I'm back in Galway!

The World Bodhran Championships were fun. I didn't make it through to the finals, but the other competitors were very good, some of the best bodhran playing I've ever heard.

I took the bus down through Limerick, then Killarney, before it looped back up to Milltown. It's a small town, with two main streets. I was early getting there on Friday, but I found the main office. The organziners were there, but were in the process of organizing, so I went for a walk around the town.

Milltown is just north of Killorglin. There's mountains to both the south and the west, and is immediately surrounded by farms; lots of cows and sheep! I'll try to get some pictures up later, it really was amazing scenery.

Eventually, I got to my camp site; a local farmer made one of his fields available for campers and caravans. It was a decent enough spot, and not too far from the town. On Friday night, there was a parade, and live music on an outdoor stage. However, there was a great session at The Plough, with lots of tunes, songs, and set dancing, until quite late (or early, depending on how you look at it!)

Saturday was mostly the day for workshops. They were all pretty expensive though, and for beginners, so I didn't bother with them. However, I met a couple from America that were hiking the Dingle penninsula. The wife had entered her husband in the competitions, so they were looking for someone to play tunes to accompany. I offered to play, and we put a couple pieces together.

Sunday was the competitions. I met up with a whistle player in the morning, and went over some tunes for the competion. Most of the other competitors brought their own musicians, so I can claim they had the odds stacked in their favour. :D I played tunes for the American bodhranist, sat through a couple other perfomances, then it was my turn. I think I did a good job, and played, well, how I play! It was interesting to see the other competitors though. They mostly just play the bodhran, and it showed. Overall the standard of playing was incredibly high.

That night, the finalists performed outside. It was a little odd though, as they were miked, which allows, or perhaps calls for, a completely different style of playing than when it's all acoustic, and a good portion of your sound depends on your sound man. I think that the fact that every (different sounding) drum was miked with a Shure SM57, in varying placements, had a significant effect on the sound, never mind that the sound man had trouble creating a good mix. However, the bodhran playing was again very nice.

For me, the bodhran solos were the most amazing, especially that they were completly planned rather than improvised. The kid that won this all ages category was Joseph McNultly, and I think he won by miles. He's 12 years old, and I don't think I've heard the drum played so well.

Overall, it was a fun, interesting weekend, and I learned quite a bit. However, being primarily a flute player, I though that the bodhran playing in general was a little loud, and often began to compete with the tune being played. Also, that the judge panel was made up of (albeit very good and proffessional) bodhran players seemed sort of silly. No matter how good, I don't think a drum player will hear and understand a tune the same way as someone primarily playing tunes. But, it's a bodhran player's festival, so I guess that's alright!

I hitchiked up to Tralee to catch my bus back to Galway.

I was back for one day, then got a lift down to Ennis, Co. Clare. What I nice town! I did some busking, and it went so well I decided to stay the night. I stayed at the Rowan Tree hostel, which was easily the best I've stayed at yet. There was a nice session that night as well. In the morning, I did some more busking, sold a bunch of bodhran tippers to Custy's Traditional Music Shop, before meeting up with a friend from Galway and getting a lift back up to Galway. I think busking outside Galway is probably better, as there's just so many buskers in Galway. I may try to go down to Doolin this week.

Pictures to follow!