Sessions from Miltown Malbay to the Dingle Peninsula

Ullian piper Con Durham joined us for some tunes at Dick Mack's Pub in Dingle one afternoon. His playing ranged from joyful hornpipes to solemn, haunting airs that captured our hearts. Listening to Con's pipes, one could feel the gathered emotions of generations past, calling from a place shrouded by the mists of time.

A session in Miltown Malbay during the Willie Clancy Week was never far away. On Zoë's birthday we played under the stars in the courtyard behind O'Loughlin's Pub. Thanks to the "Young Bohemians" that joined us there, sharing songs, tunes, and hilarious commentary. O'Loughlin's was where we enjoyed our first breakfast pints, as well as savouring that wonderful time when the pub door is locked, and you are welcomed to stay and enjoy the atmosphere.

Shrouded in the mists of time, or mesmerized by the foam rising on a pint? I can't tell...

-Phil Darrow

Ireland Trip: Doolin to Dingle

Brown Bread On the Great Blasket Great Blasket from Dunquin

Burren FarieFiddle Lesson at Miltown Malbay

Here are some of the pictures from our adventure in Ireland.

During the Willie Clancy Week in Miltown Malbay, County Clare we also had a chance to visit the village of Doolin, the limestone expanse called the Burren, and the Aran Islands. Afterwards we traveled down to Dingle and the Blasket Islands (the western most part of Europe, sometimes called "The Last Parish before America").

Hello from the Willie Clancy Week!

Hello all!

Here is one of the younger students at the Willie Clancy Music School, working on a tune in the rain. That's dedication.
Zoë had a blast at the school, studying traditional Clare style fiddling with Brendan McGlinchy. We have enjoyed some great sessions including a couple of rolicking times at the legendary O'Connors Pub in Doolin. Needless to say, Zoë's 18th birthday was celebrated in fine style. Now we are in Dingle enjoying the Kerry flavours of music, food, and breathtaking coastline.
-Phil Darrow

Willie Clancy Summer School

Hello from Ireland!
The Willie Clancy Summer School in Miltown Malbay is going smashingly. Zoë is studying fiddle with Brendan McGlinchy (I'll be checking that spelling!) and we have listened to performances by Maurice Lennon, Tommy Peoples, and Martin Hayes, among many. We're already having a blast in the sessions (sesiuns)around West Clare, including a most memorable night at O'Connors Pub in Doolin. The craic is mighty.
For all you movie buffs, Jeremy Irons is here taking fiddle lessons, too. Hmmm...
Stay tuned for some pictures, and we'll be back to the USA in time for the Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival at Look Park, Northampton, Massachusetts.
Slainte!

Ireland Trip To Be Featured in World Famous Documentary

We will be posting photos and a journal about the Willie Clancy Music School in Miltown Malbay, County Clare, Ireland, as well as documenting our visit to the Dingle Peninsula. Stay tuned for updates, and feel free to send your comments.
Thanks to all who helped make our concerts at the White Church in Blandford and Orange Town Hall so fun. Each of these beautiful, historic New England locations were the perfect settings for presenting our new CD and kicking off our adventure to Ireland. Proceeds from these shows will help fund the travel and tuition costs of the trip. Many folks signed up for Zoë's "Postcard from Ireland", which will also help with travel costs.
One Sunday, July 1, Zoë was invited to play a set with the high energy Celtic band "Glengarry Bhoys" from Glengarry, Ontario. They performed at the Greenfield Energy Park, and Zoë joined fiddler Miranda Mulholland for a Cape Breton Set that saw these two young ladies playing way beyond the legal speed limit.
Thanks to the Glengarry Bhoys and Sandy Thomas of the Greenfield Energy Park for putting that together!
-Phil Darrow