Hi everybody!
(hope I’m here right, or perhaps it should be in the city guide, sorry I don’t know)
I’m going to Ireland next week. Me and a friend are goinig to make a trip one time round ireland with an group. I will take my guitar with me and my question is were are folkshops? (Shops with sheetmusic and stuff like that) Were are sessions or concerts for/with folk music! Or just good pubs to get a good guinness?!
I heard only last night that it is closing down because the block that it is located in is being redeveloped. It sells instruments rather than sheet music, but has great atmosphere. Its big claim to fame apart from that is that it made the trumpet that sounded the charge of the Light Brigade at the battle of Balaclava.
Apparently the present owner has decided to relocate to Co. Clare.
There are a few music shops in the vicinity of George’s St./Suffolk st., if you mooch around there you’ll find them.
Edited to correct for my congenitally poor topographic memory.
In Galway (a beautiful city) the main music & shopping area is Shop Street. Hang out anywhere ther and you’ll haer music drifting from pubs, and see lots of music shops. I bought a mandolin in a small music shop above another shop there a few years ago.
Also check out Roisin Dubh, slightly away from Shop Street, for good sessions.
In Killarney it tends to be more touristy, but very lively. There are a few music only sessions, but mostly it’s bands playing songs for the tourist trade. I heard Fields of Athenry sung three times in twenty minues walking along the high street. I liked the town very much for all that, unlike Tralee.
Sounds like you are hoping to find sources of sheet music and recordings that are not available to you locally. Don’t forget Custy’s: http://www.custymusic.com.
