Ceol Traidisiúnta – Traditional Music

Of all the surprises we have had in moving to Ireland… traditional music has been one of the best. We were really surprised to discover this brilliant and diverse tradition of music that can be heard all over the island. Don’t get me wrong… Ireland is a modern country that loves rock and pop… (don’t forget that it was Ireland that gave the world music from The Cranberries, The Corrs, The Frames, Sinead O’Connor, Van Morrison and (of course) U2.) But there is a very important place for traditional music in the Irish heart. Deedra and I absolutely love it. We love walking down the streets of the city listening to the beautiful sounds of a tin whistle or accordion echoing off of the buildings. We try to go over to Hughes house every Sunday night to listen to the music. On Sunday nights a group of locals retreat away from the tourists and get together just to enjoy their music and hang out with their friends. You never know who is going to show up… but everyone is invited. You never really know what instruments will be brought to the session. Some weeks there might be a bodhrán, fiddle, flute, accordion, or maybe even a uilleann pipes. This last week three people showed up with fiddles, one with a flute, one with an accordion, and everyone brings their hands (to clap), feet to stomp, and voices to sing with. There never really is a plan of what music will be played… but one thing is for sure… you have to tap your foot to the music! Now… you can’t tap your foot in the American discrete way… most Irish music demands that you tap your foot hard and loud… you know that you are doing it right if your knee rises and falls three or four inches and you can hear your foot on the hard wood floor. The music goes on at Hughes and when the musicians take a break someone always jumps and sings a traditional song (Most of the time in Irish). Some songs are ones that everyone can join in on… but I especially like the laments. Whenever someone sings a lament the whole places quiets down and listens as the shaky voice sings of lost love, abuse from the English, or of families leaving their homeland….. after the lament ends… there is a little pause (almost a time of reflection) and then the music starts back up… Yes… I would definitely say that the traditional music has been one of the best surprises of living in Ireland.