Irish Mudcatters?

Subject: To Liams Brother
From: GUEST,Niall Townley
Date: 30 Apr 01 - 08:20 PM

Sir:

A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, when I was but a child, my father, John Townley helped produce(?)an album by your band The Flying Cloud. I must admit the album was one of several from my childhood that has had a far reaching effect on me. The particular two that stand out are your arrangement for "Tibby Dunbar" and "Jack Orion". In fact I am now in a band myself and we sing those two in an Irish bar here in Chapel Hill N.C.. I wish I could find a recording of the album again, but the only copy I had was vynal and it wore out a long time ago. Do you know where to get a copy?

Niall Townley [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 30 Apr 01 - 07:53 PM

Hi Fibula!

When you write "I spent 3 months in Chicago trying to find out why sliproads (exits) aren't marked properly," I wonder if you were driving down the highways on the wrong side, thereby making the road signs improper... but you did live to tell the tale.

All the best,
Dan

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: GUEST,Claymore
Date: 30 Apr 01 - 06:42 PM

Thanks Mick, I'm still hunting down pubs to play in during our stay, and now I'm getting notes from people that say, for example, "Go to Mike Whalens place in Killeen or McArthey's restaurant in Gort and tell 'em Gerry Gaghan sent ye" from Irish Ex-pats in the DC area.

When this thing is done, Sabine and I will have to "pub-lish" a list of pubs that let us play just for the experience of it. As I said in earlier posts, there may be a reason it hasen't been tried before with an group of musicians and dancers who know each other, but if so, I'm bound to find out why.

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: GUEST,YUM YUM
Date: 28 Apr 01 - 10:19 AM

HI FIB. good to see you back on air again, I don't doubt you got lost in Chicago, it took you eighteen years to find your way out of Portaferry! Still diggin' ???

best regards

yum yum

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: Big Mick
Date: 27 Apr 01 - 07:59 PM

Claymore, read my last comment....I really was just teasing you. I would agree with the O'Hare comment with the exception of the new United terminal. That really is an easy one to get in and out of.

Good luck on the Fleadh and have a grand time in Ireland.

Mick

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: GUEST,Claymore
Date: 27 Apr 01 - 04:02 PM

Mick, My Mom was born in San Fransisco, and I spent a couple of years in Berkeley, and a few more up in Bolinas in Marin County. Not likely to call it Frisco. I'm sorry you took offense at my remark about Chicago but it does have the worst airport in the known world (even Danang had more organization during periods of heavy cross winds and light to moderate ground fire). But they do serve excellent steaks, almost anywhere you go

Fionn, Yes it is the Fleadh Cheoil in Listowel we're headed for. We have a couple of youngsters trying to qualify in the New York competitions, (One got 4th in Tenor Banjo last year and the other took first in Hammered Dulcimer, so we've a record). I would have loved to do it in the North, but maybe next year. It wouldn't take much but some up-tempo to have these folks ready for the Ulster Bluegrass festival. In fact our fiddler loves to tweak things like slip jigs into a double stopped smoker like "Billy in the Low Ground." And this is a scouting trip this year; several of us are doing this with an eye to making it mandatory if you're going to play at O'Hurley's...

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: Big Mick
Date: 27 Apr 01 - 11:23 AM

Claymore, you impress me with your ability to speak for "Most people from either coast of the US". Funny, I have lived on both coasts of the US for fairly extended periods of time. I have a great many friends from those areas. None of them ever brought that bit of information up to me. Hmmmmmmmmm............I will take Chicago traffic (only tourists and uninformed boobs call it Chi Town. Bet you call San Francisco 'Frisco too......eh........LOL) over the rush hour on I5 or 405 or 605 or the Ventura or any other Los Angeles freeway beginning at about 3PM until 7Pm, any of the east coast freeways at the same time. Chicago is a world class city, with a vibrant music community, that is easy to navigate, especially if you just get off the expressways. It is easy to get around in if you use one of those newfangled things..............wadda they call 'em..........Oh yeah, ...........maps.....nothing to it. I love the Eastern seaboard, and I love the West coast. Know both of them very well. But they have nothing on Chicago.

By the way, because context is hard to read, I am just teasing Claymore, not being nasty. Sometimes it is hard to tell on a computer screen.

Mick

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 27 Apr 01 - 10:33 AM

The fleadh in the 'point. What a thought! I believe the Down one is in Newry this year. Newry?????!!!!

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 27 Apr 01 - 09:04 AM

Lost in Chicago, Fibula? I got lost in O'Hare airport! I have, however, been lost in the byways of Ulster from time to time. The maps are fine, it's just that the roads don't always follow them.

The Fleadh was in Enniscorthy last year Claymore - it's Listowel this year, Listowel having got the vote by the narrowest of margins, over Warrenpoint, which would have been a first for Northern Ireland. Or maybe your friends were at a county or provincial fleadh rather than Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: GUEST,Claymore
Date: 26 Apr 01 - 01:47 PM

Fib, Most people from either coast of the US regard Chi-town as an IQ test, i.e. the smart ones leave. As for traffic circles, Washington DC (About 80 miles down the Potomac River from here) has all the traffic circles you could want. I have taken foreign vistors to sit in the parks in the center of the circle (they're much bigger than Ireland's) and we wait to see how many nations will be represented in the pileups that occur during rush hour.

But for all of DC's faults, it is truely a world class beauty in the spring (and truely horrid any time else). It ranks right up there with the approach into Shannon Airport for beauty. I look forward to seeing it once again.

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 26 Apr 01 - 12:16 PM

Ha! I resent that! I spent 3 months in Chicago trying to find out why sliproads (exits) aren't marked properly, why no one can use a roundabout (turning circle - whatever!), and why you never see a sign until you've driven underneath it. And why all junctions are numbered instead of signposted!! *G* sigh...!

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: GUEST,Claymore
Date: 26 Apr 01 - 12:04 PM

Fib, Thanks for the correction, I only had the local pronunciation to go from (no signs) and to our 'merican ears, the name "Moore" comes out as "Meer", causing no end of confusion. The only other thing to marr an absolutely wonderful time, is the total lack of anything approaching an American road map or street signs. The Americans are not invading Ireland, they're trying to find their way back to the airport.

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 26 Apr 01 - 11:35 AM

That's fascinating! I love hearing things about peoples' histories. (Afraid though, to tell you that the area in N'ards is Movilla - no "r" in there!) I wonder if the tiff that led to his departure had something to do with the 1798 rebellion? That's an extremley interesting period to study.

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: GUEST,Claymore
Date: 26 Apr 01 - 11:22 AM

Fib, My great, great, great, grandfather was John Moore, whose family was apparently driven out of Scotland after being caught on the wrong side of a Catholic/Protestant tiff. He shows up in Newtonards, as one of the builders of the Masonic Lodge in that town, and (from Lodge records still kept there) was a secretary at the lodge taking dues on July 4, 1775. He also is carried as one of the builders of the Presbyterian Church there. He lost several relatives, including at least one wife and a son who are buried in the abandoned churchyard at Morvilla (there are a great number of Moores buried there, hence the name?). John left Ireland and went to Nova Scotia where he built another Presbyterian Church, leaving two mill stones from his mill as the front steps to the church. He is buried there, and the rest of the family continued as millers, eventually moving to Boston in the 1840's where they became "Lace Curtain Irish" until the Great War and the Depression moved the family into the military as the career path of most of the sons.

Although no one in the family has been a Mason for many years, the Masons in Newtonards apparently gave John a document call a "Di Mit" which was a sort of character reference to show the Masons in the new world. This old document and a pair of jackplanes were the only thing we had to go on, in tracking him down. A documents examiner in Trinity College was able to make out the lodge marking on a lamp black seal on the document, that was unreadable to any of us, and the game was afoot. As an ex-cop I had told my Dad that we would track 'ol John to ground, if Dad lived through the heart attack he had a couple of years ago. Thus, two years ago my brother John, ('ol John's namesake) my father and I ended up near the ruins of a long abandoned church, looking at row upon row of Moores. When my Dad finally does go, he and his sons will have said it all...

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 26 Apr 01 - 05:57 AM

Claymore - where abouts in the Ards Peninsula?
Fib (who's from the Ards Peninsula - the end bit)

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: Sabine
Date: 26 Apr 01 - 02:56 AM

mcmoo, I will do! I will look up all the information we need to get in contact.

Paddymac, I heard of this place. But unfortunately we will go southwards. So I won't have the time to go to Sligo nor to Galway :o(((

Maybe next year. But thank you for the information.

Slán

Sabine

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: paddymac
Date: 26 Apr 01 - 12:43 AM

Since you'll be in "the West" anyway, you really ought to drop in to the "Sheela Na Gig" down by the river in Sligo town. Three of the lads in Dervish own the place, and they have seisiuns every night but Wed. and Sat. When the band is at home, they are commonly at the pub for the seisiuns. Lots of other superlative local musicians as well.

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: Lady McMoo
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 05:48 PM

Dear Sabine,

PM me nearer the time and we'll fix something up in Doolin. I'll have my family with me too!

All the best and take care

mcmoo

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: Sabine
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 04:37 AM

martin,

you're right, I forgot the Willy Weeks *g*. I'm very happy that we found a B&B at Doonbeg *g*. Some good musicians from Germany used to be there the last years. Did you ever hear of "Shanachie"??? They're really good!

mcmoo,

great!! I played at O'Connor's last year but it was terribly noisy and for me as a singer very hard work to sing! The next night I was invited to join a session at McDermotts and I must say that this one was great!

So I hope very badly that the musicians will remember me so that I may join again :o)

Claymore, what a pity that I can't meet you all! It sounds very interesting. I wish you all the best, success and good luck. And - of course - lots of craic!!

Sabine

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: GUEST,Kerryman
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 10:14 PM

Claymore, a chara: When you're in Listowell, stop in at the John B. Keene pub. John B. Himself, the poet laureate of Ireland, may be tending bar. If so, give him my best. I'm sure he'll let you play, but I don't think the John B. has room for the cloggers.

have a nice trip. Wish I could join you for a pint of Smithwicks.

Slán

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: MartinRyan
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 05:12 PM

Sabine

Remember that the Willy Clancy Summer School (aka The Willy Week) is in Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare, the week of July 7-15.

Regards

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: GUEST,Claymore
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 05:06 PM

Sabine,

I'm glad you brought this up. Thirteen of the local musicians and dancers from the area around Shepherdstown, WV (80 miles up the Potomac from DC) are going to be going to Ireland in the last two weeks of August. The musicians have played together for years, while the dancers are cloggers who regularly teach that form of dance in the local area.

The idea started a couple of years ago when my Dad, brother and I traveled across Ireland, attempting to locate our Irish roots, and found them in the Ards peninsula in County Down. I thought then what a great time it would be to actually play some music in an Irish pub with local musicians. I never thought we could do Irish music any better than local musicians, but I thought that bringing back what they sent us some 200 years ago, with some of the tunes recognizable, (and some not), might be worth a pitcher or two at a some local pub with a place to play with some local musicians wanting to trade tunes, or dancers looking to add an "Indian hitch" to their dance step repertoire.

I mentioned this to another musician whose family went last year to the Fleadh Cheoil in Listowel, and had an absolute ball. We thought it would be fun to visit Ireland with a relatively talented group of local musicians who have been playing at local jams at the Great Hall of O'Hurley's General Store, in Shepherdstown for the past ten years. We play what is locally described as "Celtic" music although the truth of the matter is that the music is the Scots-Irish Appalachian traditional music that was brought to this region many years ago by Irish rail and canal barge workers, and over the years acquired an Appalachian overlay. Thus, ceili dancing devolved into clogging, and songs sung at a clip, like "Star of the County Down," evolve into majestic waltzes.

Getting musicians pointed in the same direction is an exercise that is somewhat like herding kittens, but we have done the impossible, and are now ready to be unleashed on an unsuspecting Irish population. While each member of the group brings some musical talent to the group, we are honored to have the regions best fiddler, Sharon Hall, assisted by members of the Martin Family Band, (hammered dulcimer, mandolin tenor banjo, fiddle, and keyboards) as well as disgusting intrusions by me on longneck, guitar, and autoharps, and four of the absolute best cloggers in the area. We are looking to trade tunes, and dances with local musicians at any pub that won't throw us out on sight.

We'll be in Doolin, Co. Clare at the Doonagore Farmhouse B&B on August 16-19, then to Listowel, Co. Kerry at Dillanes Farmhouse B&B for the Fleadh Cheoil from August 20 –25, then to Ferns, Co. Wexford at Clone House B&B, from August 26 until most of the group leaves on the 30th. I will stay for a few additional days to visit the North again, and at each of the former locations we do plan to divert to local sites of interest, or a promising chance to play.

I'm convinced that we are not the first to do this, but I must admit that we had to make all these arrangements on our own, as no travel agency would give us a quote on any kind of a package. I will say that, so far, Sceptre Travel (budget travel to Ireland) has given us the best rates on flights, cars and B&B's that we have found, and except for a few passports, we're bound away.

If there are any Mudcatters who know of local pubs, jams, sessions etc. in the above locations, that might want to trade songs 'n steps for pitchers 'n pints, please submit same.

And best of luck to you, Sabine; we'll "Follow in trace" a few weeks later… (And do post your experiences, especially the pub list).

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: Lady McMoo
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 08:10 AM

Dear Sabine,

I think I could probably arrange to be in Doolin on the 11 or 12 July. The two other pubs that have (or at least used to have) good sessions there are McGann's and O'Connors.

Best regards,

mcmoo

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: Lady McMoo
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 08:09 AM

Dear Sabine,

I think I could probably arrange to be in Doolin on the 11 or 12 July. The two other pubs that have (or at least used to have) good sessions there are McGann's and O'Connors.

Best regards,

mcmoo

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: alison
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 05:07 AM

drop a PM to "death by whiskey"... he's over there somewhere... Tralee direction I think

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: Sabine
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 04:31 AM

We will arrive at Doolin on July 10th and stay there for two or three nights. And I definetely will join a session at McDiarmud's (or McDermott's??).

Our the next stop will be at Doonbeg (I forgot to mention it above) for 2 nights and then Ballyheigue (also 2 nights).

Would be a great pleasure to meet you :o)

Sabine

Subject: RE: Irish Mudcatters?
From: Lady McMoo
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 03:33 AM

Depends when Sabine but I'll be back in Ireland 11-28 July and will be in Clare at the beginning of that trip but mostly in Co. Galway later. I'm always ready for a session if there's one about!

Regards,

mcmoo

Subject: Irish Mudcatters?
From: Sabine
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 03:04 AM

Hi all :o)

I'm going on a three weeks trip to Ireland in July. Would be great to meet any Irish Mudcatters.

My route will be Doolin, Ballyheigue, Dingle (1 week), Waterville, Aghadoe or Fossa and Mountshannon. I know this sounds rather queer but my whole familiy (my parents and my children) are joining me.

If there are any Mudcatters it would be great to get in contact or/and to join a session.

Regards

Sabine