I am looking for some history of the tionol. Are there any essays that anyone can direct me to?
t
Aw, c’mon guys and gals! Surely this topic must be interesting enough to earn SOME kind of reply? I know there is alot of stiff competition in this forum: everything from the Darwinian “should I blow in my chanter” to the sublime “Let’s eat ourselves to death…but sue first”.
Now, don’t make me google…
t
I’m going to postulate that the tionól is a relatively modern phenomenon, one of those late-19th/early 20th century creations of the Gaelic Revival. What do I base this on? The word does not appear in the index of O’Niell’s “Irish Minstrels and Musicians.”
Not exactly up academic standards, but you get what you pay for 
-Larry
I would guess it is even more recent than that, judging from the few references to pipers gatherings in the early part of the 20th century - it seems to have been a bit of a wonder to accomplish at all. Probably tionóls are a part of NPU’s resusitation efforts, and I’ll bet you’d get more info about them by contacting NPU directly.
djm
Wasn’t the first tionol held in Bettystown in 1968? Was it Bettystown or Termonfeckin? Why the Hell would I even know something so inane?! Why should I care? AAAAAaaaarrrrrrrgggghh!!!
I can’t feckin’ believe there’s a place in Ireland actually called Termonfeckin…
Just want to say I really like the “Big Suit” and that “Same as it Ever Was” video–really kicked off MTV I think.
But you’ve brought to mind a buddy of mine who came back as a bright-eyed returned Mormon missionary from Germany a couple of decades back, equally fascinated with a little berg in which he was quarterd for a time called, “OberFucking” I believe it was. He spent most of his two-year mission taking pictures of himself in front of signs with the name on it, a big grin on his face in every one of them.
Royce
Royce, good thing your friend didn’t become a Lutheran. All I can ever remember about Luther in Germany was Worms and terminal constipation. 
Actually, the movie “Stop Making Sense” brought the whole experience together for me.
djm
Edited for Mark’s comprehension.
So “Stop Making Sense” gave you worms and terminal constipation? Man, we should run through this whole ‘willing suspension of disbelief’ thing one more time.
Repeat after me: “Movies are not disease vectors. Vermin cannot jump through the sceen. Movies may cause temporary intelligence loss, but they won’t give me gastric conditions.”
There. Repeat that thirty thousand times and you’ll feel much better.
Mark
Tommy, you ought to get a hold of Paddy O’Brien, or perhaps his wife Erin. I’m thinking that they may be able to answer some of your questions re: tionols.
Hey, no fair!
Moderator, is recursive sarcasm allowed on this website?
Mark
Bwahahaha! 
djm
I live in a town called Karasu-cho. The kanji mean fragrant/good/estuary town, however it’s also a homonym for “crowtown.” Not as much fun as Oberfucking perhaps, but then again, what is?
Ahh, Stop Making Sense…great movie. In this era of over-sized hip-hop fashion, Byrne’s suit really doesn’t seem as big as it used to. My favorite bit is when DB starts running laps around the stage (apparently the whole band were completely off their heads on coke at the time).
Movies may not be disease vectors, but there are a few that have made me physically ill anyways. Ever seen Lars Von Trier’s “Breaking the Waves”? F**king horrible… Shot entirely with handheld cameras. Mass motion sickness ensued in the theater.
Mass motion sickness ensued in the theater.
Don’t you mean “Blair Witch Project”?
I thought we were talking about the macro and micro-biology of the theatre floor when referring to disease and pestilence transfers?
Royce
So, I guess I should talk to this…David Byrne…about tionol history?
T: Mr. Byrne, has the tionol changed much since it is was first created?
DB: Same as it ever was, same as it ever was.
T: Did you ever regret attending a tionol?
DB: My God, what have I done!
and so on.
t
TommyK, I think you’re onto something. I can’t begin to recount the number of times I have found myself staring at my set and asking myself the really big questions like, “How did I get here?” or “How do I work this thing?” or the very pertinent, “Where does that highway lead to?”
djm
T: Was the first tionol a good one
DB: 365 degrees, burning down the house.
Seriously, ask Paddy O’Brien, he has a great head for such details.
Can’t seem to face up to the facts
I’m tense and nervous
Can’t relax.
(What usually is running through my head when I’m performing…)
Animals think
They’re pretty smart
Shit on the ground
See in the dark.