The Steel Guitar Forum

I've recently been accepted to study for a masters degree at Trinity College Dublin and will be moving to Dublin come mid-August. I know there's an Irish Steel Guitar Convention, but I was wondering what the music scene over there is like. I will be bringing my steel with me as an oversize/overweight piece of checked luggage (it's an MSA, solid as a rock and I'll pack it well) and a guitar, so I'll be searching for gigs to supplement my income while I'm otherwise being sucked dry as a student. I know there are some Irish players around here somewhere, and I would appreciate any advice or recommendations for good teachers to grab a lesson or two from.

Travis, there are many excellent steelers in Ireland, and you'll be lucky to be in Dublin where the annual steel guitar festival is held (the only one in Europe these days) which attracts great players from all over EU (plus a few guests from more distant lands). Lucky you!

You should talk with Basil Henriques. He played steel in Ireland for many years and used to run a radio station over there.

One of the organizers of the Irish Steel Show is Forumite Mike Fereday. You can reach him here through the Forum. Heck of a nice guy, known him for years.

You will be as busy as you want to be with the singer songwriter and band scene. It is a great town. I don't know the country music scene there though.

If you get the chance to play fiddle tunes in the pubs go for it. That stuff is a great workout and super fun to play.

If you get in touch with Joe Ryan or Paul Brennan in Dublin, they probably know all the right people in the business. And if you need a steel while in Dublin, just contact Ted Nesbitt in Northern Ireland, he always has some well polished guitars around.
Peter (from a more distant land)

Yes, Ted Nesbitt is a good contact, who can advise you on the general music scene in Ireland. Here he is playing on a YouTube clip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwnNLUJOz50

Also, if you want to know anything about steel guitar tone, Ivor Greenwood is your man. He could spend an hour or three advising you on what makes good steel guitar tone. He just loves MSA guitars, so you would have a lot in common as he has a number of them. Here is a clip of Ivor driving just the way that he does when he is in Dallas every March attending the TSGA meet. The Dallas highway police have always failed to catch up with him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep8kcRZ01mo

Ditto too on Mike Fereday - a real gentleman and steel guitar aficionado. Mike lives in England, but sits on the board of the Irish Steel Guitar Show committee.

Some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. I love going over there. They'll drink a pint or two with you too!

Tim Sergent wrote: They'll drink a pint or two with you too!

... following which, they'll drink a pint or two with you...

They also have this unusual accent which makes everything sound like an Irish joke

That's right. And did I tell ya the one about "Paddy"...?

Travis, the Godfather of the Irish Steel guitar Festival and also a very busy session steeler is Richard Nelson.
Richard is a member of this forum and a real nice guy.

Ahhh Jimmy my boy you caught me out on that one ...damn Irish heritage hehe ...

You can run but you can't hide...

Look up Paul Sheerin. He and a number of other members of this musical family are stalwarts of the Irish live music scene, so he should not be too hard to find. They recently got together to record a live album with Joni Harms - "From Oregon to Ireland" - and it's a good'un

Maybe "The Commitments" can use a steel player? Better learn Try A Little Tenderness".