I will be in Kerry from 18th until 25th of May and wondered if anyone can suggest venues to hear some good music. I know some sessions around Dingle but want to avoid the typical tourist stuff around Killarney.Very grateful for any tips, many thanks!
The last time I was in Dingle, there was a good session styled concert in O’Flaherty. It was 4 guys playing flutes, fiddles, concertinas and banjos. They were sitting at the far end of the pub (opposite the bar) and were plugged. It was excellent, apart from the proverbial bus load of tourists in bawneen sweaters.
There used to be good sessions in Dick Mac’s in the 80’s but it got too messy in the 90’s. I’ve not been there since 1999.
If you are in Killarney, stop in to Jimmy O’Brien’s Pub on College St (just off the train station). He has a wall full of photos of famous Kerry musicians, including a nice one of Willie Clancy and Junior Crehan. He also has a Kenna set of pipes hanging on the wall.
Jimmy, the owner, is around during the day and is very interested in the music. He is a fine singer, too.
I remember getting into a great session in the Mason’s Apron in Tralee during Rose week in 1989. Is the place still there and if so, what’s the music like?
You should contact Mick Dooley and stay with him while you’re at it. He has a B&B “Teach an Píobaire” in Tralee: http://homepage.eircom.net/~dooleypipes/
Patrick.
If you want to avoid touristy and have a car, drive out to Ballyferriter on the Dingle Penninsula on Friday night to Bric’s (sp?).
Cillian O’Brien (excellent pipemaker and piper) lives out there and usually comes to that session. Also his sister (great flute player) lives near there, and the pub owner is a fiddle player as well.
I had some great tunes out there this summer with them.
Bric’s is the pub with the petrol pumps out front. Just go into Ballyferriter and ask directions. They can point you in the right direction.
Cheers,
Pelham
You can stop in to see Cillian, too, at the shop in Dingle during normal work hours.
A big thanks to all of you for your help.I’ll be trying out as many as I can. I think I’ll leave sleeping until I get back! Good luck
Cillian’s sister…?
Well, his wife is a great flute player…I’m assuming they’re not the same person…
If you’re in Dingle, there’s usually more than a few sessions to be had…It can get a bit out of control heading into the Summer though, but things should still be decent in mid-late May.
First place you should head is Oifig An Cheoil (“The Music Office”) on Dykegate Lane…there’s rarely anybody in there (rather like the Dingle Garda Station in this respect), but they should have a flyer posted on the door with the most current listings (i.e. less than two years old) for sessions and concerts and things. After that, go across the street to An Caife Liteartha and see if they have any good music books (they usually have a few–and for very reasonable prices, I seem to recall). Also get a cup of tea and one of the toasted sandwiches, which are absolutely to die for…O’Flaherty’s has already been mentioned. The owner, Fergus O"Flaherty is a pretty good box and banjo player and there are usually a few other good players there. Feargal MacAmhlaoibh, a fiddle player and writer sometimes shows up (his daughter Muireann sings and plays flute w/Danu) I seem to recall that Feargal also plays at Brick’s sometimes…An Droichead Beag is the most famous pub in town. It advertises something insane like “400 Sessions A Year,” but the sessions are more or less informal gigs. However, they are informal and if you play music and you ask nicely, you could probably sit in. If Seamus Begley or Eoin Duignan are playing there, then definitely go see them. My favorite place for sessions in Dingle is An Chonair, which is just around the corner from the Droichead. Nice pub and pretty relaxed atmosphere. The owner, John Benny, is a good box player (hmm…lots of box players in Dingle) and Con Durham (piper) also usually turns up.
Definitely head up to Cillian’s workshop. It’s at a place called Ceardlann na Coille maybe about 1 km or so outside of town. He used to have a small shop selling books and CDs and things attached to the workshop…not sure if he still does. I’m sure he’d be happy to let you come by and poke around for a bit though.
Have fun!
Thanks for that comprehensive reply, Sporting Pitchfork. I intended to go and see Cillian anyway and Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh has a wonderful voice and feeling for the music so the family connections should be good. With all this advice I think I’d better extend the visit!
I’ve been told that Cillian no longer has his old workshop at the Craft center “Ceardlann na Coille”. Cillian & family live in Ballyferriter. Cillian & Brid are really nice wonderful people, but prehaps best to call first, and not just go knocking on their door assuming they have all the time in the world to sit around gabbing. An Bric isn’t as quaint as it used to be back in the day before they modernised it, but there can be good music there. Watch out though for a particularly surly box player if you’re thinking of playing yourself. Creugers out at Dun Quinn, near the Blasket Center is also a genuine place.
didn’t realise that this is an old thread from 2005