FLEADH - the aftermath

Subject: FLEADH - the aftermath
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 07:31 AM

Well, we've been to the All-Ireland fleadh and now we're all fleadh-ed out. I want to say many, many thanks to Ella and her friends for giving me a lift and a place to crash.

We left on Thursday on the Fishguard to Rosslare ferry. I couldn't believe my misfortune at sharing a car with a bodhran player and an accordian player. Only the banjo was missing to make it the roadtrip from hell. Fortunately we arrived in one piece after a lengthy drive across Ireland, and made it into Listowel in time for some music and a pint or two.

We were on a mission to track down other Catters, and Claymore had mentioned that he'd be in town with Appalachian entourage. We finally spotted an extensive group of movers and shakers with exotic instruments, and told one of them we were on the lookout for 14 Americans and a hammered dulcimer, doing clog dancing. Sure enough, it was indeed them, and we meet Claymore in 3D, autoharp and all. We'll let him fill you in on all his adventures with the auto insurance people...

Friday was spent in the usual fleadh manner of touring the pubs and soaking up the craic. There was some great music on provided you could actually get into the pubs to hear it - the usual jam-packed sessions. There was some fantastic tunes from a crowd of young'uns from (I think) Clontarf playing in the Listowel Arms. Out of all the people in town I finally managed to meet up with the Other Half who sauntered nonchalantly past me as I was going frantic sending him text messages of our whereabouts. It was his first fleadh and he seemed to enjoy it all!

On Saturday Ella competed and played well. The standard of music in the competitions was amazing. We spent an evening in the Square watching the events on the stage, which was followed by a great fireworks display, then on to the nearest pub with room for another session.

Sunday we did the whole damn thing again! I met up with my parents to drink champagne on the street corner (I hadn't seen them since me and the Other Half got engaged) - very decadent. They were re-living their fleadh days and reminiscing about the last time they were at a fleadh in Listowel - almost 30 years ago or so. Ella's parents were in Listowel too, so it was quite the family occasion. (The family that plays together, stays together!).

On Monday we took it a bit easier and spent a bit of time recovering on the beach. It was back into Listowel for another session on Monday evening, which was unfortunately cut short due to excessive percussion. (3 bodhrans, 3 sets of bones and someone on spoons - all played together. Purr-leeese! Less is more! The only other instruments were 1 box, 1 flute and 1 set of pipes!) We grabbed a carry-out and headed on to a great party where the music was still going strong and 3am and we even managed to dance a half-set in the kitchen.

Anyway, it took us 13 hours of travelling to get home yesterday, but it was worth it all for the time we had. I have photos to be developed, and I'll put 'em online when I get a chance. The weather was amazing, the pubs were bouncing and the craic was great. You can't ask for fairer than that!

Subject: RE: FLEADH - the aftermath
From: Noreen
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 09:37 AM

Wonderful, Fib, thanks for sharing that with us. Takes me back.... and I'd love to see the photos when you can.

Listowel is THE place for the All-Ireland, and has many happy memories (as do Ennis, Buncrana... !)

Subject: RE: FLEADH - the aftermath
From: death by whisky
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 05:01 PM

Mammy,Daddy,two sisters,one brother in law,two nephews,three nieces,plus my own crew.I live six miles from Listowel,caught a session, same problem with bodhs and spoons.were you in the Harp and Lion by any chance Fib? Nephew got a 1st and 2nd in his competitions,accordion and melodeon.The best music was outside our house on Sat night.Honest.The Rose of Tralee was on at the same time,caught Jools Holland and his band. A great week for music.

Subject: RE: FLEADH - the aftermath
From: GUEST,yum yum 'ex-fleadher'
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 05:40 PM

Hi Fib nice to hear you had a great time but I can't believe you drank champers at a fleadh (it's hard enough to get John to buy a round, let alone the old fizzy stuff!) by the way congratulations!! I know with the trade your in you will now be sick of hearing "Where did you dig the other half up from?" best of luck to the two of you. Next time your passing, call in, I can still put my hand on a photo of Bokels-cokeals and embarrass you, ha ha! would Uncle Metal-detector do that?

Uncle Yum Yum

Subject: RE: FLEADH - the aftermath
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 30 Aug 01 - 05:55 AM

Hello Uncle Metal-detector/Yum Yum. Thanks for the card, by the way! Bokels-cokeals would've been a quicker way to get to the fleadh than that drive across Ireland.
death by whiskey - we couldn't even get in to the Harp and Lion, and god knows we tried! The spoons players must have got about a bit.
I'm losing my voice now. Must be some sort of post-fleadh immune system crash.

Subject: RE: FLEADH - the aftermath
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 30 Aug 01 - 09:13 AM

Well, I'm just about concious - ish.. Can't drag myself in to work, have lost my voice and sneezing over everything. Could it be fleadh itus.

I had a lovely time. Enjoyed meeting up with Fibs family and other half, and had a hard job trying to remember who I had an hadn't introduced them all to. Cosidering a huge gang of us from Scotland where there too.

I enjoyed competing in the bodhran competiton - as the standards were as Fib says extremely high. I was very nervous though not as much as my accompanist.

And I'll even forgive Fib for her comments about bodhrans as her mam and herself came along to support me during my comp. Which was appreciated fully I can tell you. I had such a posse of people along with me it was great. Anyways, I think FIb has found a greater dislike - the spoons and bones - YEUCH!

The harp and lion was a night mare, so hot my glasses steamed up. But I managed to meet up with the regular session players there I met back in Easter.

We all had a great old fashioned ceili back at a friends house - in the kitchen of course. Where we sang songs, some of the older people sang, and danced, and me and Fib made up sheep songs - A doo ram ram ram a doo ram ram - and only ewe.....

I managed a half set too, though for some reason my legs were shakey!

Ballb beach was indeed a great interlude and helped some of the lads make a big sandcastle.

I never want to hear bones again. THe piper and flute player in that session were excellent, just a shame we couldn't enjoy it.

The journey home was an experience, after picking up an extra body in Limerick, my poor car was jammed to the brim, with not room to breathe - we were all dreading being stopped at customs as this would have been a nightmare, packing us all back in there.

It was also great to meet up with Claymore - who yes indeed has some stories to tell you about his auto exploits. What a character!

It was also interesting to meet up with him in 3d and not just a few lines on the computer. HE gave me a lovely badge of a family crest after discovering we have the same family surname.

THey were whipping up a storm on the market square, all performing and dancing. It was great to hear them all.

What made me laugh alot was when me and Fib were asked how we got to know each other, the reactions we got when we said on the net. Horror, disbelief, amazement, interest were some of the reactions. What a laugh.

Need less to say, my friend in Listowel, is probably lonely now, his ducks and the dog probably miss the encampment of tents on the lawn. And his aunt the extra people to fuss over.

It was my parents first time at a fleadh - I was worried how they would cope, but they seemed to enjoy it too. THe little toads had videoed me during my competition - after I had told them they were not allowed to.

PARENTS!!!!!

And my moms (mum being mums) reaction about the winner was - well I didnt rate him. You have to laugh.

I finally got home at 1am, after dropping off Fib. I literally just flaked out on my bed with loads of tunes wandering round my house.

I have to encourage Fib to sing more - she's a lovely voice, and has some great comic songs. And everyone is dead impressed with the dancing.

It was such a nice weekend - a real family event. And great fun to have loads of friends around.

And Fib - I'll forgive you about the bodhran thing. But agree about the accordion - especially when it is practised very early (well early for a fleadh morning) by one of our company. Arghhhh

Me and fib were thinking about getting a t-shirt printed up about desperately seeking mudcatters, as dont have a t-shirt yet. Will have to resolve that one!

Oh, and Fib...thanks for staying awake whilst I drove home. Helped to keep me awake too.

See you soon.

ANd looking forward to hearing all your other stories soon!

Can't wait for Claymore to post!!!

Ella

Subject: RE: FLEADH - the aftermath
From: ard mhacha
Date: 30 Aug 01 - 01:35 PM

An estimated 250,000 at Listowel and beautiful weather, The Fleadh still leads the way, and its been around for some time. I still have a Gael Linn LP of the 1956 Clones All -Ireland Fleadh and old Barney McKenna was there rattling it out on the Banjo. Long may it reign. Slan Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: FLEADH - the aftermath
From: death by whisky
Date: 30 Aug 01 - 04:58 PM

What about "Fleadh Cats "OR CATSFLEADH .

Subject: RE: FLEADH - the aftermath
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 31 Aug 01 - 10:18 AM

Ooh, I like the idea of being a Fleadh Cat!
I promise to sing a song next time, provided I can remember the words. Unfortunately it's only the rude ones that I remember. I'll have to learn something memorable and sociably acceptable!

Subject: RE: FLEADH - the aftermath
From: GUEST,yum yum
Date: 31 Aug 01 - 11:18 AM

that would be a first!

yum yum

Subject: RE: FLEADH - the aftermath
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 31 Aug 01 - 11:40 AM

Ha! The very man himself with lyrical amnesia!!

Subject: RE: FLEADH - the aftermath
From: death by whisky
Date: 31 Aug 01 - 01:50 PM

Im back in the Harp Saturday. Stephen the landlord is playing and I dont know who else.....flashback...

Subject: RE: FLEADH - the aftermath
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 01 Sep 01 - 05:30 AM

Say Hello to Steve for me (Sue) we didn;t get much chance for a tune over the weekend! I was there at easter too.

Coooo you lucky thing death by whisky

oh well

Ella

Subject: RE: FLEADH - the aftermath
From: Alice
Date: 01 Sep 01 - 10:26 AM

It sounds like you had a wonderful time. Great to hear about your experiences. A link to results page:click (It says 2000 on the file name, but is really year 2001.)

Subject: RE: FLEADH - the aftermath
From: Alice
Date: 01 Sep 01 - 10:28 AM

Can anyone tell me what was included under that category "Miscellaneous" on the results page?

Subject: RE: FLEADH - the aftermath
From: death by whisky
Date: 01 Sep 01 - 09:32 PM

Just back from the H+L.good stuff.It,ll take a couple of weeks yet.Steve? Tell me more.

Subject: RE: FLEADH - the aftermath
From: GUEST,yum yum
Date: 02 Sep 01 - 11:16 AM

my feelings are hurt! I may never sing again-----at least until bath night (17th Jan 2002)

yum yum

Subject: RE: FLEADH - the aftermath
From: GUEST,yum yum
Date: 02 Sep 01 - 11:25 AM

hey Fib, forgot to mention, I was out detecting today and found a 'wee' secret place were archaeologists hide all their 'tasty' spoils. (me thinks) I must write a song about this! (heh heh) all my love UNCLE-METAL-DETECTOR

yum yum

Subject: RE: FLEADH - the aftermath
From: JeZeBeL
Date: 02 Sep 01 - 11:39 AM

Ella - was seamus o'kane judging bodhran? I've got one of his drums but still aint met him!!

Was there a girl called shona there on accordion, about 16 years old?? She got dissed for sounding too modern and like Karen Tweed!! That would be because Karen is her tutor!!

Or a geordie lad called Matthew there on whistle, about 14 years old.....

So many friends I haven't seen for a long time...I miss them!!

Emma xxx

Subject: RE: FLEADH - the aftermath
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 03 Sep 01 - 03:43 AM

Hi Emma,

No it wasn't Seamus judging the competition... his name was Michael from Innishmore(free) island.

Can't say I met any of the other people you have named either, there was near on 200, 000 + people in the town that weekend. So many I didn't catch up with alot of my own friends, kept missing them all weekend.

Yum, yum, I reckon Fib is probably in a state of shock... Metal detectors, I guess would send any self respecting archaeologists into a sweat.

Ahh well, got to start preparing for next year I suppose.

Ella

Subject: RE: FLEADH - the aftermath
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 03 Sep 01 - 05:58 AM

Yes indeed! He knows how I feel about them. Mind you, I'm not particularly impressed by the way some archaeologists have been behaving these days either.

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY Yum Yum/Uncle Metal Detector!

I've got the fleadh photos back, and there's some nice ones. I'll get 'em scanned soon.

Subject: RE: FLEADH - the aftermath
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 03 Sep 01 - 06:01 AM

Oh gawd no Fib... not any of me early in the morning after being woken up by early am accordion practising...

My morning boufant is a spectacle that even the mudcat is not prepared for yet...

Ella

Subject: RE: FLEADH - the aftermath
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 03 Sep 01 - 07:51 AM

heh heh hehe - now would I do that? There is a nice one of you collapsing on a pile of instruments though!

Subject: RE: FLEADH - the aftermath
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 03 Sep 01 - 08:19 AM

nooooooooooooooo!

Not THAT one... NOT the one I got forty days for....

Forgot you took that one, though I have not forgotten the sore ankle, and I suppose Don has not forgotten the slap he got from knocking me over.

And I was sober too!

Doh...

Subject: RE: FLEADH - the aftermath
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 03 Sep 01 - 08:31 AM

ps... what about...

big breathe...

american voice over, big film sci fi voice...

dum dum dum

QUAD CAM

any good uns from that bit of modern gadgetry