Conference tallis::celt

   >Other than these issues, I guess I'd like to know what things to see
   >in Ireland that are a *must* for a visit that will determine whether
   >or not Ireland becomes my new home.
    
    A simple trip to the Crane on Sea Road in Salthill will speed your
    decision making process.

    Regarding quarantine, I looked into this a few years ago, and was not
    very happy with what I found out. The animal must be held in quarantine
    for at least six months. This could be extended if the animal were to
    become ill at any stage of the quarantine period. In Ireland the
    government runs the kennels where animals are quarantined, unlike
    England where they are privately owned. The disadvantage of this is
    that there is no competition, in other words you take what you get.
    This is not to say that the facilities are not adequate, but I have
    heard that they are not much better than adequate.
    
    Sorry to be so negative, and you may find out things have changed
    somewhat since I looked into it. Check with the Irish Embassy, also try
    the CANINE conference.
    
    Gerry

    
    Thanks for the input.
    
    Re .1:  where is the crane on sea road in salthill?  will i find it
    	on a map?  what is it ("the pipes are calling"?)?
    
    Re .2:  yes, i'm getting the feeling that the quarantine is not
    	something i would want to put my pet through.  i will check it
        out thoroughly while i'm there.  its too bad that not only is
        it such a rigid law, but that the conditions are not terribly
        appealing (i.e. private, local kennels).

    
    		I moved back to Ireland from PR and put my Wolfhound in
    quarantine for six months. The kennels themselves are fine, but the
    animal is a virtual prisoner and doesn't take kindly to it. You are
    allowed to visit the dog. The quarantine kennel isn't state-run but
    is state-approved and there is only one for all of the Irish Republic,
    which is situated at Swords, Co. Dublin and is about 15mins from the
    Airport - tel 01-8401776. Enjoy your visit....
    
    
    				Tod.

    re. Crane
    
    The Crane, while not in Salthill, is on route to Salthill from Galway
    City. It used to be a regular haunt for traditional music, but the last
    time I was home (last year) its' popularity had fallen off a lot. The
    strip of pubs along Domenic Street (Waterfront, Munroes, Mick Taylors
    etc.) seemed to have the best in trad. music. Also worth a visit was
    the Quays and the Tribesmen.
    
    Gerry

    Only once did I hear music in the Quays, and that was 4 years ago when
    a group of lads did a set of their own original material which I thought
    was catchy but probably wouldn't do well. THey called themselves the 
    Sawdoctors.........
    
    THe Quays was the subject of a takeover because of a court order
    because of the previous owners attempt to add on to it did not come off
    and the banks had to be paid. It is O.K for a pint but not reliable for
    music.
    
    O'Malleys of Prospect Hill can be relied to provide the goods seven
    days a week and on Sunday Mornings if you're into it ( my tummy says
    no.....). THere is  An P�c�n on Foster St. which has its own unique
    brand of overamplified c�il� music 7 nights a week and is reliable.
    
    The Crane is what I would describe as Bohemian, it hasn't been
    decorated in years and the smoky athmosphere and neglect may be putting 
    people off. Service is friendly and the pints are good though so they
    must concentrate their energies on that side of the bar. Its most
    unusual feature is a fireplace that once had a full quota of ceramic
    tiles, these have gradually dissappeared over the years and have never
    been replaced, no-one seems to care..........
    
    Further in towards Town on the same side of the Road as the Crane is
    the Galway Shawl, so called after the local ballad of the same name
    that celebrates the charm and beauty of a lady from my home town of 
    Oranmore. This pub is now owned by two Galway county Hurlers who are
    also interested in Irish Music and does music at the Weekends.
    
    One then proceeds towards Town and you will find the Dominic Street
    pubs as mentioned in the previous note.
    
    Finally one must not forget McDonaghs Thatched Pub in the village of 
    Oranmore,5 miles east of Galway City. This has a session every Friday night
    featuring  Irish traditional song and Music, the Fear an T� is also
    a keen dancer. 
    
    It is not unknown for the author of this note to sing a verse or two 
    with guitar in hand as well.
    
    
    

    John, you must be well oiled by the time you reach the Thatch in
    Oranmore if you have one in all of the above.
    
    KeVin Burns has probably done it on more than one occasion!
    
    Gerry

    Different nights and different times would do it......
    	
    	My tummy isn't as resilient to the porter as it used to be and in
    addition you have all those pesky drunk driving laws which make it very
    dangerous to do all in one night.
    
    		Now ......stagger.....stagger ...stagger wheresh ....that
    taxi???
    

    
    The last time we had a night like that we slept in the carpark in
    Kinvara across from Dongory Castle !!!!		:-)
    
    
    Or was the the night we slept in Mike Hughes Driveway in Claregalway
    because we couldn't figure out how to unlock the front door to his
    house ...
    
    
    Or was it the night .... Oh Nevermind !!!		:-)
    
    
    keVin
    

    Driving east from Galway City one can now approach Oranmore from two
    directions. A the second left turn after the Galway Crystal factory,
    signposted as "The Coast Road" brings you onto the old N6 and hence,
    in three miles to Oranmore. Alternatively one can continue onto a
    roundabout, 2nd exit onto a dual carriageway, the new N6 which, in
    spite of the high speeds one can attain for its 2-mile length is actually
    slower than the old route. This is what the Council calls road
    improvement.There are three connections off this road into Oranmore,all
    to the right. In Oranmore itself, the main feature is the castle,
    privately owned, but one can approach very closely via the pier which
    is public.It can be reached by taking the public road opposite the old
    ( now disused) RC church,( built in 1803 but now in disrepair.)
    This square Anglo Norman keep was built in the 12th Cent by the
    Clanricard Burkes to protect the quay which was a strategic receiving
    point in the sea-borne turf trade from connemara to south Galway and
    which is now carried on by road. Kinvarra holds a festival each year in 
    August which celebrates this trade.
    
    Departing Oranmore on the N18 our tour continues to Clarenbridge, which is 
    the homeplace of Paddy Burkes the world famous seafood pub, and its
    oysters. On the right is its interesting Mission style church built in 
    1836 and reminiscent of Southern California rather than Southern
    Galway.  
    
    A mile outside the town on the right hand side is the road to Morans of
    the Weir, another restaurant/pub famous for .....beef, no only joking,
    oysters which come from the St. Georges oyster beds nearby.This pub
    applied for and received the first licence west of the Shannon at a
    time when it was respectable in Irish circles to drink in sheebeens, or
    unlicenced drinking houses and a licence, seen as a mark of
    collaboration with the hated enemy was a liability to business.
    
    Further on the N18 is Kilcolgan a small village with a pub called
    Rafterys Rest, named after the blind Gaelic Poet, Raftery who was born
    in Craughwell and died in Kilcolgan. Students of the Irish Language
    here are familiar with him poem "Mise Raftaire an file" which
    translates as "I'm Raftery the poet". Rafterys rest does good food so
    you won't be hungry.
    
    Turn left off the N18 onto the N67 signposted "Lisdoonvarna" to arrive
    in the famous hurling parish of Ballindereen and its two pubs, O'Connors
    and Jordans. (Irish music in Jordans every weekend for the Summer).
    
    A further 4 to 5 miles brings you to Kinvara home of the boating
    festival, Cruinni� na mB�id, which celebrates the centuries old
    tradition of ferrying peat, or turf across Galway Bay from Connamara, 
    where it is plentiful, to south Galway, where it is scarce. Other fuels
    have replaced turf to a great extent nowadays and heavy transport is
    now by road but at one time all heavy transport along Galways coast was
    by boat. This explains the strange siting of towns in Connemara at the
    heads of peninsulae where, although they are isolated from a landsmans
    point of view, are very convenient by sea.
    
    Kinvara is home to a great variety of pubs, Winkles, recently acquired
    by De Dannan fiddler, Frankie Gavin which has traditional music
    sessions every Saturday and Sunday. The Dunguaire Inn, across the road,
    also has music and there are several others in the town.
    
    Next on could go onto Ballyvaughan but that will do for now........
     
    
    

    > Next on could go onto Ballyvaughan but that will do for now........
    
    Stay clear of Ballyvaughan.  They're a rough bunch down there ;v)
    
    
    John, Raftery is my favorite.
    
    
                 /      /     /   /           /
    Mise Raifteiri, an file, lan dochais is gra.
        /                 /            /
    le suile gan solas, ciuineas gan cra,
            /                                /
    ag dul sios ar m'aistear le solas mo chroi,
                                          /
    fann agus tuirseach go deireadh mo shli;
     /  /
    ta me anois lem aghaidh ar Bhalla
                         /
    ag seinm cheoil do phocai falamh.

    
    
    	Sound Ballyvaughan  !!!
    
    
    
    
    	keVin
    

    We had a warm welcome there about two weeks ago when our ceili band had
    its debut in the Ballyvaughan Inn.
    
    Good spot with a good audience.
    
    Clare appreciates traditional music.