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31 May 09 - 11:20 PM (#2645293) Subject: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: GUEST,Melinda R. I'm traveling to County Clare during Willie Clancy and was hoping to make a trip to Gleesons, but in the course of looking for a map stumbled on this forum and learned I'm too late. Can anyone direct us to someplace at all ---I hesitate to use this word -- comparable in the area? Many thanks! |
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01 Jun 09 - 04:57 AM (#2645404) Subject: RE: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: GUEST,Peter Laban Sorry, it's gone and gone forever. There was and is nothing like it. Other places where music was played, Conway's, Queally's, Mary Fahey's and others have shut down, Friel's is under new management and while the music continues there for now, it's not quite the same either. |
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01 Jun 09 - 09:06 PM (#2646023) Subject: RE: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: GUEST,Melinda R. Oh, no -- is this Friel's my best bet then? Can you tell me the town? I'm a music professor and eager to pass on the best possible experience to my students on my return. Very grateful for any guidance; many thanks- |
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02 Jun 09 - 02:16 AM (#2646177) Subject: RE: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: Jim Carroll As Peter said - nothing lke Gleesons, Plenty of music during Clancy week - all overcrowded unfortunately. Friel's is different, but still outstanding. Rumours suggest that the crowds may not be so large this year due to economic downturn. Miltown Malbay's the town. Jim Carroll |
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02 Jun 09 - 03:31 AM (#2646207) Subject: RE: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: MartinRyan GUESTMelinda, As Jim Carroll suggests, in Miltown itself, Friel's is the best starting point for music. Singers tend to congregate in Marrinan's - also in the town itslf - best time is late afternoon as it gets packed and downright unpleasant later, IMHO. You'll soon get to know the options. How long will you be in the area? If you're not familiar with Irish music, taking one of the two general introductory courses (on the instrumental and singing traditions respectively) may be worth considering. Regards |
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02 Jun 09 - 06:39 AM (#2646287) Subject: RE: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: GUEST This one is absolutely brilliant, quoted from the prog: "Dúchas an Cheoil: The Scope of Irish Music A week-long introduction to the Irish musical tradition at the library, St Joseph's Secondary School, Spanish Point. Masters of the instrumental, dancing and singing (Irish and English) traditions will demonstrate and discuss their crafts with students. Paddy Glackin, renowned traditional fiddle player, and Cathal Goan, an authority on traditional singing, will conduct this course." I've done it twice as I'm neither a singer or musician and it was well worth it, as the prog says, Paddy & Cathal are masters of their profession! |
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02 Jun 09 - 08:42 AM (#2646375) Subject: RE: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: GUEST,Melinda R. Many thanks to you all. I'm coming to Limerick for a conference and will be in Miltown Malbay just a couple of days, likely. My former guitar teacher wrote about Gleesons in a book I use for class, and I was hoping to enjoy it for myself. How sad to know that it's gone. In any case, I appreciate the suggestions and I'm actually a bit glad to hear that late afternoon is a good time for music as I'll have a 5 year old with me. |
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02 Jun 09 - 10:49 AM (#2646487) Subject: RE: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: GUEST,Peter Laban If you're looking for advise on where to go during the Willie week, there's just no way of telling. Any place may have a group of nice musicians descending on it to play some music before word gets out and the hangers-on flood in. Any place at the same time has more of a chance to harbour mayhem. Not sure crowded pubs are the place for a five year old (been there, done that) at all. I don't think I played a single note all Willie week last year. |
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02 Jun 09 - 08:49 PM (#2647026) Subject: RE: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: GUEST,Melinda R. thanks, that gives me a nice picture of what to expect and what to try to avoid. Happily my 5 year old is a good sport. We'll hope perhaps to hear you play this year, Peter? |
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03 Jun 09 - 03:32 AM (#2647131) Subject: RE: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: GUEST,Elfcall You have just given me a very nasty moment - I thought you meant Gleeson's in Ennis!!! - be still my beating heart. Elfcall |
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03 Jun 09 - 04:58 AM (#2647164) Subject: RE: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: MartinRyan GUESTMelinda My former guitar teacher wrote about Gleesons in a book I use for class That'll be Steve Scott/Dorothy Hast's book, of course. Coincidentally, I make a brief cameo appearance in same! Regards |
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21 Jun 09 - 05:50 PM (#2661718) Subject: RE: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: GUEST Thanks to all for the lovely advice, we're so looking forward to hearing music in west Clare soon! |
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21 Jun 09 - 06:18 PM (#2661726) Subject: RE: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: MartinRyan Enjoy it. If you're in Marrinan's some afternoon - keep an eye out for me! Regards |
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22 Jun 09 - 06:24 PM (#2662398) Subject: RE: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: GUEST,Melinda R. Will do! |
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07 Jul 09 - 03:35 PM (#2674115) Subject: RE: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: GUEST,Melinda Ha- little did I know, Martin, that it would be a struggle to even get in the door of Marrinan's! But did meet and chat with a lovely man called Gerry MacNamara who sang beautifully, and we saw lots of nice playing in some other places. Back Thursday to try again! Martin, in case you see this -- what do you look like, and what do you play? |
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07 Jul 09 - 04:17 PM (#2674143) Subject: RE: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: Jim Carroll He'll have a rolled up copy of the Times under his arm - and he plays the fool. Not a half-bad singer though. Jim Carroll |
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07 Jul 09 - 04:34 PM (#2674154) Subject: RE: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: GUEST,Melinda Boy, I set myself up for that one! thanks, Jim-- |
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07 Jul 09 - 06:44 PM (#2674232) Subject: RE: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: GUEST,Peter Laban And I played in the street with Michael Kelleher, Joe Rynne, Brid O Donohue, Gerald Haugh and Ann And Nicky McAuliffe on Monday afternoon. Which was a good start to the week. Have disappeared out of sight again since. |
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08 Jul 09 - 07:41 AM (#2674582) Subject: RE: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: GUEST I'll remain alert to rumors of your reappearance. |
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11 Jul 09 - 12:32 PM (#2677520) Subject: RE: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: MartinRyan I'm afraid I sneaked back to Kinvara unbeknownst.... I haven't seen Mudcat for the week - sorry I missed you. Yes, Marrinan's was constantly packed - which meant that most of the singing was roared out regardless - interspersed with even more raucous "recitations". I still managed to get in two or three songs a day by regular checking to see when Marrinan's Rule applied: If you stand at the wall just inside the door of Marrinan's and you can't see the opposite wall - it's too crowded to be worth singing! Regards p.s. Despite the above cormudgeonly comments, I did manage to hear some good singing and some good songs - and enjoyed the week thoroughly , as ever. |
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14 Jul 09 - 04:38 PM (#2680261) Subject: RE: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: GUEST i had a grand time in any case, but truly sorry to have missed you. Marrinan's rule a good one -- when people were singing, the crowd inside was respectful and quiet, but those trying to enter were loud and spoiled things a bit. The vocal concert on --was it Thursday? - was wonderful. Hope I can come back next year as a student. |
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14 Jul 09 - 07:06 PM (#2680346) Subject: RE: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: MartinRyan Concert was on Friday - glad to see that the Miltown timewarp effect is getting to you! I agree that it was excellent - it can vary a bit partly because of the rather rigid structure it uses and partly because of the very varied stage experience of the performers. Can you remember which singers you enjoyed most? I'd be interested in a newcomer's perspective. Sounds like you'd enjoy the singing course that Brian and Ian, who MC'd the concert, run. You'd learn a lot about Irish song and about Irish singing, I reckon. I've done it (twice?) over the years and enjoyed it very much. Regards |
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15 Jul 09 - 09:51 PM (#2681142) Subject: RE: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: GUEST my traveling partners had pretty much 'had it' with miltown malbay traffic, trip from ennis, etc (and had patiently sat through two piping classes with me), so i had to leave quite early. I really enjoyed the second guy (no clue as to his name, but a smallish man with, I think, a mustache and black-rimmed glasses, rather soft spoken and he used a tinwhistle to set his pitch) -- he so came alive when singing and that's always lovely to see....I'd seen him earlier while having lunch up the street, and after his lunch he took out a flute and played with some other people (I took a picture). And the woman who followed him was young --from Dublin?--'doing research' on Irish traditional music. She had that impossibly lithe kind of voice that I love (reminded me a little of Karan Casey), somehow managing to run trippingly through all this vocal filigree while staying within the confines of a tightly constrained whisper. Its small technical imperfections made it all the more beautiful to me. the course sounds great, esp. now that i can picture it taught. -- --all good wishes |
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16 Jul 09 - 02:44 AM (#2681213) Subject: RE: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: MartinRyan The first singer you mention was Cathal McConnell, longtime member of The Boys of the Lough. I particularly enjoyed Edward, the Boast of Athlone which is not often heard. Cathal is quite a character. He usually carries flutes and whistles in a rather business-like briefcase producing a disturbing resemblance to Groucho Marx playing Doctor Hackensacker! Regards |
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16 Jul 09 - 10:46 AM (#2681442) Subject: RE: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: GUEST no wonder he looked familiar, for two reasons! I too loved that first song, which I'd not heard before. I wonder if the WC week cds include any performances from these concerts? I noticed it was being filmed, perhaps for RTE broadcast. |
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16 Jul 09 - 11:34 AM (#2681469) Subject: RE: Gleesons gone? Recommend alternate? From: GUEST,Peter Laban RTE wasn't filming, ITMA was. Oidreacht an Chláir, who compile the WCSS CDs and did the calendar, were doing sound recordings as were ITMA and RTE/RnaG. OAC also keep a photographic record of the performers (my son was doing that job actually). |