music in Bundoran (Donegal)

Subject: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: weerover
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 12:31 PM

I'm heading to Bundoran for a couple of weeks in June. Anybody out there know of pubs which have decent music sessions (particularly any which welcome singers)?

wr.

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: weerover
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 07:48 AM

No one's ever been???

wr

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: GUEST,Roseanne
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 12:22 PM

I come from close to Bundoran and would recommend travelling a bit down the road for great sessions. Try Sean Og's in Ballyshannon or The Schooner in DonegalTown. There used to be a little country pub in Maghera, near Sligo where local musicians play. It was Ellen's of Maghera. Don't know if it's still going. Ask any of the locals in Bundoran and they'll be able to help you.

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 12:33 PM

I think I'd follow Roseanne's advice and "travel a bit down the road." I went to a place in Bundoran that was supposed to have good music. All they had was American country music, sung in a brogue. The closest they got to Irish music was Las Vegas in the Hills of Donegal. I didn't find Irish music until I met up with Martin Ryan in Dublin at the end of my trip.
Be sure to hike out on the headlands at Bundoran. It's a very nice walk. The area around Bundoran is lovely, but Bundoran itself is a rather rowdy beach town. Our rooms were right over the bar, and the band and the drunks kept us up all night.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: Little Robyn
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 01:37 PM

We found real Irish music at Oliver's Bar in Ardara, not too far from Donegal. Packie Byrne was there and the landlord was a musician, as was his 3 lovely daughters who (in 1990) were aged between about 7 and 12. I trust they're still there and I hope Packie is well.
Robyn

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: Raggytash
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 02:21 PM

If it's not too late cancel and find somewhere else to stay, Bundoran is Big Screen TV and Karaoke, you have to travel miles north or south or East to find anything. Put bluntly Bundoran caters for tourist from northern Ireland like Blackpool caters for tourists from northen England, I doubt very much if it has altered since last Easter, Sorry to be such a Jonah but I can only speak as I found. We went 10 strong with Guitars, Banjos, Bodhrans and were not really encouraged to play anywhere except the Station/Railway bar (sorry the correct name escapes me)
Ardara is a great little place but it's possibly two hours drive from Bundoran and Donegal town through which you have to pass is about 20 miles

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: Eugene Judge
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 02:46 PM

Don't know if this is any use. Sessions for Donegal County from the Irish Music Mag. Not guaranteed to be correct or current.

Annagary - Jack's                Thurs
Annagary - The Shamrock                Sat
Bally Shannon - Seán Og            072 51522 Wed
Buncranna - Central hotel   077 61094 Thurs
Dunkineely - Central bar        Wed
Falcarragh - Shamrock Lodge 074 35859 Sat
Glenties - Glen Tavern            075 51170 Fri, Sat
Glenties - Highland Hotel   074 35859 Sun
Gorta Hork - Billie's Bar       Tue
Gorta Hork -Teach Rhuans        Thurs
Gweedore -Hudai Beag's                Mon
Killybegs - Sail Inn       073 31130 Fri, Sat, Sun
Moyville - Shan Rawdons Pub 077 82225        Fri

Info came from this site.

http://mag.irish-music.net/Sessions/Sessions.htm

If you are travelling around find the scenic route into the Blue Stack mountains. It's wonderful and wild - the back of beyond. I can't remember where it is but it's not far from Donegal Town I think. It's signposted

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: weerover
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 03:15 PM

Thanks for all the info. It's too late for me to cancel Bundoran, I knew it was a bit touristy but thought it seemed a good spot from which to explore one of the few bits of the west of Ireland I haven't spent a bit of time in. I'll probably visit some of the places mentioned, with the bonus that my wife recently got her driving licence so I might even get a jar or teo.

wr

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: weerover
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 03:15 PM

Sorry, that should read "...or two"

wr

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: Frankham
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 04:44 PM

When we were in Bundoran, we went to the Ballad Room. Wonder
if it's still there?

Frank

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: Raggytash
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 07:23 PM

Weerover,
I appreciate you may lose your deposit however Bundoran is not well situated to tour from. I booked last year with the intention of using it as a base for touring. In reality we covered 20-30 miles each day before we got to the bits we wanted to visit. From Bundoran to get to see the rest of Donegal is a 20 mile drive for starters to Donegal town, from where you can see the real Donegal ( which is beautiful)
The rest of the party i travelled with are of the same opinion, Bundoran was not the place for us, and before I upset any local people, it was not the people (who were lovely) but the tourist trade it was geared for

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: GUEST,TIA
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 08:35 PM

HQ in Killybegs if you can. Beautiful places all around (Slieve League, Kilcar, etc.) and lots of real music spots.

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: GUEST,Concerned of Huddersfield
Date: 26 Feb 04 - 05:07 AM

Killybegs is fine and a good point to use for touring, as Tia indicates. It is also possible to travel to much of Donegal in a morning, up to Ardara, Glenties or Dungloe and the coast is wonderful. To get to these places from Bundoran is quite a trek. It's probably 30 miles from Bundoran to Killybegs through which you have to pass to get to much of Donegal.
On the down side killybegs does smell of fish, you know it's there before you reach it due to the fish processing factories that abound, but don't let that put you off.

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Feb 04 - 05:24 AM

Kilcar is a great place for the music...and doesn't smell of fish. Try John Joe's (I think) or the Piper's Rest? Been a long while since I was up that way but remember the music was fantastic.
If ya get up that way and run into the Hegarty's or Nora Carr....tell them Eileen from Michigan says hi!

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: weerover
Date: 26 Feb 04 - 07:23 AM

Found some info an a village close to Bundoran called Kinlough, which seems to have, or to attract, musicians. Anyone know any more?

wr

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 26 Feb 04 - 07:37 AM

My son reminded me last night of the bar in Bundoran with the stuffed bear and the wild west swing doors and the 2 guys who were out of their tinnies on Whiskey at 9.30 on a Saturday morning when we called in for a cup of tea.

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: David Ingerson
Date: 26 Feb 04 - 07:59 PM

There were some great sessions in the pub in Teelin (sp?) many years ago. Don't know if they still happen, but the Teelin area is its own little Gaeltacht and attracted a lot of traditional minded people. It's two miles south of Carrick which is a few miles past Killybegs (if I'm remembering correctly).

David

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: AKS
Date: 27 Feb 04 - 02:47 AM

A year ago, when having some good time in Donegal Town (esp. at Scotsman's), we were - more than once - reminded that the 'best' sessions there right then were taking place in Teelin (Theilinn). And that Ardara might be worth visiting as well. Ah heck, since you'll be going that far, why not go up to Gweedore, too...

AKS

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: GUEST,weerover
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 11:30 AM

Back now from Bundoran and it was a bit touristy but there's still the odd session to be had if you look for it. We had some fine evenings in The Chasin' Bull, Slieve League and particularly The Bridge Bar (where there were even some songs in between the tune sets, from both locals and visitors).

wr

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 11:55 AM

weerover, can I ask if you are going again next year? I would have to say the "bit touristy" is an understatement !
The Bridge Bar was the only place we found music and there were five musicians in our party who were not encouraged to do our own material although we were welcomed to join in as the resident crew played their tunes

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: GUEST,weerover
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 02:14 PM

Raggytash,

Although there were a lot of pubs with rebel or "Country and Irish" bands playing, there was certainly proper trad music in the Chasin' Bull and Slieve League on various nights, in both of which I was not only allowed but encouraged to sing as well as to join in with the tunes as much as my limited ability on the guitar would permit. In the Bridge Bar there was another fine singer from Dublin and one or two (apparently) locals who were also coaxed into singing. It's a pity your experience was so different.

If you had a bunch of musicians, perhaps you could have asked in some of the pubs where nothing was arranged and started your own session.

As for going back, I probably will at some time as there is first class trout fishing and golf in the area anyway: man does not holiday by music alone.

wr

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 10:33 PM

So I guess none of you has ever heard of a wee band called Altan then?

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 10:34 PM

Or Clannad?

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 10:34 PM

The Doherty family perhaps?

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jun 04 - 04:00 AM

The above bands may be from Donegal but Bundoran ? Donegal is a huge county

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: GUEST,weerover
Date: 24 Jun 04 - 10:48 AM

Yes, no doubt Donegal has produced its share of fine performers; the issue under discussion was whether you could find a decent session, my experience being that you can.

wr.

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jun 04 - 02:30 PM

Right, except people don't seem to be finding them in Donegal there weerover. If no one posting to this thread has found their way to Culdaff, Buncrana, Bunbeg, Crolly, Tory Island, Glenties, Ardara, Dunfanaghy, Glencolumbkille, Falcarragh, Bloody Foreland, Letterkenney, Dunlewey, Gortahork, etc etc they aren't finding their way to the pure drop. Sure, they might be finding tourist pubs here and there, but it's not the same thing at all.

The biggest mistake people make is to get to Bundoran, Ballyshannon, or Donegal Town, and turn around. People miss an entire other world of music doing that, and then run back to their worlds and tell people there isn't any traditional music in Donegal.

By just following the trail to where Clannad's family hails from (Leo's Tavern, Crolly) or Altan's family (Teach Hiudai Beag, Bunbeg), or the fiddling Campbell family (Highland Hotel, Glenties), people won't likely find "the stars" but they will find all the musicians those stars get their music from--which is even better.

It just isn't that hard to find this information online. Just here in Mudcat, apparently.

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: GUEST,A Fan
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 01:47 AM

The scene in Bundoran hasn't been the same since the legendary Slev
left the Railway Bar. During his reign musicans from all over the world graced his bar and were warmly welcomed. Mick Softly, The Wild Herrings, Fureys, Bidda Corbett and Eddie Lynch to name but a few played there. It's rumoured Shane McGowan penned a song or two there in the wee mornin hours. Alas the flame no longer burns bright now that he's gone. I hear tell Slev himself drops in now and again to take a break from his world travels. So if your lucky and happen to be in Bundoran whilst he is in town then strap yourself in!

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: GUEST,RescueRhino
Date: 25 Jul 04 - 06:51 PM

Been to a couple of pretty good sessions in Falcarragh at the Shamrock, but I've been to some fantastic ones in little Gortahork. Teach Billie's is the name, I believe. Some of the best fun I've had in county Donegal! And I got to punch out a fellow American who said that Guinness tastes like crap and Jameson's is okay if you mix it with coca-cola!!!

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Jul 04 - 04:06 AM

Oh Wow, what a hero, punches someone for having an opinion, must be wonderful to be mentally gifted

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: belfast
Date: 26 Jul 04 - 09:11 AM

The trouble with being a tourist is that you tend to end up in touristy places and no matter where you go you are doing that little bit to make it more touristy. In the places that aren't touristy the inhabitants are doing ordinary things, bringing the kids to school, going to work, going home, reading a book, looking at tv. They are doing very little that would amuse a visitor for more than two minutes. The pubs that have great sessions often have them for tourists. To put it simply and bluntly the toursits/visitors are paying for the sessions. And there are worse places in Ireland than Bundoran.

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: GUEST,BB
Date: 16 Aug 04 - 03:47 PM

There is only one band worth talking about in Bundoran and that is the Barefoot Desciples. They play exclusively in the Chasin' Bull. The Shades are great too, they also play in the Bull. The Superfreaks play 1am-3am on a Sunday Night/Monday morning in Bootleggers but they are a bit drawn out. Seriously, catch the Desciples. http://barefootdesciples.freeservers.com

Subject: music in Bundoran, you joking?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jan 05 - 10:25 AM

i've been following the Irish music scene for years and the worst spot in Donegal if in not Ireland,for music, is Bundoran. if you're looking for loads of teddy machines and a place to be sick after the amount of beer you have to drink to bear this hell on earth,its your kind of town.there's great musicians from down there but the locals are eithheir too drunk or to busy shouting that their "daddy and uncle john sham" are in the IRA to care.take those musicians out of Bundoran and Ballyshannon for that matter, tumble and burn the whole fecking thing and build a new haven for musicians and music lovers alike.well, thats just my opinion.

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Aug 05 - 09:32 PM

I resent the last posting!! I live in Bundoran, consider myself a local, originally hailing from England, then kinlough (mentioned somewhere here) and I have to say as a local, yes it is a tourist trap but there is very few of us who refer to eachother as shams and the "locals" who claim their daddy or uncle john is in the IRA are indeed not locals but more than likely hail from another end of our country,which I won't name. Bundoran has many diverse music tastes, sad to say the traditional genre has been on a slow decline in the last few years and yes - it has been replaced by a rock/metal genre, but as said its a tourist trap. But truth be told there are more surfers living here then anything else and thats what keeps Bundoran going all year round, not the odd tourist who may visit once in their lifetime. I live here and I see it all, the good, the bad and the ugly and the kick ass surfers and the young musicians that will rock your world if thats what floats your boat. Enough of the negativity, Bundoran has plenty of good points.
A

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: michaelr
Date: 11 Aug 05 - 12:31 AM

Thanks for making sure I won't be visiting.

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Nov 05 - 06:53 PM

I'm sure you won't be missed.

Subject: RE: music in Bundoran (Donegal)
From: GUEST,HansW
Date: 24 May 11 - 02:43 PM

Hi
There is a trad session in the Phoenix bar every sunday 8 - 10.