Fleadh 2015

Moll9676

I have a friend coming over from Spain for a few days and I am trying to come up with things to do.
We are both 18 and she wants to experience "irish traditions"
Any suggestions on what to do??
Bear in mind some days we may not get to Sligo due to transport difficulties and that any activities don't cost much

Buford T Justice

Its the Fleadh, you just need to be in the town, that's all

Radharc na Sleibhte

Moll9676 wrote: »

we may not get to Sligo due to transport difficulties and that any activities don't cost much

Where are you

Plazaman

You wouldn't think the Fleadh was starting on Sunday week if you walk around Sligo today. Remember last year there was bunting and banners flooding the streets months beforehand, this year not a dickie bird. Is it because we know we're not going to get it in 2016 that there is less hype?

Bebo stunnah

Moll9676 wrote: »

I have a friend coming over from Spain for a few days and I am trying to come up with things to do.
We are both 18 and she wants to experience "irish traditions"
Any suggestions on what to do??
Bear in mind some days we may not get to Sligo due to transport difficulties and that any activities don't cost much

It would be handy to know what area of the county you're in as different towns/areas vary quite a bit in what's available. Can't imagine getting into town to be too difficult as the organisers last year planned it quite well with free shuttle buses from villages, campsites and parking areas into town, while blocking off the town centre.

Plazaman wrote: »

You wouldn't think the Fleadh was starting on Sunday week if you walk around Sligo today. Remember last year there was bunting and banners flooding the streets months beforehand, this year not a dickie bird. Is it because we know we're not going to get it in 2016 that there is less hype?

I've noticed quite a lot of premises have tidied themselves up with new paint. Foleys pub being one of the nicest jobs! I've seen a few posters up on the way in to town but nothing in the town itelf. There was a shop in town putting up Fleadh stickers on their window yesterday while I was in. I'd imagine they're holding off last year because of the crappy weather we had for the Fleadh last year.

red sean

Plazaman wrote: »

You wouldn't think the Fleadh was starting on Sunday week if you walk around Sligo today. Remember last year there was bunting and banners flooding the streets months beforehand, this year not a dickie bird. Is it because we know we're not going to get it in 2016 that there is less hype?

I'd say the wet and windy weather lately has a lot to do with it.

castletownman

I look forward to a warm welcome when I venture up to this next weekend. The last Fleadh I was at was the Derry one two years ago and if this is half as good I should be in for a good un.

Best pub for a "cure" of a Sunday afternoon?

LaGlisse

.

tradhead

The Fleadh sounds like a great plan.

The main festivities will be taking place over the weekend (14th to 16th) and you can wander around, listen to music on the streets or in pubs and generally enjoy the buzz. Sligo's a grand sized town so if you get public transport there you should have no problem walking around the different venues.

Certain events and the competitions that are held will be ticketed, but honestly unless you have a real interest in the music or in a particular instrument I'd say there's no need to pay in as there will be plenty of sessions and whatnot happening around the place.

jonathan mark

well loved boney m so looking fwd to the fleadh:)

redarmyblues

castletownman wrote: »

I look forward to a warm welcome when I venture up to this next weekend. The last Fleadh I was at was the Derry one two years ago and if this is half as good I should be in for a good un.

Best pub for a "cure" of a Sunday afternoon?

I do my curing in Connollys.

bodhrandude

redarmyblues wrote: »

I do my curing in Connollys.

Did Connollys not shut its doors recently, I thought I seen an news item about its closure.

Edit: Found it http://oceanfm.ie/one-of-sligos-oldest-pubs-shuts-its-doors/

red sean

Only until the new lessee took over.

TireeTerror

Can anyone who speaks Gaelic explain the pronounciation of "fleadh" to me? My girlfriend works in the town and as we were driving I saw a sign and said "oh look there is a trad music festival called fleadh (I pronounced it like fleeeeeaaah) and she said they pronounce it "fla".

Do Irish people pronounce it like "fla"? I cant work out how it would sound like that considering the spelling of it.

Iompair

TireeTerror wrote: »

Can anyone who speaks Gaelic explain the pronounciation of "fleadh" to me? My girlfriend works in the town and as we were driving I saw a sign and said "oh look there is a trad music festival called fleadh (I pronounced it like fleeeeeaaah) and she said they pronounce it "fla".

Do Irish people pronounce it like "fla"? I cant work out how it would sound like that considering the spelling of it.

Your girlfriend is correct

TireeTerror

So how is it that its pronounced like that? Those letters would appear to be pronounced like fleeah.

I noticed a lot of people also pronounce Tiocfaidh ar la as chucky ar la. I have questioned so many people about how tiocfaidh produces a "ch" sound but everyone just says "thats how its pronounced" without any proper explanation. Are there other examples of the letters tioc having a "chu" sound?

I should probably take this to a language section of boards!

Buford T Justice

TireeTerror wrote: »

So how is it that its pronounced like that? Those letters would appear to be pronounced like fleeah.

I noticed a lot of people also pronounce Tiocfaidh ar la as chucky ar la. I have questioned so many people about how tiocfaidh produces a "ch" sound but everyone just says "thats how its pronounced" without any proper explanation. Are there other examples of the letters tioc having a "chu" sound?

I should probably take this to a language section of boards!

Its just the Irish language. Fleadh is pronounced Fla, because the dh is silent (almost) and in terms of tiocfaidh, again there's a silent dh and also a silent f.

This also varies by county too, as each one will have their own version of it.

For example, asking how you are in one place might be "Conas atá tú" , whereas in another it might be "Cad é mar atá sibh"

El Weirdo

TireeTerror wrote: »

So how is it that its pronounced like that? Those letters would appear to be pronounced like fleeah.

I noticed a lot of people also pronounce Tiocfaidh ar la as chucky ar la. I have questioned so many people about how tiocfaidh produces a "ch" sound but everyone just says "thats how its pronounced" without any proper explanation. Are there other examples of the letters tioc having a "chu" sound?

I should probably take this to a language section of boards!

You are using English pronunciation conventions when they don't apply to Irish. Why would they?

Mint Sauce

El Weirdo wrote: »

You are using English pronunciation conventions when they don't apply to Irish. Why would they?

Precisely, the way a letter in pronounced in one language, would be pronounced differently in another language.

Anyway, getting back to the Fleadh, anyone recommend any good pubs for sessions this evening or tonight. Have heard there has been good ones in Furreys, Foleys, and McGarrigles so far this week, and woukd rather go straight into a couple rather than go searching around them all to find the good few ones.

TireeTerror

El Weirdo wrote: »

You are using English pronunciation conventions when they don't apply to Irish. Why would they?

Im actually from a Scottish island so speak a little Scots Gaelic. Its really strange with all the silent letters isnt it. Anyway thanks very much for that.

As has been said, back to the fla!

prodsc

Fleadh Tv was good tonight, looks good for the weekend if your not out or in Sligo.

bennyc

was out last night, town buzzing, it really came to life after dark, the likes of the lane at shoots jammed, I was over on 5th and the Quakers were excellent, Stayed for about half of Rackhouse and if you haven't seen them they are a class act, there is a silent disco out the back which is great crack.
Cant wait to get in again over the weekend, I think Sat and Sunday will be jammed.

jonathan mark

where can i find out who playing tonight Saturday?

jonathan mark

oh and what time do you need to be their to be assured of getting into the st Stephens car park where the stage is last time it was full up..

bodhrandude

Looking for a lift from Galway to the fleadh this afternoon or evening if anyone can help out, will chip in for fuel costs and the craic.

El Weirdo

bodhrandude wrote: »

Looking for a lift from Galway to the fleadh this afternoon or evening if anyone can help out, will chip in for fuel costs and the craic.

Thumb it. If you have your bodhrán and a sign for Sligo, you might be more likely to get someone else heading up.

prodsc

jonathan mark wrote: »

where can i find out who playing tonight Saturday?

http://sligomusicians.com/

http://www.fleadhcheoil.ie/fleadh-events/today/

Bebo stunnah

Did anybody else notice the massively reduced amount of stalls around the town this year? I was talking to a few of the people running them last year and heard they were fleeced, something along the lines of €1k/day at the weekend. From what I recall it was the same crowd that organises the ploughing championship. My favourite one from last year didn't even come this year- selling corndogs

TireeTerror

Most of the hot food was just frozen economy stuff. I never saw any food of real quality despite the awesome equipment used to cook on.

For Forks Sake

Bebo stunnah wrote: »

Did anybody else notice the massively reduced amount of stalls around the town this year? I was talking to a few of the people running them last year and heard they were fleeced, something along the lines of €1k/day at the weekend. From what I recall it was the same crowd that organises the ploughing championship. My favourite one from last year didn't even come this year- selling corndogs

I know the guy who runs the corn dog business, he was at The Big Grill in Dublin this weekend.

Kettleson

Seen a nice thing to end the day. An older lady with special needs was buying some things at a stall. The guy was very helpful and then he said quietly "They are free to you, its a gift from me".

Bebo stunnah

TireeTerror wrote: »

Most of the hot food was just frozen economy stuff. I never saw any food of real quality despite the awesome equipment used to cook on.

I noticed, and 6 quid for a hot dog and roll... needless to say I didn't wait the 10 minutes for it to defrost and cook.

I seen on facebook he was at it, I was actually sadened that he wasn't going to be here this year! When I was talking to him last year he said he made a loss because the cost of setting up a stall. Also the fact he was out on JFK probably didnt help.

Plazaman

Gave my money to the Burger Shack in O Connell Street. €5 for a fab and delish burger (didn't like the Charcoal Grill ones at €6). Thankfully there was no plastic yappy dog stalls (actually I did see one over the weekend ).

What'll we do next year now

Mint Sauce

Bebo stunnah wrote: »

Did anybody else notice the massively reduced amount of stalls around the town this year? I was talking to a few of the people running them last year and heard they were fleeced, something along the lines of €1k/day at the weekend. From what I recall it was the same crowd that organises the ploughing championship. My favourite one from last year didn't even come this year- selling corndogs

Not a bad thing tbh, most of the ones I seen last year were selling cheap tack on every available space and empty shop doorways. Whilst it was good to see food stalls this year, it would have had to be a damn good burger/kebab for €7 or €8.

bodhrandude

I made it for Sunday evening, was wandering about looking for a potential session, the pubs in the immediate town centre were packed to the brim so I took a walk further past Wine St and up by the Bus Stop shop and on to a pub called Donaghys' which I think had an amazing session, three flutes, three fiddles, myself and another guy on the bodhrans, two banjos and a nice bouzouki player, a tight accordionist joined the sesh in which I stayed for nearly three hours, half the folk being from Glasgow. The only thing I didn't like was Donaghys' stinginess with a round of free drinks. Now I'm not one to moan about not getting free booze but that session looked like it had been going on all afternoon and when I got talking to the Scottish banjo player they didn't at all get one free drink from the bar even though the pub was fairly packed with listeners. Is it not my understanding that Guinness donate a free barrell to each bar participating in the Fleadh Cheoill session trail to give visiting musicians a free drink on the house for the craic. I didn't mind really as I enjoyed the music anyway and paid for three pints and then went on my way, but I did have a word with some of the bar staff about this Guinness deal.

I squeezed into Shoots for a brief set or three in the company of Seamus Tansey and a bunch of others but had to escape as I was in danger of vapourising from the heat in there. Tansey asked me exasperated, where are you going, you've just arrived, but the seat I was sitting in was on temporary loan and I said to him I had to cool off. When Shoot the Crows gets so packed it just too bloody warm in there. Watched some amazing kids and youth groups in the streets, solo pipers and combos playing wonderful music, even if there was a top heavy bodhran in the background.

Heard some fellah play the Cottage Groves, one of my favourite reels on the box at the corner going up from Wine St to the taxi ranks, I whipped out my wee tambourine goatskin bodhran and shocked the life out of him when I came pounding along, a nice moment.

Met some folk from Dundalk, trad heads but also Electric Picnic heads, so we had a blether, I sang a song and then we agreed to meet up at the Picnic in two weeks time.

And my good friend Denis who looked after me while we listened to some of the session craic from RnaG, ate some lovely food and I drank some cans of stout.

On my way back to Galway today I got a lift from one of my heroes of the bodhran, Tommy Hayes and was delighted when he told me that he is playing a gig with a few others in the Body & Soul part of Electric Picnic festival.

Kettleson

@Bodhrandude. An interesting account of a day at the Fleadh. There's been a weekly Sunday evening trad session in Donaghys' for years. (Well there always used to be in my pub days).

I'd guess that Donaghys' had already paid the musicians for running the session during the day. Still I hear what you're saying, you'd think visiting musicians who contribute well would have been thrown a pint or two. Cead Mile Failte and all that.

Kettleson

Donaghys regular Sunday session.

https://youtu.be/AP17ehv2pjs

sligono1

Will we ever see the crowds that was in the town Saturday night ever again the buzz was great,to every one involved take a bow,to me there is no negatives only pluses.sligo you can hold your head high be proud.

As for the food I made it my point to support locals on that front and they had the best food too.

bennyc

Great weekend , out Thurs Sat and Sun, Sat was amazing as far as the atmosphere and crowds, was in McGarrigles , Shoots, Swagman, Connollys, Source at one point, one of the best nights ever in Sligo,
Highlights were the Quakers in 5th on Thurs who were good crack and I caught Rackhouse on Sunday also. There was an excellent session on in Connollys Sat night with Brian McDonagh Jarleth McTiernan amongst the crowd.

Only downside was the rain on Sun eve when Seamie ODowd was playing on the GIG Rig took a bit of a soaking but didn't dampen the spirits.
Food wise burgers from The Food Experience and an amazing Burrito from Street Cart which will be hit again.

Bebo stunnah

This article seems to specifically mention taxi fares (I was charged the same as always), I did notice that the price of drink went up. Someone I know who bought a pint of Guinness in Kennedys was charged 4.50. It was 4.10 before the Fleadh. I was told the same carry on was happening in other bars across town.

I think the comment he makes about passengers needing a receipt seems a bit sly as I have never been given one, you have to explicitly ask for one.

http://oceanfm.ie/taxi-fare-complaints-contact-the-nta-and-have-your-receipt/

Basq

Taxi fares definitely seemed a little inconsistent..

i.e

- Taxi from Caltragh to Church Street / Market Yard was €8.50 last Monday night at 8PM.
- Taxi from Caltragh to Holborn Street was €7.00 last Saturday night at 9.30PM.

And have the Hailo receipts to prove it.. nothing worth complaining about personally, but that's a relatively short journey compared to what some would have been charged.

Mint Sauce

Allot of taxi drivers from out of town in during the Fleadh, I'd imagine some were adding on all the extras, call out, extra passengers etc, where as local drivers would be kinder to their regulars.

bennyc

I got several taxis to Ballymote, it can be hit and miss at the best of times,
Our regular Hackney who had a load dropped us for 15 euro one night , a mate living about 2 miles closer to sligo was 30euro another night, I had a mate staying in mine who landed out in the very Am for 40euro.
To be honest I have paid all the prices above at time's over the years.

SligoBrewer

I'll get Martin Bricks.

sligojoek

bennyc wrote: »

I got several taxis to Ballymote, it can be hit and miss at the best of times,
Our regular Hackney who had a load dropped us for 15 euro one night , a mate living about 2 miles closer to sligo was 30euro another night, I had a mate staying in mine who landed out in the very Am for 40euro.
To be honest I have paid all the prices above at time's over the years.

You did well. A taxi to grange cost me 30e one night. I'd been using Furey's busses all the time for a fiver a pop but one night I had to get home fast.

Henlars67

sligojoek wrote: »

You did well. A taxi to grange cost me 30e one night. I'd been using Furey's busses all the time for a fiver a pop but one night I had to get home fast.

€30 for a taxi to Grange seems about right. What's the problem?

sligojoek

Henlars67 wrote: »

€30 for a taxi to Grange seems about right. What's the problem?

I was comparing it to 15e to Ballymote.

bennyc

sligojoek wrote: »

I was comparing it to 15e to Ballymote.

15 was a hackney price, 9 seater and 2 of us so just charged for a drop.

gordongekko

sligojoek wrote: »

I had to get home fast.

Was herself in heat?

sligojoek

bennyc wrote: »

15 was a hackney price, 9 seater and 2 of us so just charged for a drop.

I see that now. I thought you just struck it lucky. It's always 28 - 30 to Grange. Furey;s bus was a gift 5e each way. 8e aftel 11pm. I'd rather drink it than give it to a taxi.

sligojoek

gordongekko wrote: »

Was herself in heat?

That would be worth 30e.