European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 29, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Ireland Don t miss a pub session to capture country s melodic sounds by Deborah Absher staff writer a trip to Ireland without experiencing its music would be As empty As a pub without guinness. The music of Ireland is unlike any other music. It has a different beat and different instruments such As Bones and boxes and the Bodhan along with enduring ballads that Are passed from generation to generation. To hear a variety of Irish music head to the pubs the focal Point of Irish social life. As a Rule the Irish Don t entertain in their Homes but go to pubs to meet friends catch up on the local news have a meal listen to music play chess or drink. And Don t feel you have to imbibe in Beer or whiskey to feel comfortable in pubs because you la see As Many people drinking Tea As Are enjoying guinness. Many pubs offer music sessions both planned and Impromptu with different nights of the week featuring different music. One night might be a Sinif along with popular ballads from raucous rebel songs to love songs and another night might be traditional Irish music which is enjoying a resurgence in popularity. And no one blinks an Eye when a Patron suddenly bursts into Solo song or jumps up to dance a Jig. In smaller pubs a guitar May suddenly appear from behind the bar and a Patron will Start playing. Traditional music is Ireland s most unusual and characteristic Type a revival of traditional music which sounds something like Bluegrass to the untrained ear occurred in the 1960s and faded again in the 1970s. It s been regaining popularity in the last few years. It s Back in a big Way said Thomas Waishew of Kilkenny who plays guitar and Harmonica. Young people Are listening to it  " traditional music encompasses More than instrumental it also includes ballads reels jigs and a style of singing known As scan nos generally a sad unaccompanied song. Friar Phillip Tobin of Kilkenny who has been playing the accordion called the Box since he was about 12, spends several nights a week joining traditional sessions around the area. I prefer this. It s better. It s alive. It will fast Tobin said during a break at a regular monday night session in the packed John Cleere s pub on Patrick Street in downtown Kilkenny located in Southeastern Ireland. There s something about it that holds you Tobin said. There s something More real in it. Tis  some of the instruments played in traditional music include the Harp guitar Banjo fiddle flute tin whistle Uil Leann pipes Elbow pipe accordion Bodhan pronounced bore run a hand held circular drum covered Ini sheepskin and played with a Small stick that has beaters on both ends Bones rib Bones of a cow or sheep or Goat spoons and an occasional Harmonica or hornpipes. No one Ever knows How Many musicians will show up for a session and newcomers or visitors Are always Welcome.  a i came Over Here to learn the music said Hans Weitbrecht a fiddle playing homeopathic practitioner from Stuttgart Germany who moved to Ireland five years ago. / Irish music is riot like any other music in the world. It s totally unique. People say Irish music is sad that the songs Are sad. But it s Lovely sad  several musicians who follow the traditional music scene agreed that counties Kilkenny Wexford and Calway along with the capital of Dublin seem to be the current focal Point for it. A sunday afternoon session at the mariners inn in new Ross about 14 Miles North of Waterford usually draws a big crowd. Many of the Sam patrons who closed the pub the night before after a saturday night sing along with both Irish and american songs from the 1960s and 1970s return at noon sunday with their families for lunch and the Lively toe tapping session. While the adults listen to music Andi socialize children play or take one of the checkers or backgammon boards propped up along the Wall and sit Down to a game. In contrast to some pubs the mariners owned for three generations by the Ryan family is family oriented. The children of owners Tony and Marian a Ryan Mangaoang Are often about or helping at the pub which is located along the Quay or the waterfront. After holy hour on sunday pubs by Law Are supposed to close from 2 30 to 4 30 ., although you May get locked in to continue with your drinking quietly the music starts up again at the mariners in the evening with ballads. Another rollicking traditional and Folk music session can be found at John Cleere s pub every monday night sessions Start at 9 30 ., but visitors Are advised to get there Early because the pub which has been holding sessions for about seven years is popular with both tourists and locals and gets packed after about 9  One of the key musicians there is Mick Walsh who has taped a collection called memories of great sessions. It features songs such As Arrigon Mill and Patsy Pagan and several reels and jigs. Walsh a professional musician who has been playing since he a 5, says the traditional music gives me a High. It s almost like a  another spot for traditional music is just Down the Street and across John s Bridge in Kilkenny. Flannery s hotel features Irish music on wednesday nights at 9 30. But wherever you Are in Ireland you can usually find at least one pub in every town that has music just wander around until you hear the music and the singing. Shamus Tennally plays the Bodhan the oldest of All Irish instruments. Jimmy Rattigan bursts into song As guitarist Tony Cleere no relation to the pub owner accompanies him. Thomas Waishew plays Danny boy on the Harmonica during a traditional session at the Mariner s inn. 8 stripes Magazine september 29, 1994