Just learned today that I’m heading to Dublin for work the last week of August. Don’t know if I have enough money to buy a flute just because I’m in Ireland (though, that’s gonna be hard to pass up), and also don’t know if my chops are good enough to sit in a pub session and play (well, I could probably play, but still have a pretty small tune list, sadly).
Still I’d still like to know what’s going on there, and if there’s someone who would maybe be good to grab a lesson or workshop from, that might be nice. Even just sitting in a pub and soaking up a session by ear would make my trip.
Landing on Friday 24th, free for the weekend and likely in evenings, returning on 9/1. Links and suggestions very welcome.
You’d be better off to buy a flute off this board than in Dublin. Where would you go to find one? Good flutes are seldom found at music stores. And if you did come across a good one then you will pay a significant premium over the maker’s price. Not to mention the 23% VAT if you bought the flute from a shop. You can get a great flute from Peter Noy, who lives in your part of the country. Peter is a very under-rated and very good flute maker.
Things in Ireland are very expensive. For one thing there is the tax of 23%. Petrol (gasoline) is about $8/gallon. Most things you see in shops here can be bought more cheaply in the US or in England.
You should buy your souvenirs after you get back. But first you should learn to play a whole tune.
I would wholly agree about Peter Noy. He makes incredible flutes, is easy to work with and if you want keys his keywork is right where you need it and perfect. His waiting list is not long either. He is under-rated.
What’s wrong with my… What the? Nothing’s wrong with my Ormiston.
For the record, I’m not Actually in the market for a new flute. Saying that it would be hard to turn down was a joke based on the fact that I’m going to Ireland for the first time and will be all excited and wonderstruck. The excitement of traveling, pretending I’m a real Irish Flute player, etc.
And truthfully, I can play well enough, but holding on in a real Irish pub would be difficult at breakneck speeds.
Anyway, The fact is, if I bought another flute, I probably would never play it, since I stumbled into the perfect flute for me. Amazing sound and feel, and Not too easy to play because any laziness in technique or breath and she’ll break. That flute is now like an old friend who knows when I’m trying to cheat and calls me on it.
I really just wanted to know about cool stuff to do and see. (Though I’ll probably still buy a bunch of overpriced gifts because what the hell)
With an attitude like that, it is no wonder Ireland is in a major recession.
Yes, it is my fault. I confess. I brought the country down and ruined the economy through collusion with bond traders and artful bankers. It was my positive attitude that created the housing bubble in the first place, and its collapse continues to imperil the whole of the EU. My negative attitude mires the nation in enormous debt – payable by the middle classes – so that the bond traders don’t lose any money. It is attitude that is the problem with Greece and Spain, and not capitalism.
I often wondered who caused the economic problems in Ireland. Finally, the guilty party has confessed. It’s about time!! …H-m-m-m, now if Ireland has re-instated capital punishment…
Paul
Drive up to Galway and visit Sam Murray and Glenn Watson.
Vincenzo Di Mauro also lives in Galway… Actually, all three makers are within 2 minutes walking from each other. The Crane is also just there, and I’m about 30 meters from it
It’s about time!! …H-m-m-m, now if Ireland has re-instated capital punishment… 