Ballycastle Sessions
  
 
The House of McDonnell
  
 
Castle Street. Ballycastle
  
Dick Glasgow
A typical session
Dick & Kyle
 
Dick & Kyle
  
Stephanie & Paul
 
Many thanks to photographer David Green for the session photos.
 
     
 
Sessions - Every Friday from 9.30pm
  
     
 
The House of McDonnell ( Tom's) is probably the oldest session Pub in the area.
  
     
 
It has certainly been hosting brilliant sessions, on Friday nights, during the ten years I've been in the area, with Fiddles, Accordions, Guitars, Bodhrans, plus the odd set of Pipes, Concertina, Mandolin, Harp & occasionally, even a set of Spoons have been known to sneak past security!
  
     
 
For an idea of the Friday night session's atmosphere in Tom's, check this review out:-
  
     
 
MacSpy
  
 
An article on the House of McDonnell session, from Vol 8 No 1, August 2002 of the
  
     
 
'Irish Music Magazine'
 
     
 
PARADISE ON A NORTHERN SHORE - MAC SPY
 
     
 
Every year Ballycastle, the largest town in the Glens of Antrim, overflows with market stalls & herds of animals for the Ould Lammas Fair, Irelands oldest & most popular fair. The fair has probably been held since the 1400's & at first near the 15th century Dunineny Castle, since the name means 'Fort of the Fair'. The Castle ruins are scattered above the bay. The fair is now held on the last Monday & Tuesday of August in the town's centre, or Diamond'.
 
 
The fair has been immortalised in the song by local songwriter John McAuley.
  
 
Did you treat your Mary Ann, To some Dulse & Yellow Man, At the Ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle - O?
  
 
There is a plaque on the composer's house in Ann Street, where he lived & worked as a bog oak carver. Now, history & context over, & no it's not Lammas time that has me here but purely music. Tonight, Friday & the meeting is in the 'House of McDonnell's mighty pub up past the 'Diamond' near the Antrim Arms Hotel. This pub would put you in mind of the Crown Liqueur saloon in it's 'feel' but a lot smaller & cosier. Narrow with small back room & one snug, dark & atmospheric the ways I like it!
 
 
The owners Tom O'Neill & his wife, (he from the town & she from Scotland I believe) stand over the place like proud King & Queen. Tom also knows the importance of keeping the punter 'in' once they roam through the door. The welcome is warm & a loud bell on the door alerts to the arrival. Which also rings loudly as you leave in case you should dare sneak out past Tom! ( No door handle on the inside also keeps you in a bit longer!) But another great hook is the music, 'best session in the Glens' was the descriptiongiven by a customer to some travelling Americans who asked a start time, which was around ten by the way.
 
 
So a very well presented porter had me sittin' at the bar listening to the bell ringing & people in the know shuffled in to get a seat or a place close to the craic. A small table remained free, which was to be the resting place for the pack. Eventually the bells got closer together as the cases arrived. Guitar & Bodhran first then shortly after two Fiddles. The equipment was quickly sorted & the tunes opened up. I had with me a 'only one in existence' McIlroy 'Gazouki-Mandolin', which I was trying out for it's first time. On approaching the table I was very quickly made room for & after the first two tunes a stop for introductions...., which does not happen often I have found... At this point an accordion player joined us as I was answering loads of questions about the mandolin, which helped break the ice as it were.
 
 
Now the gentleman who had made me very comfortable & kinda looked after me all night was the dynamic Dick Glasgow, of Causeway Music Club. I had heard a lot about Dick & it was a real pleasure to finally get to meet & play a few tunes with. Dick is a fine Fiddle player & a very sweet mandolin player, as he tried out my new toy. The exchanges of instruments was a bit of a theme much to the pleasure of the now packed pub. The other fiddle player was a frenchman, who had called in for a pint over three weeks ago & has forgotten to leave according to Dick ( I think Tom has removed the door handle again!) Apart from fiddle tunes he treated us to several songs, which the french accent sounded very Eoro.
 
 
The tunes bounced off the walls for several hours, songs, verbal abuse & hearty laughter..... all the ingredients of a good session & Tom kept the porter flowing without a break showing fine hospitality which is one of the other major components. My McIlroy held up well to the test apart from me starting to break strings, which kinda slowed me up a bit. Dick also made it possible for me to use the loo!!, in that he carefully minded me instrument whilst I tinkled as it were. ( A very important arrangement if you're on your own in a session as a stranger, being able to quickly trust your company with your instrument & this sure was a very safe crew.)
 
 
End of the night sent me into a nearby chippy & a good feeling of new friends. I would say that anyone coming across Mr Glasgow & friends would certainly get the proper welcome & encouragement which should be afforded to all who travel with tunes in their heart. Well done lads....
  
     
 
macspy@irl.com (for all those unusual invitations)
  
     
 
For more info. on it's history, check out the House of McDonnell website at
 
     
     
 
The Central Bar
  
 
Ann Street, Ballycastle
  
 
 
     
 
Sessions -Only during the Spring, Summer & Autumn - Wednesdays from 9pm
  
     
 

I introduced the concept of Traditional Music Sessions to this bar about eight years ago, initially to give my older students & adults an opportunity to play their tunes in front of an audience, & experience the crack. Before it was modernised, it had a quiet lounge off the main bar area, which was ideal for our sessions and we had some great nights crack there, with Corrymeela workers & visitors regular suporters of our music.

It also had a quiet room upstairs where I introduced the idea of a weekly Junior session to the town and for a number of years many of my younger students enjoyed an early evening session here. This was a wonderful way of encouraging them to enjoy their music & gave them their first taste of playing in front of an audience.

Later I took the Black Nun Folk Club to this venue & ran it monthly in the new upstairs lounge.

 
 
 
 
O'Connor's
  
 
Ann Street, Ballycastle
  
 
 
 
Sessions - Thursdays from 9.30pm
  
 
Junior Session - Thursdays from 8pm
  
 
 
 
This has been the home of the local 'Comhaltas Session' for the past thirty years. There are Fiddles & Accordions leading here, with an unusual mix of Irish & Scottish music, plus more Marches played than you could shake a big stick at!
  
 
 
 
'Comhaltas' now run a Junior Session here, which starts around 8pm, and runs nicely into the adult session.
  
 
 
 
Find out more about the town of Ballycastle at rom