Anyone goin’ ? [ I assume Mr. Gumby" will be around ].
I assume Mr. Gumby" will be around
Had a quick look around this morning, people arriving, pop up shops opening, sun shining (for now anyway but the forecast isn’t great). Will be at the launches tomorrow, briefly.
it was a pity about the rain but you wouldn’t come to Clare for the weather 
We managed a street session in the baking sun on Day 1 but mostly skulking in doorways and searching for a perch indoors the other few days I went down. I’m not really one for the bustle of the larger festivals but heard some fabulous music from young and old alike, lovely steady rhythms in Friels in particular, with the young Conor Connolly from our neck of the woods on the box (carrying on his Joe Cooley lineage and sounding for all the world like Charlie Harris). Delighted with the copy of Eddie Maloney CD that Sean had for me, some of best whistling I’ve ever heard, and to see Tommy People’s there at the launch with a hint of a smile and a fistful of dollars. We had a few tunes in Mullagh and the back of Clancy’s. After the fourth session in Eb I regretted not buying that Eb flute this time year but vowed to have it handy next year!
We arrived on the Monday and left on Friday. Had a great time, sessions in the Malbay, (hippy session in the front room), O’Laughlins, Cleary’s, and a late evening session on the Central with some very good young musicians. Met up with Peter Laban, and thanks to Peter were able to purchase Tommy Peoples’ massive book of music, memories, photos etc. from Tommy himself at his lodgings in Miltown. The book was in great demand, but only available from Tommy himself. You couldn’t buy it in the NPU shop in the community hall.
My partner was after a new bridge for her violin and again thanks to Peter we were directed to a book store and made a very important contact there. I had a broken long F-key on my Rudall Carte 7103 and went round to flute maker Donal McMahon on the Lahinch Rd. bought some pads from Donal as I was using the flute as a keyless complete with rubber bands, blu-tack and sellotape in order to play it. Donal said the man to fix the key would be Jon Dodd on the Inagh Rd. So we visited Jon who said he could fix the flute ready for Thursday the next day. What a fine job Jon did. The flute is now like new. Jon soldered the F key, changed the pads, polished the nickel silver keys, checked the cork, didn’t need changing, added a bottle of almond oil, a grease pot, and a hydration pot of his own device. The flute is in tip top condition now. I can really recommend Jon’s work. Piper Mick O’Brien borrowed the flute for a street session Thursday evening and said it more or less played itself. We were lucky that Jon’s workshop was so near Miltown and had the time. He’d had an 6-key Olwell in on Thursday and on Friday Catherine McEvoy wanted Jon to go over her old Rudall for her Ameriky tour as she’s binned the Grinter she had. An outstanding craftsman. http://www.jondodd.net
Only saw one afternoon piping recital and that was Mick O’Brien’s, brilliant as usual, as we were camped out in Doolin, and tried to play as much as possible when in Miltown. Nice to meet up with people at Miltown, this year, there were many musicians from Scandinavia but not so many from Germany, France, Japan or Ameriky. Heard Patsy Hanley paying in Cleary’s with Seamus Sands on fiddle. Patsy is a great flute player.
Patsy is a great flute player.
Here he is at the saturdaynight concert, with James Keane, playing for dancer Mairéad Casey
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