Hello Chiffers!

As the title suggests, I'm fulfilling a life-long dream and taking a trip to Galway City in September. I was wondering if there are any of you from there who could tell me about local sessions to go to. I'm also going to be traveling alone, so it would be nice to meet a fellow Chiffer or two or three while I'm there!

Let me know!

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"It's the Great God Bird through it all!"
-Sufjan Stevens

Hard to throw a stone in Galway without hitting a great session. Surprised this was posted in Feb and no one's responded yet.

I was there for a few months in 2007, so I don't have all the latest details, but generally Tigh Coili's, Taaffe's (right across from each other right in the center of the pedestrian area) are among the top, though my personal favorite is The Crane on Sea Rd across the river. Last I knew, Sean Ryan comes up from Tipp to lead the Sunday afternoon session there each week. (looks like that's still the case, according to the website: http://www.thecranebar.com/ )

If you're a beginner-to-intermediate player and are looking for a friendly, welcoming session for all levels, check out http://www.dustybanjos.com/ Great folks, great tunes.

This is definitely not an exhaustive list. Most trad pubs will have sessions at least once or twice a week, though the ones above probably have something going on just about every night, plus some in the afternoons.

Enjoy!

Hi - I live in Galway City (for 10 years now) and play some sessions there.
One that I organize myself is every Thursday night, 9.30pm at The Western Hotel
(city centre). Tunes, songs, great fun and very friendly, its a very open session.
I play the whistle too, so will probably be there if you come: e-mail me at
opentrad@yahoo.com if you might come along, web page for the hotel is
www.thewestern.ie

Michael Mc Gettrick

passing through Galway on Sunday and Monday this weekend, any suggestions?

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Mark

As mentioned in my post above, the Sunday afternoon (1pm-ish) session at The Crane with Sean Ryan and Pat Conneely is one of my favs. If you're not familiar with it, Sean Ryan's recording of London Lasses followed by Coast of Austria is one of my all-time favorite whistle tracks. I'm sure if you ask nicely he'd give it a go for you.

I might also recommend hitting up the falafel stand at the Farmer's Market for lunch before heading over there!

Have fun. I'm jealous.

thanks, we might just make it in time for that. Good reminder on that set, it's one of my favourites too. There's also a funny story about how he wrote Coast of Austria. Anyway, off to the pub now, might just play those while I'm there...

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Mark

Hello synecdoche, I hoped you spent a great time in Galway. Maybe we crossed there, I went hin galway a couple of days in the end of september !

Anyway, I second Tristan, The crane is definitively the place to go to session in Galway. More over, a friend of mine got into ITM with the dusty banjos, and simply adore these folks. (Check their website, I think it's great).

I went in Tig Coili's as well, there was grand music, but it seemed more like a gig than an open session. A place to listen, not to play (unless you're very good and then you probably already know the musicians).

Galway is just awesome, I wish I could come back there soon.