December 6, 2004 - page 2

Last night, a fiddle player, a tin whistle player, and a guitarist emerged from the crowd to play a few sets of tunes. The music is always part of a larger scheme that includes talking, storytelling, and ‘craic,’ which is an Irish term best defined as good-natured joking around. The tunes are really lively, and the non-musicians, or ‘punters,’ participate by stamping their feet or hollering things. I haven’t seen any dancing there, but that’s probably because there isn’t much room for it. In between songs, the musicians tell stories and jokes. It’s a really light-hearted and fun atmosphere tha's different from anything I’ve seen at home.

It’s also pretty interesting to hear some of the music in the Gaelic language. Though most of the country speaks English, there are still some areas, especially in the western countryside, which are Gaeltach, which means Gaelic is still spoken with some frequency. I think the Gaelic lyrics give the songs a mystifying, mournful feeling. I’ve spent a few evenings at sessions in county Kerry, where you can frequently hear some really wonderful tunes in the old language. It seems like people in these areas are especially aware of their past and intent on preserving it through traditions like the sessions.