Seamus Ennis Festival in an Aill (Naul)

Uilleann Pipes
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Had a lovely time in Naul a weekend back. I visited the Ennis burial plot with Neillidh Mulligan. I had the pleasure to meet several of Seamus Ennis’ family including sisters and his very own son. I also met Bill Hanneman, Tom Clarke, and a small host of other pipers. I met Leo Rickard and got reacquainted with Mickey Dunne. The Friday eve piping recital with Leo Rickard, Mickey Dunne, and Neillidh Mulligan was stellar and will be well-remembered by all as a delightful illustration of different styles and influences of piping. The saturday class with Neillidh was excellent. I understand Leo Rickard’s class was also superb. Bill H was playing a chanter and set of his own make and it sounded well. There’s a potential source for good instruments for those of you in the hunt. The Saturday eve concvert was a sell-out and I was one of those who was “locked out” as a consequence of being out on the hunt for accomodations. I did get in to see Neillidh play his lovely Mulcrone C# set. Seamus Ennis is alive and well in Neillidh’s playing. It was good to run into Gay McKeown and meet and hear his son Sean in Naul. They had a go on the beehive Cn set and were absolutely delighted with the instrument.

While in Ireland I sat in on a great session at the Cobblestone pub in Smithfield area of Dublin with Nollaig McCarthaigh (?sp) and Jackie Martin. I visited NPU and met Harry Bradley and Pat Mitchell. I also sat in for tunes in session at the Cobblestone with Kevin Rowsome and Lorraine Hickey. Thereafter, I had an excellent lesson with Kevin.

I spent a time painting in the bog and cities and returned with 8 paintings. I visited and studied an artist in Newtownards NI and had a lovely time comparing notes. I had the great honor to visit the J. Humbert Craig room/gallery in the town hall/castle in Bangor NI and was even permitted to set up an easel and study and copy one of the masterpieces. The town council made a big deal of my presence and I met the mayor and also granted a newspaper interview and photos.

Advice for the traveller in Ireland…try to stay out of Dublin the weekend of the marathon as there will be absolutely no spare accomodations in hotels or B&B’s. Bank holiday weekends may be a problem for accomodations as well. If you should choose to stay at Queens Hotel in Ennis be advised that the excessive rowdiness and noise related to their bar and resturant does not settle down until 3:30 AM. Do not stay there if interested in a good nights sleep.

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Sounds like a grand and relaxing time was had there…apart from trying to sleep at the Queen’s Hotel. Welcome back Doc, and thanks for the peek into your journal.

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Sounds like some serious name-dropping. Who says doctors are overpaid? :wink: (if you can’t tell - yes, I’m extremely jealous!) :smiley:

djm

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Name dropping? Not really…just an account of whom one might encounter when on holiday. Willie Sutton said he robbed banks 'cause that’s where the money is. Wanna go see some of the greats in piping? Seems obvious where you need to go on vacation. But, don’t stay in hotels that have pubs!

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One other thing…it’s getting pretty doggone expensive to visit Ireland these days. I understand that tourism is way down as is attendance at summer schools. You almost gotta be a doctor to visit!! :poke: I came home with only $14 to spare.

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Glands, you must have spent a lot of time in the bogs! Eight paintings? You’re a madman!! But also an excellent painter… will we get to see them online somewhere?

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And in October no less! My thought was to go during the most dismal time of year, after somehow getting off my duff in the first place, being a firm stay-at-home.