Hi all,
the Copenhagen Irish Festival takes place this year 4-9 november.
Anybody going?
Good chance I’ll be participating in the Whistle workshop there; which is saturday and sunday 8-9 november.
Best wishes,
Eivind 
Hello Eivind!
It sounds interesting, do you know where you can get more information? Have you been there before?
Regards, Daniel
Wow what international interest in the festival 
Would be nice to meet you there.
There’s info up about this years festival at www.irishfestival.dk This year is the 25th festival: pretty impressive.
There’s a nice atmosphere during the weekend and this year there are a lot of workshops going on during the day. It gets pretty crowded in the festival cafe, but it’s the best place to be. Most of the performers will play in the sessions that go on there after their gig. Last year we stood and listened to Mike mcgoldrick and John McSherry playing away and having pints poured by the guys from Grada (who had taken over the bar).
Anyways, good fun, do come over!
cheers,
Jeroen
Hmmmm - Pixyy - it sounds good. Too short notice though for me 
- and I can’t do Denmark and Italy both inside one month. Perhaps you Danish guys could let us know earlier next year???
As the web site is partly in danish, and there’s no way to learn that in a month: is it possible to survive there speaking only english?
Sonja
Well, it all seems very exciting and like a good way to improve my whistle playing. I´m just not so keen on going alone, anyone else from Sweden going?
Daniel
Hi Sonja,
No problem if you don’t speak danish. Actually I have been wondering why they put up parts of the website in danish; as far as I remember it used to be in english. Anyways…
If you are considering the workshops, then English would be the language, since they are done by the performers. John Blake of ‘téada’ is doing the flute/whistle workshop.
please post any questions you may have. I’ll try to help as best I can.
Cheers,
Jeroen
PS: Sarah - Italy!?? that’s all warm and sunny… you’re not taking a holiday are you?? Come to denmark it’s chilly and wet, just like Wales - you’ll feel at home The Copenhagen irish festival is always in the first weekend of november.
Sure I’m going … as usual!
I don’t think I’ll be taking any workshops this year though. Probably.
Jens
Pixyy,
how big is the festival really? And where in Copenhagen does it mostly happen. Me and hopefully at last 2 other guys I play with, are going.
Actually, to get company I asked the festival people to organize a guitar workshop as well, to make a bigger reason for my guitar friend to go
It turned out they WILL be doing the guitar workshop…way to go. Very service-minded, these Danish people 
Regarding language: I reckon since danish can be pretty hard to understand for anyone not speaking it; english will be it! After all, all the workshop leaders and gigging musicians are english speakers.
BTW, if any of you live in or near Copenhagen or/and have been to this festival before; can you recommend some accomodations? Nothing fancy needed
Look forward to see any of you there. Wear a whistle in your chest pocket so we’ll know each other.
Eivind
Hi Eivind,
All concerts take place in one location in the very center of Copenhagen (conveniently close to the 2 Irish pubs which also accomodate sessions). The workshops are held in a school not too far from the festival venue.
As far as I know the concerts are usually sold out, and my rough estimation is that the hall holds about 4-500 people (is that about right, Jens?).
If I don’t get too drunk my wife may accomodate me in my own home in Copenhagen, otherwise there’s:
Accomodations. Plenty of hotels of course, and a few hostels.
The following is quoted from the irishfestival homepage. Festival goers get a discount:
Looking for accomodation?
Hotel Ansgar
att. Torben Abildgaard
Colbjoernsensgade 29,
DK - 1652 Copenhagen V
Telephone: +45 - 33212196
Fax : +45 - 33216191
E-mail: > ansgar@ansgar-hotel.dk
Homepage: > www.ansgar-hotel.dk
Guests have to use the code word " Irish Festival " to get a good rate.
Another option is to contact the Copenhagen tourist buro. They have the best overview over available accomodation. Have a look at http://www.woco.dk/composite-24.htm their website.
Eivind wrote:
Look forward to see any of you there. Wear a whistle in your chest pocket so we’ll know each other.
Yep, I’ll have my Overton Low D sticking out of my chest pocket - you’ll be sure to recognise me 
cheers
Hmm, usually plenty of people are toting whistles at the festival, so that alone might not be sufficient to identify fellow C&Fers. Let us know when you decide to go, and we can all make more specific plans for meeting up.
Er, don’t know really, but it doesn’t sound too far off…
Jens
Heh, I have one of those myself and thought of the same thing. I’ll recognise you for sure (as long as no other snoopers around here steal the idea 
)
BTW, it will be fun to see what others can get out of the thing. I’ve had my Overton Low D for about 9 months now (thanks Mary 
, and love the sound of the thing. But I find it a bit strenuous to play; and the enormous holes are a bit too big for my thin fingers. Atleast that’s how it feels. I recently had to take a few weeks off it to avoid getting problems with my right hand. Along with moving the computer mouse over to the left hand, it seems to help I work with computers all day every day so I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later
You doing the whistle class then, Pixyy?
Thanks for all the tips, I will check them out and buy you a pint in Køben.
Cheers,
Eivind 
The festival starts today, and as usual I’m excited: I always get a feeling somewhat like the anticipation kids feel before Christmas.
Tonight’s concert will feature Gráda, including of course the extraordinary Alan Doherty on flute and whistles.
Cheers,
Jens