trusting.
‘So now,’ Diarmuid began by giving Dylan the leather strap to tie around his waist, attached to which was the bellows he was told. He then strapped a buckle onto his upper arm. He then attached the bag to the bellows, placed the body of the pipes across Dylan’s knees and placed the chanter into his hands.
‘Now Dylan, pump the bellows with your right arm and that provides air for the bag. When you’ve got the bag full apply pressure under your left elbow and we’ll try to get some air to the chanter, that’s the part you’re holding in your hands. First, we have to cover the holes on the chanter. Now put your fingers like this and keep the chanter on your knee. Now start filling the bag with air from the bellows and see what sounds come out.’
Dylan did as he was instructed and to his great delight and surprise, a raw but clear bright sound came forth.
‘That’s good,’ Diarmuid said, ‘Now try lifting this finger.’
After a few minutes making various sounds, Dylan was able to play several different notes.
‘Well, I’ve often had students take weeks to get to that stage Dylan. So you have a knack for them alright’ Diarmuid smiled.
‘Wow! That’s so awesome!’ he exclaimed. ‘I never did anything like that before. They are awesome’, Dylan said. ‘Thanks so much for letting me try them’
‘No bother.’ Diarmuid replied with a smile.
Dylan had no idea how to pronounce the man’s name. Sounded like deer and mud stuck together, but that probably wasn’t right, so he decided against trying to say it.
‘Where are you off to next?’ Diarmuid asked. ‘Em…we’re on a bus tour, so I think we’re staying in
Kinsale tonight.’
‘Well Dylan, we’re playing a session tonight at The Armada in Kinsale if you want to hear more. We start about half nine so maybe I’ll see you then. If not, enjoy the rest of your holiday in Ireland and keep on playing that guitar.’
Dylan walked back to the coach feeling happier than he had felt in as long as he could remember. He was definitely going to that session, which must be an Irish word for gig. Yes, he thought, things are definitely looking up.
Chapter 6
Anna had spent a delightful afternoon in the shops in Blarney buying presents for her friends and family. It would have been nice if Elliot had been able to come with her, but he had discovered that the hotel next door to Blarney Woollen Mills had a business centre, so he spent the three hours in there, checking his emails and talking on the phone.
He had promised, however, that tonight he would leave his phone in the room and take her out to dinner in one of the lovely little restaurants on the waterfront that she had found on the Internet while she was researching their trip. Now, as she lay back in the bath in her room in Kinsale’s luxury boutique hotel, The Blue Haven, deciding what she would wear that night, she smiled to herself. Their vacation could really begin now. Everything was OK in the office, Elliot had said earlier so, hopefully, that meant he would now concentrate on her and on their relationship. As she emerged from the bath, Elliot called through the bathroom door.
‘I’m just going down to the bar for a pre-dinner cocktail, come and join me when you’re ready.’
Anna smiled. She was always happier when left to dress alone, a perfectionist who never wanted Elliot to see her until she had completed her look.
‘You’re so considerate,’ she replied, ‘I won’t be long.’
While initially Elliot had been dead against the trip, in the week before they left New York, he had warmed to the idea. He knew a lot about the Irish economy, it seemed, and she had even overheard him talking to Conor about Irish planning regulations and land prices. It touched Anna that he took such an interest in a country that she had chosen for their vacation. As she heard the bedroom door shut behind him, she emerged from the bath and looked critically at her reflection in the
‘So now,’ Diarmuid began by giving Dylan the leather strap to tie around his waist, attached to which was the bellows he was told. He then strapped a buckle onto his upper arm. He then attached the bag to the bellows, placed the body of the pipes across Dylan’s knees and placed the chanter into his hands.
‘Now Dylan, pump the bellows with your right arm and that provides air for the bag. When you’ve got the bag full apply pressure under your left elbow and we’ll try to get some air to the chanter, that’s the part you’re holding in your hands. First, we have to cover the holes on the chanter. Now put your fingers like this and keep the chanter on your knee. Now start filling the bag with air from the bellows and see what sounds come out.’
Dylan did as he was instructed and to his great delight and surprise, a raw but clear bright sound came forth.
‘That’s good,’ Diarmuid said, ‘Now try lifting this finger.’
After a few minutes making various sounds, Dylan was able to play several different notes.
‘Well, I’ve often had students take weeks to get to that stage Dylan. So you have a knack for them alright’ Diarmuid smiled.
‘Wow! That’s so awesome!’ he exclaimed. ‘I never did anything like that before. They are awesome’, Dylan said. ‘Thanks so much for letting me try them’
‘No bother.’ Diarmuid replied with a smile.
Dylan had no idea how to pronounce the man’s name. Sounded like deer and mud stuck together, but that probably wasn’t right, so he decided against trying to say it.
‘Where are you off to next?’ Diarmuid asked. ‘Em…we’re on a bus tour, so I think we’re staying in
Kinsale tonight.’
‘Well Dylan, we’re playing a session tonight at The Armada in Kinsale if you want to hear more. We start about half nine so maybe I’ll see you then. If not, enjoy the rest of your holiday in Ireland and keep on playing that guitar.’
Dylan walked back to the coach feeling happier than he had felt in as long as he could remember. He was definitely going to that session, which must be an Irish word for gig. Yes, he thought, things are definitely looking up.
Chapter 6
Anna had spent a delightful afternoon in the shops in Blarney buying presents for her friends and family. It would have been nice if Elliot had been able to come with her, but he had discovered that the hotel next door to Blarney Woollen Mills had a business centre, so he spent the three hours in there, checking his emails and talking on the phone.
He had promised, however, that tonight he would leave his phone in the room and take her out to dinner in one of the lovely little restaurants on the waterfront that she had found on the Internet while she was researching their trip. Now, as she lay back in the bath in her room in Kinsale’s luxury boutique hotel, The Blue Haven, deciding what she would wear that night, she smiled to herself. Their vacation could really begin now. Everything was OK in the office, Elliot had said earlier so, hopefully, that meant he would now concentrate on her and on their relationship. As she emerged from the bath, Elliot called through the bathroom door.
‘I’m just going down to the bar for a pre-dinner cocktail, come and join me when you’re ready.’
Anna smiled. She was always happier when left to dress alone, a perfectionist who never wanted Elliot to see her until she had completed her look.
‘You’re so considerate,’ she replied, ‘I won’t be long.’
While initially Elliot had been dead against the trip, in the week before they left New York, he had warmed to the idea. He knew a lot about the Irish economy, it seemed, and she had even overheard him talking to Conor about Irish planning regulations and land prices. It touched Anna that he took such an interest in a country that she had chosen for their vacation. As she heard the bedroom door shut behind him, she emerged from the bath and looked critically at her reflection in the
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