1) Meeting Peter Laban, who despite whatever he might say is a wonderful whistler. His love for the pipes and his skill with the music is evident, and he well deserves the respect he has from the musicians and residents of the area.
2) Three sessions in Clare, ranging from a fairly relaxed time at one place where I even joined in on a tune or two, and hopefully didn't do too badly, to a more exclusive session that included some of the older locals singing and dancing, and lovely music between U-pipes and concertina. When I asked Jackie Daly why the reed players always seemed to have the most fun he said that it was because he was from Slieve Luachra, (Luachra = "reeds")
3) A 'masters workshop' at a festival in Louisburgh where Tyghre and I sat in itty bitty chairs with 15 youngsters ranging in age from 4 to about 14. Afterward, one of the older girls in class told me I did very well, and I was VERY happy to hear the comment! The whole thing was sublimely absurd.
4) Meeting Michael Cronnolly of M&E Flutes and playing two of his whistles, and a few flutes. He is a gracious man, and gave me some valuable pointers in playing an Irish flute, getting the 'hard D', and embouchure. His whistles didn't suit me (big bore, rough sound, large lungs required... very different sound from what I'm used to) but oh, the Rudall and Rose is lovely!
5) Two sessions in Co. Sligo, one of which was very laid back. When pressured to play something I finally folded and played a jig that I did respectably on, but one of the older players mentioned off-handedly that it was a Clare jig....ooookay. I am now forewarned that I need to pay attention to what region I'm playing in, as well as hoping to pull it off without flubbing. Peter Horan, however, said I did well.
6) Playing Boys of Ballysodare in a wood in Ballysodare.
non-musically
7) Yeat's Grave and the sculpture of "He Wishes For the Cloths of Heaven"
A guided tour of 9 prehistoric sites including court tombs, portal tomb, stone ring, ring fort, Sheila-na-gig....9) Two more round towers to my list
All in all, a great trip, even if I did catch a cold, weather was on the wetter side of mixed, and it was too short. I didn't buy a whistle, but I did get 10 CDs and we recorded six sessions for posterity.
