Jay The Fiddler
For the Love of Fiddle.

Ireland Trip 2011

2024 Jay’s Trip to Ireland Post 1

I touched down in Dublin Wednesday at 830AM. Caught the bus to Galway and called on the Fullers in Renmore. I went that first night to Tigh Coili’s and had an amazing session led by Declan Corry (mandolin) and Geraldine (Ger) Clancy (fiddle). Talked too late to a Peruvian couple. Thursday I went into Galway (about 2KM) up College Road. I got a sim card for my phone (20 euro for 4 weeks – unlimited text, talk and 5G). Played the early session at Taaffe’s led by old friend Anders Trajberg on bos. Then I caught the end of the slightly less early session at Coili’s, again led by Ger Clancy. Waited around for the late session led by the great Johnny O’Halloran (melodeon) from Inishbofin. Getting kind of tired by now. The session scene has rebounded well after the pandemic with the same sessions at the same time with the same players. The Fullers have a holiday home in S Donegal in the town of Ardara (Arrrr-dra). Yes there are sessions. Played Friday with Peter Campbell (fiddle) whom I played with several times between 2000-2005. As well as his father (JImmy) and uncle (Vincent) who have both passed away since my last visit. Saturday night was in the wee Glen Tavern -https://www.facebook.com/theglentavern/- up the mountain 7 kms from Glenties. I have been there before and knew many of the players. They were playing distinctly Donegal tunes: mazurkas, Germans, highlands, waltzes. Week D anyone? Tonight I will find The Rusty mackerel in Teelin with one of Ireland’s best bos players, Dermott Byrne.
Here is the Newly Mown Meadow a tempo
Slánte Jay

Untitled

I can’t wait to go to Ireland on October 9th.

 

Wednesday Nov 2nd. Double duty at Tig Coili’s

Called in on the early session at Tig Coili’s with Paul Bradley and Declan Corey. Paul usually only plays the first session but he was playing both tonight. The second session was flying! So much fun.

Tuesday, November 1st. The annual horsefair in Castleisland, Farewell to Kerry.

So sad to say good-bye to Kerry and all my friends here. BUT – one last session at Prendeville’s with Jackie O’Connor, Terrence Quinn and PJ on bouzouki. The town was flying as they sell their livestock right on main street.

Later that night Georgia and I are in Tig Coili’s on Shop Street, Galway City. Fun times with Liz Hanrahan and Kevin Whelan.

Monday- Halloween

One last Festival session at Kearney’s Loads of musicians. Then up Flannagan’s in Brosna for the Monday Session with Jackie O’Connor and Terrence Quinn. Also Georgia and her friends Great Curtin and Anee Marie Fitzgerald showed up with their Concertinas to liven up the session.

Later on Sunday

I did my flat out festival day today – 12 hours of sessions from 3pm to 3 am. #1 was with very good musicians Jackie Daly, Matt Cranitch, Paul De Grae and Connie O’Connell. The firs three of those had visited Newfoundland this July for the first annual Seamus Creagh festival. I had seen the pics on Facebook but wanted to make sure my fellow Canadians had taken good care of them.

Next 6pm session at the Crown with Donal Cullinane and Mike Roche. John McAulliffe bent my ear about Liz Carroll, Scottish Music, and the proper lattitude and longtitude om my city, Edmonton.

Next 10pm session at Kearney’s with Dennis O’Connor and Con Moynihan. That one was flying. Georgia left with some of the youn musicians for another session then at 1am told me she was at the River Island Hotel where the sessions go all night. I followed her there and met Tim Edey http://www.myspace.com/begleyandedey.He is a fabulous nylon string guitarist from England – hugely influeced by Stephen Cooney. More tunes and stagger home at 3 am.

 

Day 21-Sunday- Unexpected Visitors

I was sitting in the kitchen at the window at the farm when these 2 cheerful and energetic women appeared and started waving and smiling at me. I never saw the two of them before but i went to the door and it turns out they are daughters of my friend Kathleen Nolan, who died earlier this year at the age of 80. I would talk to Kathleen at pub sessions during the festival. she loved music and was very active and interested in many things. I guess she would mention me to the family “this friendly Canadian man and his daughter”. They didn’t know me but they tracked me down and brought me the funeral card from the mass – so sweet. I was very touched to be included in their thoughts. It was great craic around the table with Annie serving tea and a fresh loaf out of the oven. Teresa and Kate were talking a mile a minute about anything and everything. One anecdote: when someone was in a hurry their father would say “you’re a dirty fright, sit down and relax”. God Bless you Kathleen Nolan RIP.

Day 20 – 29-10-11 – Festival Time!

Played tunes all day long at the Patrick O’Keeffe festival. I was actually on the Pub Trail program with Jackie Dan Gerry O’Connor – Con’s Bar at 7 pm. Georgia stayed till half 8 then ran off to meet Greta Curtain at Browne’s. Well didn’t the lads have plans to go to a session in Abbeyfeale at Murphy’s Bar. So Good bye Georgia we’ll see you tomorrow at noon. I stayed in Browne’s till 1:30 playing ith Danny O’Mahoney, Donal Cullinane, Mike Walsh and Cyril O’Donahue from Clare.

Day 19 – Roscommon Town to Ennis To Castleisland

Arrived in Ennis at 2pm to meet John Culliney who had prepared his usual huge feast and a house full of guests. Paulo, Niamh, and Annette were at the house and a roast chicken meal with all the Irish roast veg – turnip, parsnips, carrots and spuds. Then some tunes and back on the road. Bank holiday Friday meant the roads were jammed and the 3 towns below Limerick were 15-30 minutes getting through. Arrived to Jackie and Annie – more food and fun – then down to the Patrick O’Keeffe Festival launch at the River Island Hotel. Georgia and I played a set of Michael Coleman reels on radio Kerry for Danny O’Mahoney’s program. Now the man before was singing the traditional Kerry song “The Hunting of the Ram” and went on rather long.”He was after singing 20 verses, I thought he’d never stop” said Jackie. so we had to cut our set short to get the rest of the guests on before the end of the program.

We continued on to Kearney’s bar, my local here, and had a might session until late with Eilish Murphy and Jonathan Roche.

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