North Texas Irish Festival 2008

**Cynthia** · 3rd March 08, 08:38 AM

Yes, my hair was down

I paid for it with the wind, though, what a mess! I eventually decided "enough!" and tossed it up with two hairsticks. Christopher was wearing Black Stewart with a red tie (I just put up some photos in the photo section). You should've said hi, sorry we didn't get to meet you

Maybe next time!

I must admit, I already like the look of the XMTS tartan, but now I know I really want to get it. Every time I passed someone in a kilt, I wondered if it was someone from the board.

**Ronusan** · 3rd March 08, 12:09 PM

You're probably right about the Guinness being $6. I just remembered it was a dollar more than the rest. Then the Irish Stew was like another $7, and the Haggis & Tatties, and some more Guinness, and the Fish & Chips....

Anybody make it to the "swap meet" that was supposedly there on Sunday? I remembered reading a mention of it on the NTIF website but we didn't run across it. Sounded interesting.

**Cynthia** · 3rd March 08, 12:22 PM

I didn't even know about a swap meet, so I don't remember seeing anything like that (now watch... I probably walked right past it

).

How were the workshops? I was a little bummed I didn't get to go to the fiddle workshop.

**Ronusan** · 3rd March 08, 12:39 PM

Mandolin workshop the guy went off on tangents quite a bit and it was difficult to hear but overall pretty informative, worth it just for the easy arrangements of a Jig and Reel that he provided to practice with and the good advice of "this is not bluegrass, don't try and play it like bluegrass."

Penny Whistle was fun but it felt (and sounded) a little like a class full of elementary school kids playing Recorder.

She provided some to play on during the workshop for any that wanted to borrow one and also gave us a nice packet of fairly simple whistle sheet music with some very helpful notes on techniques. I got lost quite a bit during her teaching as she referred a lot to the techniques by their Celtic/piping terms (cut, tip, roll, etc) that I don't know well enough yet. Very informative though and should up the "authenticity" of my playing quite a bit!

Missed the Bodhran one earlier in the day as I think it was during a performance we were trying to catch.

**Bryan** · 3rd March 08, 10:46 PM

Originally Posted by Cynthia

...You should've said hi, sorry we didn't get to meet you

Maybe next time...

I was too busy shoving stew and beer down when you passed by and there was a crowd of people. Perhaps we'll meet at the Scottish Festival.

**Cynthia** · 4th March 08, 06:17 AM

Heheh! Yeah, I understand

I can't wait for the Scottish Festival -- should be fun!

**RowdyRed** · 4th March 08, 10:54 AM

Hey! I had a GREAT time meeting Cynthia and Christopher! Glad ya'll asked and said 'hello'! (and yes, guys, she is as pretty as her picture) Christopher looked mighty fine, too!

Sorry I didn't get to meet any other XMarkers there. Having to work the SCD tent alone last year, I made up for it this year by running amok.

For you musicians, there is an Irish slow session that meets every second Saturday. Anyone interested?

Also, a DFW St. Kilt Night is planned...go look in Kilt Nights for info!

**Cynthia** · 5th March 08, 10:27 AM

Rowdy, it was so wonderful to meet you

I felt like such a goof (in case that wasn't you) asking "hey, do you happen to post on a kilt board?" Heheheh! Lucky for me it WAS you... yay!

And awww, shucks!

Thanks! (hey guys, Rowdy's quite the hottie too, if you haven't met her yet!)

Seriously, it was a blast. I can be quite shy, but I was so excited to meet a couple folks that even with my awkwardness I really enjoyed chatting. Rowdy definitely made me feel welcome, and I can't wait to see her again. I also hope to see some of the dancers! I'm contemplating checking out the Denton group at some point when we have a little time. It sounds like it could be a lot of fun.

As far as the session, I desperately need to get my fiddle fixed up a bit (or buy a better one) and shake off the rust (or better yet, get a teacher)... I do enjoy going to sessions when I get the chance and having a drink or two and listening/chatting with everyone, though. In fact, I've been trying to see if some of my friends still go to Arlington's Tuesday night session at J. Gilligan's, but I haven't heard yet if they do. It's been a while, so for all I know they've all drifted off to other sessions. I wish things happened a little closer on my side of the metroplex, though. I feel like I miss out on all the fun out there in Dallas

**Christo13** · 6th March 08, 06:15 PM

It was great meeting Rowdy and Ron (I wish we had bumped into some other people from XMTS).

I had a blast getting out in the kilt for the first time, and I look forward to meeting other Dallas/Fort Worth members.

Christopher

**RowdyRed** · 7th March 08, 11:41 AM

Yeah, there was a gathering there briefly with Animal K, Kilted Animal and Lambda..in fact, if you saw the Pipe and Drums Corp, Lambda was piping.

Sorry you missed them!

Where are you at again, Cynthia?
Didn't we talk about Lochrann's Irish Pub in Frisco? Very nice...on Sundays they usually have the Irish dancers there and a small band...maybe you could join in with the band.

Oh! and the Lochrann's waitresses have mini-kilts, guys

....would be better is barstaff/waiters were wearing kilts - but it IS an Irish pub after all.