More trip journal updates. I'm reading your comments but will likely not make too many direct replies since my Internet time here is costing around 4 Euro/hour.
Day 4, afternoon, Sligo: Stopped in CD store specializing in Irish trad recordings on way back to inn. Another mistake: cost me 75 Euro to get out! Had a nice dinner later upstairs in a restaurant overlooking the river. Apparently no sessiuns that evening, so returned to inn for a good night's sleep.
Day 5, Sligo/Letterkenny: Caught early bus from Sligo to Letterkenny. I think that County Donegal is the prettiest part of Ireland I've seen thus far. Weather today alternates showers and sun. Arrived at bus station in Letterkenny, asked directions, and trudged uphill to the Letterkenny Court Hotel. Dropped off bags, and went to seek lunch. After lunch, ducked into an instrument store (set up for the Fleadh) to escape the rain. Yet another mistake: saw just the bodhran I'd been looking for and had to buy it! Then trudged backdown hill and as far again (carrying bodhran and fully-packed messenger bag) until I reached the Fleadh office, which they'd located at the Letterkenny Institute of Technology. Hadn't realized they had such here. Picked up event schedule and program book from Fleadh office, then trudged back uphill and checked in at the hotel. Heaved bags up to room, then promptly went downstairs to pub for a well-earned pint! Wandered around main street in afternoon; dinner in hotel. Pub-hopped in evening in search of a good sessiun. Found several small ones, but nothing spectacular. Yet. Likely to be a different story on the weekend.
Day 6, Letterkenny: Practiced in morning. Wandered some more about town, in search of needle and thread and other essentials. Weather today is uniformly gray and rainy. Altan concert this evening , at Mt. Errigal Hotel, which means yet another trudge down the hill . Would take a taxi, this time, but the main street will be closed to traffic.
Day 4, afternoon, Sligo: Stopped in CD store specializing in Irish trad recordings on way back to inn. Another mistake: cost me 75 Euro to get out! Had a nice dinner later upstairs in a restaurant overlooking the river. Apparently no sessiuns that evening, so returned to inn for a good night's sleep.
Day 5, Sligo/Letterkenny: Caught early bus from Sligo to Letterkenny. I think that County Donegal is the prettiest part of Ireland I've seen thus far. Weather today alternates showers and sun. Arrived at bus station in Letterkenny, asked directions, and trudged uphill to the Letterkenny Court Hotel. Dropped off bags, and went to seek lunch. After lunch, ducked into an instrument store (set up for the Fleadh) to escape the rain. Yet another mistake: saw just the bodhran I'd been looking for and had to buy it! Then trudged backdown hill and as far again (carrying bodhran and fully-packed messenger bag) until I reached the Fleadh office, which they'd located at the Letterkenny Institute of Technology. Hadn't realized they had such here. Picked up event schedule and program book from Fleadh office, then trudged back uphill and checked in at the hotel. Heaved bags up to room, then promptly went downstairs to pub for a well-earned pint! Wandered around main street in afternoon; dinner in hotel. Pub-hopped in evening in search of a good sessiun. Found several small ones, but nothing spectacular. Yet. Likely to be a different story on the weekend.
Day 6, Letterkenny: Practiced in morning. Wandered some more about town, in search of needle and thread and other essentials. Weather today is uniformly gray and rainy. Altan concert this evening , at Mt. Errigal Hotel, which means yet another trudge down the hill . Would take a taxi, this time, but the main street will be closed to traffic.
wait a second.. drumming for firedancers.... how did i miss that before?! what type of drums?