[to faulting teachers for leaving a sessiun, many of which become makeshift orchestras due to the sheer amount of participants, is unfair.]
you certainly have a right to your opinion, as do we all, including those of us who saw skedded anchors saunter in extremely late, watch the clock, and leave on the dot.
and they certainly have every right to make the choices they make. i get it about the big-orchestra syndrome and their busy skeds and all, and i’m not saying they all should have to stay longer every time, blah, blah. but it was conspicuous in its absence. the popular vote won’t be with the gasbags blowing hot air up on the andy mcgann stage about this “great” and that “champion” and that “winner” in their inner circle, and making pointed remarks about how the piper on their bill didn’t show up for his fifteen-minute brush with greatness. the popular vote will be with blackie. and wig.
the other lionheart who i saw give a super-lovely post-sked session was benedict. must be something in the piper personality makeup…
I would guess that all festivals are hurting for money. IAW attendence peeked in 2007 at well over 600 students (excludes non-student attendees), and the number unexpectently fell off last year into the 500s. This year expectations were much lower even, and my guess is that they expected around 400. It is my understanding however, that there was a pleasent surprise number of last minute registrations and “walk-ins” that brought that number to at least 480 to 500. Considering near 10% unemployment and loss of household wealth since last year, I would say that IAW did ok, and while the number of instructers was down, the quality was not. I was surprised to see people from as far off as Hawaii (Hey Wilson!) and Alaska. IMO, IAW is still a great week and I very much look forward to next year, pausing as I say that for fear of not wishing my life away. Meanwhile, we have the NE Tional to look forward to!
I was not at the Sat eve Furlong’s session - I was at the Shamrock that night. The session started small (Mike Rafferty, Billy McComiskey, Felix Dolan), and grew from there. One of the highlights was Benedict’s 2 slow airs - they brought tears to some listeners. Both Benedict and Debbie Quigley were great teachers in the intermediate classes - both were willing to stay late, or start early if that was what students wanted.
i met blackie a long time- a very talented and modest young man -just one thing though, he reminds me more of finbar furey than keenan - anyone else think so?
IMO, visually he reminds me of a darker version of Cillian Vallely (ask him to do his impersonation of him-he pulles his hair back into the Vallely pony tail and there you go), but more outspoken and boisterous. To me his playing suggests more influence of Keenan and Micky Dunn. He takes it to a new level though as Paddy seldom changes his reportoire. Blackie can juice up pretty much any tune. I was very impressed, and particularly with his command of the regs and just adding stuff and changing it up all over the place.
A few years back I was at the Johnny Doran weekend at the Belbridge Hotel near Milltown Malbay,Co Clare. There was some great pipers there including Gay McKeown, Mickey Dunne, Sean Talty, John Rooney,the brillant young piper Sean McCarty from Fermoy Co Cork and Blackie . I only stayed one night and I had a room on the top floor next door to Blackie. Anyway it was a great evenings piping with loads of craic … By the way he’s a great piper.
