things but we mainly plan to spend our time in pubs. I want to hear music and they want to drink so we'll all have something (not that I won't be drinking, mind you). My questions are: what are the thhings we really should do? We're not interested in waiting in lines or participating in anything comprised mainly of tourists; I worked (and my companions work) in a tourist-trap bar here in DC and I've seen all the American and European tourists I need to see for a lifetime. Also, didn't I see a thread here in the last few months on sessions in the west of Ireland? I thought I had it on my tracer but I don't seem to. Could someone re-direct me please? I'm looking forward to your suggestions! |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: WyoWoman Date: 01 Sep 00 - 05:07 PM Good for you, Cara. I'm emerald with envy and will look for a full report upon your return. My plan is to go next summer, so I'll lurk and see what others suggest as well. Yeaaay for you! ww |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: katlaughing Date: 01 Sep 00 - 05:12 PM What fun! I don't know if this is the thread you are looking for, but it is from Jan 1999 and is about Irish sessions...Where do you play? Hope that helps. |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: Noreen Date: 01 Sep 00 - 05:23 PM This'll be it, Cara- West of Ireland sessions Have a wonderful time! Noreen |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: GUEST,Martin Ryan Date: 01 Sep 00 - 05:40 PM Keep us informed of your rough itinerary and I might be able to suggest some places. regards |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: Jim Dixon Date: 01 Sep 00 - 06:33 PM I spent a few days Dublin just a couple of weeks ago as a tourist, my first trip. There are several pubs in the Temple Bar district that have live authentic traditional Irish music nightly during the tourist season. They call them "sessions" but the musicians are paid, to attract tourists. The scuttlebutt was that the clientele are mainly tourists on weekends (although they may be Irish tourists) and mainly locals on weekdays. It is probably less touristy (and maybe less musical) in November. Temple Bar is a compact area with lots of pubs; you can easily visit several of them in an evening. I may have more info later. |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: catspaw49 Date: 01 Sep 00 - 07:09 PM CARA!!!! Great to see you here!!! I thought you had slid off the face of the earth! Going to Ireland? You mean you'd rather spend the holidays in Ireland than in ........ uh, Heath? Yeah...I see what you mean............. We ought to be able to round a few 'Catters up over there for you. Alison (the Fair One) is vacationing there now and maybe she'll have some ideas for you. Keep this thread alive til we get some help........otherwise you might end up having a drink with me in .........Newark? Not a great option......btu I am glad to see you back here. BTW, I was sailing a few weeks back at Buckeye and ate at the Goose....thought of you. The place is almost unrecognizable anymore! Best to you (and sis too). Cleigh sends his wishes too. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: Peter T. Date: 01 Sep 00 - 07:26 PM Cara, there are experts here who I am sure will be of more help on the music side, but if you want stuff around Shannon you might want to check out the New York Times web site -- they had a long piece on the towns nearby in the Sunday Travel section about a month ago, complete with hotels, pubs, music, etc. I could dig it out for you if you can't find it. If you have any interest in Yeats and his life, you should go to his tower, nearby in Gort (Thoor Ballylee). One of the quietest and best things to see in the whole country. I personally would go north to Galway and Connaught, but you may be going West-East! yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: Fortunato Date: 01 Sep 00 - 08:19 PM CARA! Have a grand time. I'm a DC local, so (if you like) let us know which bar you work in and we can patronize! Otherwise, it's good to hear you on the line. All the best. Chance |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: dulcimer Date: 01 Sep 00 - 08:56 PM I'm sure I missed a lot, but found some good pub sessions--if you can take the drinking and the noise-- in Ennis, Galway, and Westport. Donegal has a great small pub that welcomes playing and locals are friendly. Killkenny had several pubs in session and found one in Lisdoonvarna. A friend of mine happen to stumble on musicians in Doolin. What you will find more often is a pub with country, rock/disco, or "modern popular lounge" music. A lot of what would pass for Irish traditional Music or Folk music is actually a drawing for tourists--many are there just to drink. Music usually doesn't start till 9:30 or 10:00 and will end at 11:30 or midnight if the musicians are being paid or are afraid to draw attention to the pub. I found if you wanted a seat to hear the music, you plan to get there by 8/8:30 which means you have an extended time for a couple of pints. I can give you some specifics if I have your e-mail address. |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: death by whisky Date: 02 Sep 00 - 05:36 PM So a pubcrawl from Shannon to Dublin. well you could go straight accross,clockwise,or the other way. We're in North Kerry,just across the Shannon. There are some all year sessions in Listowel,Tralee,Camp and Dingle. Seamus Kennedy is bringing a group over in N ovember,Im arranging a session for him around 17/18th. I dont know when Thanksgiving is. Early days yet. |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: Cara Date: 03 Sep 00 - 01:14 PM Hi all. Thanks so much for your help. Yes, Spaw, it is hard to give up the chance for a long November weekend in the Greater Heath metropolitan area, but I plan to try to have a good time in Ireland anyway. Somehow, I'm sure I'll manage! dulcimer, you can pm me with more details. I welcome all advice. As far as our itinerary, we plan to check out Galway City, Carraig-an- Suir (which I'm sure I spelled wrong) in Waterford near Kerry I think, try to go to Mayo, and the Cliffs of Moher (even though I have awful vertigo, I plan to try to hike along there some, even in November). And we have to get to Dublin to catch our outbound flight. We don't have that much time unfortunately (5 nights) but we're hoping to make a longer trip next year. And Fortunato, the bar I used to work at (only very occasionally these days) is Murphy's in Woodley Park. Do you know it? They have fun music sometimes and a really nice session that has started on Sunday afternoons (I think they moved to us from someplace else). I get to be in charge of our itinerary so I'll post it up here soon for more suggestions, which will help me avoid stupid mistakes in planning hopefully. Peter T, I'll search out that Times article now. I can't believe I missed it the first time around! Thanks. |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: Mrrzy Date: 03 Sep 00 - 03:33 PM I'm SO jealous. We did something like that on a 7-day tour, we (there was a thread on this at some point) spent all nights somewhere we knew from song or story. We went from Galway (not far from Shannon) to Dublin via Waterford, Cork, Bandon, Castlemaine, and I can't remember where else without a map. We stayed in B&Bs mostly, where the locals always recommended great pubs and music. We spent as much time in the Gaeltecht as possible.>p>TELL ALL WHEN YOU GET BACK! |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: Biskit Date: 03 Sep 00 - 03:42 PM `lo Cara, See if there isn't a pub in Dublin thats called Laughlins,It is supposed to be quite famous,I plan to go there myself oneday as it is my namesake |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: Biskit Date: 03 Sep 00 - 03:42 PM `lo Cara, See if there isn't a pub in Dublin thats called Laughlins,It is supposed to be quite famous,I plan to go there myself oneday as it is my namesake |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: Biskit Date: 03 Sep 00 - 03:45 PM Oops could someone with a better knowledge of these things please erase one of those posts for me *BLUSH* |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: Margaret V Date: 03 Sep 00 - 04:11 PM Hey, Mrrzy, why not go yourself?! There's a great deal on through an outfit called Spectre Tours that gives you RT airfare, vouchers for 6 nights of B+Bs, AND your weekly car rental, all for $499! OK, so it has to be between November and March. . . perhaps a little grey and rainy and cold, but heck, New York will be grey, rainy, and cold then too, so... I'm trying to put together a trip with my sister and brother-in-law. The RT airfare is from New York, Newark, or Boston, I believe. Maybe I'll see you there, Cara! Margaret |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: GUEST,beachcomber Date: 03 Sep 00 - 05:59 PM Cara, Not my place to do so, isuppose not being(I was dropped ) a member of Mudcat, but I'm sure you will be welcomed over here in November. Tourists, in my area anyway, are rather thinner on the ground in Nov and will doubtless, be made all the more welcome for that. If you do get to Carrick on Suir (Home of the famous Clancy Bros) you are sure to find weekend sessions in some of the smaller pubs around the area. In my own area I know that there are regular sessions in the pubs in Dungarvan and Ring in Co.Waterford as well as Youghal in Co.Cork . All on the n25 route and the "Marine" bar on N25 also has frequent tri-weekly sessions. By the way , did you know that your name means "friend" in Irish? The Village of Doolin in Co.Clare is near the Cliffs of Moher and should be a good stopping off point for Traditional music, as indeed anywhere in Co.Clare is. |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: Skipjack K8 Date: 04 Sep 00 - 09:40 AM I'm with beachcomber there. SO and I landed at Dublin and asked the guy at the car hire place where we could lose a couple of days. O'Connors at Doolin will be where yer goin', then. We drove over to Clare, through the Burren (amazing) and into Doolin, and I can't remember the rest. THere was a band playing, creating a session like atmosphere for the tourists (it was like the bar scene from Star Wars. There were folks with two heads, I'm sure), but I did get to play a few tunes with the fiddler, which were sublime. Found out later he was Tommy Peoples. Bejaysus. Skipjack |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: Brendy Date: 04 Sep 00 - 11:12 AM Galway: The Quays, Shop Street, Taafe's, Shop Street. Roisín Dubh, Dominic Street (I think). In fact, you can't really go wrong in Galway. Clare: Mayo: I'm not well up on the southeast sessions, but the beachcomber has a lot of info, there. Your trouble will not be the lack of choice, just the length of time you're spending. Have fun, though. B. |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: GUEST,Martin Ryan Date: 04 Sep 00 - 12:04 PM In Dublin, always start with Hughes' of Chancery Street (behind "the Four Courts" - just ask!. Ask anyone within earshot of the music what other sessions are on the next night - and proceed from there! If you like your singing unaccompanied, go to the Goleen session in the Trinity Inn in Pearse street on Friday night - about 10 p.m. Regards |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: GUEST,alison Date: 04 Sep 00 - 05:31 PM anywhere up or down the West coast is beautiful...... (if you had time I would suggest start on the West coast and head North to the top then East to the Antrim coast) I especially like Achill Island for scenery.... heading there next week... slainte alison |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: Brendy Date: 04 Sep 00 - 05:32 PM Go to Keel, Alison! B. |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: GUEST,alison Date: 04 Sep 00 - 05:35 PM no problem Brendy... and I'll take the kids to Dugart(???) slainte alison |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: Brendy Date: 04 Sep 00 - 05:37 PM Used to play at the hotel in Keel, years ago. Dooghort is a great spot (not sure if I got the spelling right, either!! Enjoy yerself, creatur. B. |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: Lox Date: 04 Sep 00 - 08:25 PM I am personally a bit dubious about Temple Bar nowadays, as it (like all "arty" areas eventually do) has now become the playground of tourists and yuppies. Perhaps the Baggot Inn, Larry Murphy's, The Brazen Head or O'Donoghues would do the trick. Admittedly they are a little touristy, but their atmospheres are unbeatable. My personal favourite is O'Donoghues, not despite, but because you have to fight to get in the door. Get there early though, (5pm or so) so as to ensure that you get a seat! It is a proper spit and sawdust pub - sawdust covers the floor to stop people slipping on spilt beer. It's impossible not to have fun. Prepare to have the mickey taken out of you ruthlessly, but remember that you can give back everything you take (within reason of course) without fear of causing offence. If you can really play, you will be made to feel like royalty. Oh yeah, these pubs are all in Dublin. |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: GUEST,Merlin Date: 05 Sep 00 - 10:38 AM Here's my suggestion. Drive around, do whatever looks like fun, and get lost somewhere, see stuff you had never expected to see. My family went to Ireland when I was 10, and this is what we did. Half the time we had no idea what we were doing, but improvisation is always fun. The memories (and pictures) from that trip are incredible. |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: GUEST,Jeremie Date: 05 Sep 00 - 12:18 PM Hi everybody ! I have been to Ireland last summer I can certify you that if you go to Connemara natural park, you won't see a lot of turists ! Jeremie |
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Subject: RE: I'm going to Ireland! From: Cara Date: 05 Sep 00 - 12:48 PM I love this thread. It's nice to see that a lot of the places I'd considered are being recommended. I only wish we would have more time; however, I'm now virtually an expert on getting cheap trips to Ireland, so I know I'll be going back. Thank you all so much for the suggestions. I read the Ireland volume of Traveller's Tales this weeend and that helped a lot too. It's a really excellent series if you've never seen it. Rough itinerary coming soon! |
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