Folk Concert at St. James' Church

At St. James’ Church, Main Street, Dingle, in a quiet setting with good acoustics, you can hear many musicians that play in the pub sessions. Performances are every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Tickets at the door cost €15. Due to limited seating it is recommended to get advance tickets which are also less expensive from the Tourist Office, music shops in town or at Murphys Ice Cream.

The event is put on by Eoin Duignan, uilleann piper, low whistle player and composer. Eoin usually takes to the stage at some point in the evening himself. Eoin was a member of the well-known traditional Irish music group The Wild Geese that toured Europe throughout the 1970’s. He has been living in Dingle for the past 20 years. For more information on Eoin and his recorded music go to his website. You can listen to Eoin playing at St. James' and view some great Dingle scenery at this You Tube link.

At St. James’s you will have an opportunity to hear some of the best traditional Irish musicians in the locality. Also, Eoin attracts talented musicians from other parts of the country. The presentations are intimate and the standard is very high.

St. James’ Church is a small and simple structure built in the year 1807. It is said that the original church on the same site was built by the Spanish. After the reformation it was taken over by Church of Ireland. As mentioned in my previous blog entry, Dingle has a long historical connection with Spain and with Santiago de Compostella and was one of the starting points for pilgrims.

Dingle Eoin Duignan St. James' Church

Féile na Bealtaine (Beltane Festival)

The Celtic year starts with Samhain at the beginning of November followed by Imbolc in February, Beltane in May and Lughnasadh in August. These are the main Celtic festivals and they fall half way between the more usual festivals celebrated in March, June, September and December. In Ireland, spring begins with Imbolc, summer begins with Beltane, Autumn with Lughnasadh and winter with Samhain. We celebrate festivals at all of these times here.

The Beltane Festival in Dingle/An Daingean goes on for a whole week with art exhibits, book launchings, poetry and of course music. There is a theme each year and this year it is the relationship between Dingle and Santiageo de Compostela. Dingle was one of the main starting points for pilgrims going to Compostela going back to the 16^th century. It is with great pleasure that the connection is being re-established this year with the sailing of the Tall Ship Jeanie Johnston on May 1^st. with 29 pilgrims plus crew.

The Jeanie Johnston is a replica of a well-known famine ship. Check out the link for a full description of the ship and its history. It is hoped that this trip will not be just a one-time affair but rather that the tradition of Dingle as a starting point for the pilgrimage will be re-established.

The Spanish Ambassador to Ireland, His Excellency Senor Jose de Carvajal Salido was present to cut the ribbon for a plaque commemorating the long tradition between Dingle and Santiago de Compostela.
Music for the opening event was provided by the Dingle Marching Band and by Mark Crickard and Maurice Mc Kenna.
There is an extensive program of events for the week including performers such as Aslan, Mary Black, David KittJodavino, Rojda & Her Band, Moya Brennan and many others.


Technorati tags: Santiago de Compostela Beltane Jeanie Johnston Dingle

An Droichead Beag Session

An Droichead Beag (The Little Bridge) is the only pub in Dingle offering music seven nights a week all year around. Many the town’s talented traditional Irish musicians can be heard here including John Brown, Bréanainn and Séamus Ó Beaglaoich, Eoin Duignan, Aoife Granville, Michael Herlihy, Jon Saunders and Tommy Sullivan.


You can be assured of a good session any night at Droichead Beag. It is one of the larger establishments in town with several rooms

The Tuesday night session is more relaxed than the busy weekend with a warm and friendly atmosphere. It is lead by Michael Herlihy on box with John Brown on guitar. Michael is a lively West Kerry style box player who owns and operates the music shop, Siopa Ceol an Daingin, on Main Street just up the street from An Droichead Beag. John is well-know for his singing and guitar playing in and around Dingle.


There is a CD available called The Mighty Session that features some of Ireland's leading musicians that have played at An Droichead Beag over time.

Also Aoife Granville who plays violin and flute there on Mondays and Saturdays has a new CD out called Sráid Eoin Shuffle. CD is available from the local music shops or by mail order from Mulligan in Galway.

As with most sessions in Dingle, the music gets started at about 9:30 pm.

Dingle, Traditional Irish Music, Music Sessions

Marina Inn Session

The Marina Inn is unique for its early session on Sunday, starting at about 6 pm. Family visitors will appreciate the early session since children and even teenagers under 18 are not allowed in pubs after 9 pm (10 pm in the summer); all of the other sessions in town begin at 9:30 pm or later.

Marina Inn is located on Strand Street in Dingle/An Daingean opposite the Tourist Office. The establishment is frequented by locals and tourists and it is also a favorite hang-out for the fishermen that come into the Dingle Harbor to process and unload their catch. It is not unusual to hear Spanish or Portuguese spoken at the bar. Food is served up to 9 pm in the summer and earlier off season. The specialty is, of course, locally caught fish.

The Sunday session is regarded as one of the best in town and is one of my favorites. It is lead by champion piper Con Durham with Tommy O'Sullivan, guitar player and singer. Tommy who is referred to as "One of the great contemporary folk voices of Ireland" has a wonderful new album called Song Ablaze. Other regulars are Lucinda Cook on uilleann pipes, Phillip Crickard and Mark Crickard both on fiddle.

Last Sunday we had a great session with 2 uilleann pipers, 3 fiddles, 1 mandolin, 1 guitar, and me on harmonica. Claire Horgan joined us to sing a few songs in Irish and it was beautifully done in the old style.

Marina Inn is also home to the Quay Wren, a penny whistle and Drum band, one of the main groups that make up the Wren Day festivities on St. Stephen Day, December 26^th. This group is also guided by Con Durham, who plays the whistle on that day.

In the summertime there is a session most nights but only the Sunday one is early.

Dingle/An Daingean, Music Sessions, Irish Music

O'Flaherty's Pub Session

O’Flaherty’s Pub is located on Bridge Street in Dingle/An Daingean and generally has one of the best traditional Irish music sessions in town. A lively session can be enjoyed there any evening in the summer and on week-ends in the off-season. Visiting musicians are welcome.

The pub is owned and operated by Fergus O’Flaherty who leads the session playing both box (button accordion) and banjo. I have on occasion heard him play tin whistle,
low whistle, mandola, guitar and fiddle.

Here is a recent session with myself on the left with Fergus centre and Tommy Lynch on the box. Fergus' sister Mazz, who runs the local music shop, drops in sometimes to sing a few songs. Other regulars at O’Flaherty’s are Maidhc Dainín Ó Sé on box, Mark Crickard on fiddle, Gus Cero on guitar, Eric Marini on bodhrán and Cillian O’ Briain on uilleann pipes with his wife Bríd on Irish timber flute. Cillian is also a well known uilleann pipe maker.

Fergus also heads up the Green and Gold Wren, playing the fife himself. The band plays and marches through the town on Wren Day, December 26th. This group also makes up a substantial part of the Dingle/An Daingean fife and drum band that plays for various events during the year.

Started in 1846, the pub still has the original flagstones on the floor brought in from Valentia Island. The walls are covered by old posters and photographs depicting the history of Ireland starting in the 18th century with the Gratton Parliament and ending with a facsimile of the Belfast agreement. Flaherty’s is also a GAA hub and this is reflected by the many photos of the teams and personalities of the local GAA clubs.

Music Sessions Traditional Irish Music Dingle/An Daingean Uilleann pipes

Book Launch at Kruger's Pub

Last Sunday there was a celebration for the posthumous launch of the biographical book Are you Going Home Now? by Michael Delaney (Mícheál Ó Dubhshláine.) The event took place at Kruger’s Pub in Dún Chaoin which is said to be the most westerly pub in Ireland. Michael was, until his recent retirement, the principal of Scoil Náisiúnta Naomh Gobnait, Dún Chaoin and was once at the centre of a local controversy that became a national issue. It was even featured as cover story for National Geographic at the time. Michael began teaching at the school in an unofficial capacity after the government of the day closed the school in 1970 and local people funded his salary. For more information on Michael go to Gaelport.

One thing I have to say for the people of West Kerry is that they really know how to celebrate- how to make an occasion special. There was a great turn-out for the book launch with poets, singers and musicians aplenty. We even had some songs in the old style (sean nós.)

There is in any case a great session every Sunday evening at Kruger’s with box player Aine Ui Laoithe, whistle and bohran player Eilín Chéarna and fiddler Feargal Mac Amhlaoibh. Although the standard is very high, it is an open session with a welcome to visiting musicians. Aine and Eilín have a very good CD of music and songs of the Blasket Islands called Mná an Oilean.

I will give a source for the book Are You Going Home Now? as soon as distribution is worked out.

Irish Music Sessions

Finbarr's Folly

Here is a poem that I wrote about our cat. It describes actual events of our first weeks together. The illustrations were done by Christine.

Finbarr’s Folly

't was on a stormy winter night
The rain was pouring down
As I went out into the dark
And walked around the town



I heard a little kitten cry
Her pain it touched my soul
I peered into the darkness
The wretch was in a hole



With all the dirt and oily black
She scarce looked like a cat
With slimy hair and skinny tail
She looked more like a rat


I bundled her inside my coat
And headed for the house
What was I to tell my wife
That I had found a mouse?



How could you bring that creature home?
Was how she greeted me
How could I leave it lying there?
Was plain enough to see




The kitten was a sorry sight
She really was so ill
We took her to the vet in town
And had to pay the bill





Her skin was plagued with ringworm
And mites were in her ears
Her fur was full of fleas
And her eyes were wet with tears





My wife, she caught the ringworm
It spread all over her skin
And I, I felt so guilty
Having brought the nuisance in.






Cat was banished to the balcony
Looking out upon the bay
And I made for her a little house
With a cozy bed of hay






Now she looks so pretty
With fur that’s soft and white
The children like to play with her
And she brings us all delight





We call her Finbarr's Folly
My wife came up with that
And, thinking it all over now
I'd still bring home the cat