As a Dubliner ~Mid March~

11/Mar
Last friday, Ihono, Ben, and I drunk together in the pub and we decided to travel around the Ireland together（BTW, drinking together, we noticed that Ben knew a lot of japanese dirty jokes lol）
Today we left Dublin after eating lunch at MongolianBBQ, my favorite restaurant, and came to Galway.
It took 3 hours from Dublin to Galway. All we can see from the highway in Ireland are herds of sheeps and the meadow.

We walked around Galway. The best scenery in Galway was the seaside in the sunset. We walked along the beach practicing Gaelic and I played "Galway hornpipe" on the beach.
We also went to music shop and bought CDs. I was recommended to listen to Joe Heaney, a legendary Sean nos singer, and got his CDs.

After going to Mcdonagh's, my favourite fish and chips shop, and bought Haggis, we visited Galway Cathedral. I had visited there before this trip and then I really loved it.

The paint of the ceiling was especially amazing.
Whenever I came to church in Ireland, I recognize　most of them believe in god.

When the sky was getting dark, we visited Tig choili, a famous pub in Galway.
I heard today Brian Mcgrath would host the session. Brian Mcgrath was one of my most favorite banjo player and when he came to Japan, I took part in his workshop and even got his autographs on my banjo. He said he would host the session on Sunday.

When we were waiting for him, Ben suddenly asked me as follows
"oh, they are also Japanese, aren't they!"

They were Mareka and Junji, my most favourite Japanese Irish players!
Unbelievable!!!!!!
Why are they here!?

Junji writes column about Irish music. There are only a few scripts about Irish music written by Japanese in the world and so I used to read it.
Mareka and I graduated the same high school.
I really love their playing but I have never met them in Japan.

I was excited and screamed in the pub. Ben told me that this kind of guy is called "fan boy".

Brian Mcgrath came to the session and I was really amazed and glad to be there. I was almost crying...!（At the same time, I am sorry for Ben and Ihono because at that time I was completely crazy）
Finally, I also joined the session!!!
Oh my god...（now I believe in god）!

Brian remembered me and promised to play together someday again.
Junji and Mareka said today they would stay at Brian's house. Junji said "let's play together in Japan " to me.
A few days later, I found Junji praised me in the blog.

Unbelievable!!

12/Mar
Ihono and I played Irish music on the street and got some.
After we had lunch in the pub at city centre, we went to Inis mor island.
We used ferry and I suffered from sea sick.
All I remember is the silhouette of the island in  the twilight.

When we got to the harbor of Inis mor we were all tired but exited.
We drunk in the pub of the island.
It is fantastic that the pub exists even in the small island like that.

We accidentally met friend of Ihono from Dublin in the pub and had dinner and a pint together.

13/Mar

We woke up early in the morning.
It was a good weather today and we decided to go cycling around the island.
We rent bikes and launched for great journey!!

The heritage built by stones in the green fields firstly appeared!
It was fantastic view and we were so excited that screamed in the middle of the fields.

There were fences of stones around the island. According to the book I read, they were made to protect the soil from the wind because in this island the sands were very valuable. There were rocks instead of sands and to make vegetable, they had to save the sands in their island.

We played on the beach in the island and saw a lot of seals! I had never seen wild seals before and was so amazed.

We had lunch in the middle of the island and bought Aran sweater. Aran sweater is local specialty of Aran islands.

We climbed Dun Aengus, a big cliff, and I made a tune on the top of the cliff.

I played it for Ben's homeland on the other side of the ocean.

Beehive

Worm hole

Ancient chapel

We saw a lot of heritages and good views but when we got to the hostel, since there were many hills in the island, we were all exhausted.

We had a pint at night for relaxing.

By the way, when we were enjoying cycling, a black dog suddenly appeared and he followed us for more than 30 kilometer!!

He even guided us when we got lost in the island!!
He disappeared as soon as we got back to our hostel and I think he was a fairy.
We named him Pochi.

Pochi, I miss you so.

14/Mar
We tried to go fishing but we gave up because the rod in the pub was broken.
Instead of fishing, Ben and Ihono made me lunch.
Ben cooked steak and Ihono made だし巻き卵 and both were delicious.

I made Okonomiyaki but it was terrible.
After the lunch, we played Jenga and chatted

In the afternoon, I left Inis mor and stay at hostel in Galway.
I visited Tig choili again and drunk a bit.
BTW, there was Japanese guy called Roy.
He lives and works in Galway.
We talked a lot about music on the way home.
I hope we can play the music again.

15/Mar
In the morning, I played banjo on the street and then left for Donegal.
Donegal is northern city of Ireland and famous for the music.

I saw a grand hill from the bus.

On the way to Donegal, the bus I got on had an accident. It was hit by other bus in the parking area and my nearest window wes scattered.
I was very surprised but fortunately I didn't get injured.
I think Pochi saved me!

I arrived at Donegal in the evening and I went to hostel. It was a little far from city centre but was good. I took a walk around the town and the sea side near the town.

I bought my dinner and alcohol that I enjoy in the hostel. I bought alcohol in the strange orange can but it tasted terrible. I never drink it. No more.

At night, I visited a pub called
My music professor of UCD, whose parents are from Donegal, recommended this pub.
However, as soon as entering the pub, I noticed it was gig rather than a session.
I was stranger there and all people in the pub peered me. I greeted them and ordered a pint of Guinness.
There were an accordion player and a guitarist.
I sat on the seat and one of them found me.
"Would you play together?" He said.

It was first experience for me to play as a member of irish music band in Ireland.
I was so surprised but I accepted his proposal.

They mainly played songs and I followed them by banjo.
They  sometimes asked me to start a few tunes and then I played some jigs and reels.
As the night goes, some audiences also joined the show. They played songs and danced sean nos.
Some people were too drunken and Garda came to the pub to took them home.

It was " Irish pub".

I satisfied with tha fantastic atmosphere and get back to hostel late at night.

16/Mar



I took a walk around the Donegal in the morning.

When I was waiting for the bus, an old man suddenly talked to me and praised me for the performance yesterday. Donegal is so small town that I can meet the audience of the gig on the street in coincidence.

I tried to charter fishing boat and called them but they said they were closed in the winter.
I decided to fish from the sea shore.

I came to Ballyshannon, where Rory Gallagher was born by bus.
There was a statue of Rory Gallagher at the centre of the city and welcomed me.

It is said that it's oldest town in Ireland. I walked around the city and found fishing shop.

I bought what I needed for fishing, such as rod, lure, and reel. According to shopper, salmon and trout are on season.

I arrived at the shore and started fishing.
I was so exited because it was my first fishing in Ireland!!!

I could get no fish, though.

I went back to Dublin by Bus with empty hands.

17/Mar
Happy St. Patrick day!!

They were all green!!
It was so cold today but I went to city centre to see the parade!

It was fantastic that many colorful  monuments went through the city.

All the traffic stopped for the parade.There were many people and it was not like Dublin as usual.

Ihono and I went to Peader Browns to enjoy the session but the pub was too crowded even to talk.
Reserved seat for the musician but we were invited to sit there.

18/Mar

It snowed heavily again.
We planed to go to the session but I couldn't go because the bus didn't come.
I slept all over the day.

19/Mar
I went to Howth to enjoy Dublin Prown Festival.
Prown is famous local seafood from Howth.
In this festival, we can enjoy not only delicious prown but also live music.

I arrived at Howth early and ate cockles in the restaurant.
After that, I bought a pint and enjoyed the show.
Actually, I heard my friend from Peader Browns will appear on the stage.
She played some tunes by fiddle in her band.
I enjoyed it drinking cidre.

The stage was near to the sea and I dropped by the sea shore. It was so windy and cold today but the scenery was good.

In the afternoon, my friend Ben and his brother  Noah came to the festival.
Noah came to Ireland for sightseeing and for seeing his dearly brother.
We went to the pub and had a few pints of Guinness.Ben checked his score of the university on the PC.

After enjoying conversation with local people in the pub, we got back to Dublin city by bus.
The traffic was busy and it took more than 90minutes, though..

We ate fish and chips in the restaurant near to O'connell street.
Next we went to cobblestone to drink Guinness and enjoy music.
I played more than three hours and they also sang in the session!!
They had really good voices and I was amazed by their singing.
Niall praised me and said "why do Japanese play better than Irish!!"

We had a good day and got back home stoned.