West Cork, Ireland - Easter 2011

I've just returned from two weeks in West Cork, Ireland where there was plenty of traditional music going on. The Ballydehob Traditional Festival took place on the weekend before Easter. Ballydehob is a picturesque village with five friendly bars and many very good traditional players living nearby. The weather was gorgeous throughout the weekend. I played in sessions at Levis's Corner bar on Friday night, The Sandboat on Saturday and Rosie's on Sunday. See http://www.ballydehobtradfestival.com/ for more information.

Welsh dances performing in the open air at the Ballydehob Traditonal Festival
Irish dancers in the street outside Levis's on Sunday afternoon.

The session in Rosie's bar on Sunday

The following weekend, Easter weekend brought more music. On Good Friday I was booked to play in the Boathouse, Ahakista. Luke, a local fisherman transforms his boathouse into an unofficial bar every Friday for locals, friends and family to enjoy drinks and good company. This is particularly popular on Good Friday when all the bars in Ireland are closed.

Performing in the Boathouse, Ahakista

The annual 'Ceoil on the Coast' Music Festival at Kilcrohane took place on Easter Saturday, Sunday and Monday. I took part in the Saturday Night traditional session in Eileen's Bar.

Frank, me and Paul

Finbar (with hat) who unfortunately had his spoons with him!

Clear View Goleen

This blog is just to show photos of Clear View for all our friends and family who are about to visit Clear View and want to know what they are in for.

If you are in to Google Earth, you can see Clear View at 51 29' 37.3" N 9 43' 39.97" W - in the middle of nowhere! Clear View, looking down on Goleen and the sea

View of the drive and the front of Clear View

Barley Cove beach close to Clear View

A calm evening on Barley Cove beach

View of Barley Cove

View of Crookhaven, the next village to Goleen and the last before USA!

Rock Island, close to Goleen

Front view of Clear View

View from Clear View lounge

Sometimes it's calm enough to barbecue freshly caught mackerel

Tranquil music at Clear View

Goleen Main Street

Gawkey performing in the Fastnet Bar Goleen

Session in Denny's, Goleen - Frank (bodhran) Adrian (guitar) and Joan (fiddle)

An idylic environment at Clear View for a folk tune

Family breakfast on the patio

Heron's Cove Restaurant at Goleen Harbour

Baltimore with Sherkin Isalnd in background - 30 miles from Goleen

Going over The Cork and Kerry Mountains (about 35 miles from Goleen)

The Goleen Rovers performing at the Goleen Festival

The Oxford Fiddle Group at the Tin Pub, Ahakista

Wedding Anniversary celebration with the family at Barley Cove

Cocklestrand, close to Clear View

The Quarries at the Tin Pub, Ahakista

View from the Tin Pub beach

Local golf at Schull

Sullivan's Pier near Clear View