Limerick Fiddle Workshop

Here you can find links to resources that may be of interest related to violin and fiddle music, traditional music and culture and music shops and suppliers.

Music Shops and Suppliers

Online Stores

• Whistle and Drum  Online Traditional Music Supplier of quality instruments, DVD tutors and downloadable lessons.
• Buy violin strings online www.strings.ie
• Google for UK and US suppliers - can save you a good bit of money on strings

Limerick

• Steamboat Music  A great selection of 'pre-loved' student fiddles! You will get the best prices in Limerick here for your first student instrument. On Steamboat Quay, just across from the Clarion Hotel.
• Future Sound and Vision - at the top of William Street (061)207955 - wide and comprehensive selection of music books and DVDs, plus new instruments and AV equipement.
• Savins on O'Connell street (061)414095 - 50 years in the business this year. Extensive collection of new instruments, plus music books and DVDs upstairs.

Further Afield

• Custys Traditional Music Shop Like an Aladdins Cave for traditional music lovers, this shop is in Ennis City Centre.
• Ryan's of Tipperary
• McQuaid's of Nenagh
• Wild Goat Fiddles - Kinvarra                         
  Based in Kinvarra, Co Galway. Kate specialises in instruments for advancing students and accomplished musicians, from both traditional and classical disciplines. Exceptional range of quality small fiddles for young players as well as full-sized violins, violas and cellos. Kinvarra is great for a day out if you love traditional music, wild flowers and of course the wild goats!

Ireland

Fiddle Holiday?

• Kerry Fiddles Immerse yourself in Kerry and Fiddleness in the Kerry Mountains. Gill Newlyn, main tutor, is a very enthusiastic and skilled teacher and also makes a great cuppa. Local area of Kenmare is a great part of Ireland to visit too.  

Useful Websites

• The Session Great resource for finding tunes, events, recordings and chatting to other trad lovers from across the world - if you cant find the answer anywhere else, chances are someone on 'the session' will know.
• Conradh na Gaeilge Organisaiton for the promotion of Gaeilge, the Irish language. The Limerick branch is in Thomas street. We hold group classes at this branch. Conradh also provides short focused Irish courses and an Irish language creche plus many opportunities to socialise and meet with Irish speakers whatever your current level. They are very friendly so call in and find out more or give them a call 00353(0)61 417895
• Comhaltas National organisation for the promotion of traditional music, language and culture. They organise all those fleadhs (mass sessions with competitions added in) and the big fleadh (Na hEireann) in August. The big fleadh has to be done at least once in your life - not for the faint hearted, expect crowds and even more crowds, if you don't mind that you'll have the best time EVER.

Music Festivals

Ireland

• Baltimore Fiddle Fair (May - Co Cork) Extremely well organised, friendly and inclusive, easy to get around and relatively easy to get a seat in a music session. Some great masterclasses and concerts in a stunning location.
• Feakle Music Festival (August) Great little town that just about manages to fit everyone in it. Great concerts and sessions just be patient about getting a seat after 6pm, or a meal after 8pm though Peppers are a live saver with their 'dinner tent' out back. Getting a seat is easier earlier in the day or the week - at the weekend the whole world is there.
• Willie Week! (July - Miltown Malbay, Co Clare) The King of Festivals, one of Ireland's best known and well established festivals. It has its crowds but they are manageable and with your guile, planning and long eye-lashes you can get a seat at most sessions, though sometimes it can take longer. There is a beach nearby too and a huge array of traditional muscians giving workshops and concerts its impossible to see everything!

Beyond!

• Blazin in Beauly (October - Near Inverness Scotland) Great tutors and fantastic concerts, very well organised, stunning scenery and great old highland hotel complete with open fires and tartan curtains as the main location -  its one of my favourites along with Baltimore it improves every year and is very inclusive. 
• Don't worry if you dont know any Scottish tunes you will learn plenty there.
• Celtic Colours (Cape Breton, Canada, October) No nonsense proper fiddle stuff in Canada.
• Sidmouth (Devon, England, July) Proper English seaside stuff with great bands and festival atmosphere

Miscellaneous

• Outside Track (Traditional Band from Canada, Scotland, Ireland and England)
• Leanne Aucoin (Cape Breton Fiddle)
• Pete Hartley (UK Jazz violinist)
• Patsy Reid (Scotland - Classical and Traditional Fiddle)

Visiting Limerick...

Here are some hand picked Limerick Gems to help you plan your trip. (NB none of these sites are affiliated in any way with Limerick Fiddle Workshop - I just like them).

The Milk Market

Every week a real taste of Limerick with a great range of quality local produce... except there is no milk?!

Angela's Ashes Walking Tour

A great way to get to know the city intimately with much humour and intrigue! Tour Guide Micheal O'Donnell 087 653 3648

Absolute Hotel Limerick

Excellent value, quality, modern Hotel built alongside the river

No1 Pery Square Hotel and SPa

Very elegant but reasonably priced Hotel in a lovingly restored Georgian House

Limerick Co-ordination Office

Great for Keeping up with Events

Dolan's Bar and Restaurant

Great public house with attached performance spaces, restauarant and more. Dolan's puts on an impressive range of music gigs / concerts from heavy rock and pop to jazz and traditional. Also houses local set dancing classes, Limerick Jazz workshop events AND traditional music sessions (no cover charge) every night. It does all this and still manages to have a down to earth, relaxed feel. A mecca for visiting sports and music fans whilst retaining a popularity with the locals too.

Spiritstore Events

Spiritstore Blog

SpiritStore is a Social Practice art project based in Limerick City. Project activities are managed by a floating membership of 10-30 diverse practitioners. The SpiritStore project was initiated in The Sarsfield Bar, in spring/summer 2009. Over the course of several months, this defunct Georgian Bar was reopened and instated as the SpiritStore Art Café. SpiritStore hosted free cultural events over 6 weeks that catalysed social exchange crossing public, professional and social spheres

So many varied and fascinating things to see and get involved with. A great way to engage with 'real people' in Limerick and see some culture up close and personal. I will never forget being 2 feet away from a playwright reading his work sat on a sofa and being completely blown away!

The White House Poets

Limerick has a great literary heritage and this comes to the surface at regular poetry readings and debates at the small but perfectly formed 'White House' public house on O'Connell Street. Click on the link to read about what the White House Poets get up to!

Limerick Georgian Market

Not on often, usually Christmas time - but when it is its a special event.