october irish music · october 2014 deireadh fómhair the mission of the irish music and dance...

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www.IMDAwww.IMDAwww.IMDAwww.IMDA----MN.orgMN.orgMN.orgMN.org

Irish Music & Dance Association

32th Year, Issue No. 10

October

2014

Deireadh Fómhair

The mission of the Irish Music and Dance Association is to support and promote Irish music, dance, and other

cultural traditions to insure their continuation.

Irish Fair Recognizes Their (and Our) Volunteers

The Irish Fair’s Volunteer Appreciation Party recently recognized and thanked the many volunteers that are so important to the Fair. The Fair draws more than 600 people volunteering over 2,300 four-hour shifts from setup through the Fair. Among the many volunteers who play such a critical role in making

Irish Fair a success are a significant number of people who are also important to the success of the IMDA’s St. Patrick’s Day Irish Celebration and Day of Irish Dance. This year that IMDA connection was especially evident. Irish Fair Executive Director Colleen Healy recognized the incredible work that the beverage service team does each year, mentioning Art and Kris Shackle, Dennis Daly, and John Rogers – all long time, devoted IMDA volunteers. And the Beverage Team lead is IMDA’s Treasurer, Mark Malone. Colleen also recognized the Ticket Sales teams, including Pat Richardson, another devoted IMDA volunteer. And IMDA Board Member Paul McCluskey took the lead in organizing volunteers for the Fair.

Irish Fair’s Weekend Warrior Award this year went to IMDA President Lisa Conway, for her outstanding work in getting the many banners and signs hung throughout the Fair grounds to help Irish Fair visitors keep track of the many schedules and find their way to the various venues. Irish Fair’s Turf Cutter Award – Volunteer of the Year – went to IMDA Vice President Jan Casey, for her work in the Cultural Area, including the “50 Years of Irish Music in the Twin Cities” display and her work with the Trisceil Tea Room. In addition to sharing our talented volunteers, the Irish Music and Dance Association has sponsored the IMDA Music Workshop Tent at Irish Fair for nine years. It’s a partnership that continues to grow stronger.

Inside this issue:

Tune of the Month 3

IMDA Grant Winner 4

Curtin-Conway Award 5

Upcoming Concerts 6-7

Northern Ireland Peace 13

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Tune of the Month by Amy Shaw

Since 2014 marks the 1000th anniversary of Brian Boru’s victory at the Battle of Clontarf, it seems appropriate to feature this march. The first High King of Ireland, Brian Boru (born c. 941) is popularly believed to have broken the power of the Viking invaders at the Battle of Clontarf. Apparently the real story is more complicated than that, but Brian is certainly a major historical figure and he is being celebrated at festivals and events all over Ireland this year. It was fortuitous that Charlie Heymann played this march at a recent Sunday evening session at Keegan’s Irish Pub. I’ve done my best to capture Charlie’s setting of the tune from the rough recording I made with my phone. From my research I gather this tune isn’t particularly ancient, but it was in the repertoire of one of the last great Irish harpers, Patrick Byrne (c. 1784-1863). It is characteristic of piping tunes and was also in the repertoire of the travelling Donegal piper, Mickey Gallagher (a cousin of the fiddler John Doherty). Usual disclaimers: Any transcription errors are my own. The notation here is not meant to be a substitute for listening. It is simply an aid to learning the tune.

The IMDA Board is:

President: Lisa Conway

Vice President: Jan Casey

Treasurer: Mark Malone

Secretary: Open

Board Members: John Concannon Paul McCluskey Joan Portel Kathie Luby Tim Monahan Editor: John Burns IMDA Board Meetings are open to the membership. The Board meets regularly on the First Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm at the Dubliner Pub in St. Paul. Members are encour-aged to verify the time and location shortly before, as meeting times and locations can change.

Contact Information Write to: Irish Music and Dance Association

236 Norfolk Ave NW

Elk River, MN 55330

Call: 612-990-3122

E-mail: [email protected]

Newsletter Submissions We welcome our readers to submit articles of interest, news, and notices of events to be published in the newsletter. The deadline is the 20th of the preceding month. Send to: [email protected]

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The Gaelic Corner By Will Kenny

As my fingers fly across the keyboard in the writing of this month's column, my thoughts turn to, well, fingers!

Méar is the Irish word for a finger. Ordóg is used for "thumb", and there are two special words for "little finger", lúidín and laidhricín.

For some other fingers, English and Irish versions are basically the same. Méar mheáin translates directly as "middle finger". It is also called an mhéar fhada, "the long finger", and to "put something on the long finger", rud a chur ar an méar fhada, is to postpone something, perhaps indefinitely.

And the "ring finger" is usually called méar an fháinne ("finger of the ring"). Strangely, it can also be called mac an aba: "son of the abbot"!

As you would expect, there are phrases that refer to "finger" in one language, but not the other. For instance, we might observe of someone that he is "Irish to his very finger tips". In Irish, no fingers are involved, as that lad would be Éireannach go smior, "to the marrow". But to have something "at your fingertips" is indeed literally translated by barra na méar.

Your fingers are found, naturally enough, on your "hand", which is at the end of your "arm". But the Irish word lámh is often used for both "hand" and "arm", so it can be a little confusing. And a "rule of thumb" becomes a "rule of hand", riail láimhe, in Irish.

Fold those fingers into a "fist" and you have a dorn. This root is also easily seen in the word dornálaíocht, which is the Irish word for "boxing".

As it happens, there is no separate word for "toe" in Irish. A "toe" is a méar coise, or a "foot finger". Your "big toe" is your ordóg coise, or "foot thumb", and your little toe is your lúidín coise. Fortunately, your "toenail" is not translated by "the nail of the finger of the foot", but more simply as ionga coise, or "footnail".

Meanwhile, in English we might say, "She didn't lift a finger to help me". In Irish, that becomes, Ní chorraigh sí cos léi chun cabhrú liom, "she didn't move her

leg to help." By the way, as with the hand/arm situation, cos means both "foot" and "leg".

We have all had things "slip through our fingers". When those are real, physical things, when we are "butter-fingered" or "all thumbs", we say, Tá méara sliopacha orm. That sliopacha is an interesting word, as its fundamental meaning is numbness from cold, that state where your fingers get so cold they don't work properly.

But another translation of "slip through my fingers" would be, Scaoil mé trí mo ladhracha é. Ladhracha is the plural of ladhar, a word that refers to "the space between toes or fingers". We don't really have a word for that in English.

To "go on the thumb", Téigh ar an ordóg, is to "hitchhike". As for the expression, "She has him under her thumb," there's no "thumb". In fact, the limb in question doesn't even belong to a human in the Irish version; Tá sé faoi bhos an chait aici, "She has him under the palm of the cat".

As long as you're probably reading this on your computer, put your "fingers" (méara) on the "finger-board" (méarchlár) and find your way to www.gaelminn.org, where you can see what we do, and even subscribe to our e-zine of learning tips and regional announcements, The GaelMinn Gazette. Right now, we are welcoming a couple of dozen new students to our classes, with the support of St. Paul Community Education, and we're excited about the start of our fall term.

Chomh díomhaoin le lúidín an phiobaire

"As idle as the piper's little finger"

— Will

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Magic of the Harp Captured Her Imagination

Karin Swenson is a 10 year old girl who has fallen in love with the music of the harp in a most unlikely location. Karin, who considers herself “half American and half Japanese,” was living with her parents in Japan when she discovered a man who hosted and played harp concerts in his home. She attended every concert she could, experiencing “the magic touch of the harp,” and was enthralled with “the graceful echo” of the notes as the harpist plucked the strings. Karin tells us that these were her favorite parts of life “listening to the peaceful melodic harp” and letting the music drown out the worries of everyday life. Karin

dreamed of playing that music herself - “Wow. Imagine if I could do that!” - although that was challenging while living in Japan. Karin had to wait to pursue that dream until her family moved back to Minnesota last year and Karin could begin studying with Katie McMahon. Katie tells us that Karin has proven to be an enthusiastic and hard working student, with a natural ability with the harp. Karin began her study on a rented instrument. She used her IMDA Educational Grant to help with the purchase of her own harp. Karin and her family have now returned to Japan. They will be assembling and finishing her harp from a kit they purchased here in Minnesota. Having her own harp will make it easier for Karin to continue her study in Japan. The Irish Music and Dance Association is pleased to help this dedicated young musician continue her study and her enjoyment of this magical instrument.

Tim Monahan Joins the IMDA Board In the beginning, Tim Monahan and his family began attending the Irish Fair of Minnesota back in the St. Thomas campus days. After becoming a staunch fan of the Irish music and pub culture, he began a decade-long career in the restaurant industry. He started off at Kieran's Irish Pub for St. Patrick's Day; and then assisted with the opening of the Local in December of 1997. In 2004, he began his career in sales and finance, in both mortgage and, most recently, insurance and retirement planning. Tim is a committee member and volunteer with Irish Fair of Minnesota, and avid supporter of, volunteer with, and member of the IMDA. His two-year-old daughter Olivia dances with Rince Na Chroi School of Irish Dance; and you will often find his 22-month-old son Declan running around in his kilt. Tim and his family reside in the Minneapolis suburbs.

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Beth Mullinax Wins Curtin-Conway Award

The Curtin-Conway Award is presented each year by Irish Fair of Minnesota to someone who has made significant contributions to the Irish cultural community in the Twin Cities and/or Minnesota. Beth Mullinax is recognized for her long-time contributions to Irish genealogy. For more than three decades, Beth has been at the center of Irish genealogical research in Minnesota and far beyond. She was a founder of the Irish Genealogical Society International, a non-profit genealogical society dedicated to assisting its members and others in the discovery of their Irish ancestry. Beth has held many leadership positions on the IGSI board, including president, and she helped it grow from a small group of amateurs into a major presence: the IGSI is now one of the preeminent groups in the USA devoted to Irish family history, with more than 800 members in six countries and a reputation that extends internationally. Especially remarkable is her service as IGSI Librarian – she has been instrumental in building one of the finest Irish research libraries in North America. Beth is a tireless volunteer, including generous work at a booth at every Irish Fair and many other venues, and she continues to be enormously helpful to researchers who are just starting out in her volunteer service at the monthly “Irish Days” at the Minnesota Genealogical Society. She has planned and led numerous genealogy research trips to Ireland, and has given countless talks on the subject to groups at all levels. Anyone in Minnesota who has tried to research Irish family history has good reason to be grateful to her. The award was presented at Irish Fair by Board Chair Michael Gibbons at the Opening Ceremony of the Fair.

Comhghairdeas le (Congratulations to) Laura MacKenzieLaura MacKenzieLaura MacKenzieLaura MacKenzie,

selected for IMDA HonorsIMDA HonorsIMDA HonorsIMDA Honors in 2014.

Mark your calendar for a festive evening honoring

this amazing musician and teacher

on Saturday, November 22 Saturday, November 22 Saturday, November 22 Saturday, November 22 at The Celtic JunctionThe Celtic JunctionThe Celtic JunctionThe Celtic Junction.

Look for details in next month’s IMDA newsletter!

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The North Star Gaelic Singers

The Traditional Singers Club presents the North Star Gaelic Singers on Saturday, October 4th, at 7:30 pm at The Celtic Junction in St. Paul. Tickets will be $10 at the door. Refreshments will be served.

Having the idea this year to form a new trio around the unaccompanied singing of Scots Gaelic songs, Laura MacKenzie invited two singers knowledgeable about the language and songs, and the trio became The North

Star Gaelic Singers (Katharine Grant,

Scott Bartell and Laura MacKenzie).

Katharine is singer of unaccompanied folksong, Gaelic songs being central for 20 years, and she has recently discovered the sung version of piobaireachd, the classical music for Highland pipes. Scott has been both a Highland piper and a singer of Gaelic — a rare combination — for over 35 years. Laura has more recently been

enjoying her heritage by pursuing Scottish music, after several decades of immersion in Irish instrumental music and song. All three members of the trio have been active in the Traditional Singers Club for some years.

While Irish music has a strong following around the country, Scots Gaelic song has a smaller audience, being less well-known. Gaelic is the native tongue of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, so most of the songs come originally from those parts, sometimes via immigration to Canada or the States. Laura’s recent delving into the Gaelic songs of an immigrant Scot in Duluth, a native Hebridean from the Isle of Lewis, was the impetus for her forming this trio. Laura’s newest repertoire comes from field recordings made in Duluth in 1937, while Scott’s and Katharine’s songs come from singers in Cape Breton and Scotland. In their concert, you will hear work songs, dance songs, love songs, pipe songs and ballads – a lovely and varied program of solo and ensemble performances.

The evening will begin with songs from Singers Club resident singers and impromptu floor singers selected on the night.

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The Murphy Beds in Concert

The music will begin at The Celtic Junction in St. Paul on Saturday, October 11 at 8pm. Advance tickets are $12, or $15 at the door.

The Murphy Beds (Jefferson Hamer and Eamon O’Leary) present traditional and original folk songs with close harmonies and deft instrumental arrangements on bouzouki, guitar, and mandolin. They have performed and collaborated with artists across the folk spectrum including Beth Orton, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Anais Mitchell, and Sam Amidon.

“their great feat turns out to be taking what’s best of the classic Irish folk revival without falling into any of its clichés. The resulting album bears repeated listening from start to finish, with ten beautiful, crystalline songs.” -Huffington Post

Eamon started playing Irish music while growing up in Dublin through his friendship with the Mayock family, traditional musicians from County Mayo. When he moved to New York City in the early 90′s, he immersed himself in the city’s traditional music scene and travelled widely, performing with many of the great players in Irish music. In 2004 he and fiddler Patrick Ourceau released the album Live at Mona’s. Eamon has taught at many traditional music programs in the US and also records and performs original music. His last solo record, Old Clump, was released in 2012.

Jefferson is a guitarist and singer based in Brooklyn, NY. In 2013, in addition to The Murphy Beds, he and songwriter Anais Mitchell released Child Ballads, a collection of new adaptations of English and Scottish folk songs which won a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award. In the Oct. 2013 issue, Acoustic Guitar magazine wrote, “A gifted guitarist and singer, Hamer is able to hit close harmonies… and weave gorgeous instrumental lines.”

For tickets, go to http://www.thecelticjunction.com/

For questions contact: [email protected]

Julie Fowlis: Music of the Scottish Isles at The Cedar

Julie Fowlis will perform at The Cedar Cultural Center on Friday, October 24 at 8:00 pm. The doors will open at 7:00 pm. Advance tickets are $22 or they can be purchased on the day of show for $25.

Drawing on material within the ‘Music of the Scottish Isles’ theme, Julie and her band will perform songs from her much anticipated newly released studio album 'Gach sgeul' ('Every story'); as well as favorites from her previous highly acclaimed and award winning albums. For those new to Julie, she sings in Scottish Gaelic and spends her time touring around the world bringing ancient songs form the Hebridean Islands to new audiences. She is an accomplished musician as well - playing Highland bagpipes, smallpipes, whistles, oboe & cor anglais and three waltzes on the one row melodeon. Not to be missed.

For tickets, go to http://www.thecedar.org/

Acknowledgments: This show is a part of the Indigenous Music Series made possible thanks to the Rosemary and David Good Foundation.

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IMDA Community Calendar October 2014 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 7pm Traditional Irish Session Rueb ‘n’ Stein, Northfield 7pm Irish Social Dance Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 7:30pm Pub Quiz Merlins Rest, Mpls

2 6:30pm Pub Quiz 8pm Pub Quiz Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 9pm Scottie & Shane Dubliner Pub, St. Paul

3 6pm Irish Music Session Dubliner Pub, St Paul 7:30pm Barry Nelson Charlie’s Irish Pub, Stillwater 8pm Celtic Session Merlins Rest, Mpls

4 7:30pm Barry Nelson Charlie’s Irish Pub, Stillwater 7:30pm Northstar Gaelic Singers The Celtic Junction, St. Paul

5 Noon: Traditional Session Kieran’s Pub, Mpls 4pm Learners Irish Session 6pm Advanced Irish Music Session Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 7:30pm Pub Quiz Merlins Rest, Mpls 8pm Pub Quiz Dubliner Pub, St. Paul

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7 7:30pm Pub Quiz Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 9pm Irish Brigade Dubliner Pub, St. Paul St. Dominic’s Trio Nye’s, Mpls


9 6:30pm Pub Quiz 8pm Pub Quiz Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 7pm Celtic Music Showcase Underground Music Café, Falcon Heights 9pm Irish Brigade Dubliner Pub, St. Paul

10 6pm Irish Music Session Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 7:30pm Bedlam Charlie’s Irish Pub, Stillwater 8pm Celtic Session Merlins Rest, Mpls 9:30pm Irish Brigade Morrissey’s Pub , Mpls

11 7:30pm Bedlam Charlie’s Irish Pub, Stillwater 9:30pm Irish Brigade Morrissey’s Pub , Mpls 7:30pm Ring of Kerry w/ St. Paul Irish Dancers Top Hat Theatre, Ulen MN 8pm The Murphy Beds The Celtic Junction, St. Paul


13 7:30pm 2nd Monday Sea Shanty Sing Dubliner Pub, St. Paul

14 7:30pm Pub Quiz Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 7:30pm Irish Set Dancing w/ the Twin Cities Ceili Band Dubliner Pub, St. Paul St. Dominic’s Trio Nye’s, Mpls



17 6pm Irish Music Session Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 7:30pm Hounds of Finn Charlie’s Irish Pub, Stillwater 8pm Celtic Session Merlins Rest, Mpls 9:30pm St. Dominic’s Trio Morrissey’s Pub , Mpls

18 7:30pm Hounds of Finn Charlie’s Irish Pub, Stillwater 9pm Irish Brigade Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 9:30pm Belfast Cowboys Whiskey Junction, Mpls

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday


27 7:pm 4th Monday Shanty/Pub Sing Merlins Rest, Mpls

28 7:30pm Pub Quiz Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 7:30pm Irish Set Dancing w/ the Twin Cities Ceili Band Dubliner Pub, St. Paul St. Dominic’s Trio Nye’s, Mpls



31 6pm Irish Music Session Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 7:30pm Stirling Bridge Charlie’s Irish Pub, Stillwater 8pm Celtic Session Merlins Rest, Mpls

1 7:30pm Stirling Bridge Charlie’s Irish Pub, Stillwater 9:30pm St. Dominic’s Trio Lee’s Liquor Lge, Mpls

19 Noon: Traditional Session Kieran’s Pub, Mpls 2:00 pm Pub Sing 7:30pm Pub Quiz Merlins Rest, Mpls 4pm Learners Irish Session 6pm Advanced Irish Music Session Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 8pm Pub Quiz Dubliner Pub, St. Paul

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21 7:30pm Pub Quiz Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 9pm Irish Brigade Dubliner Pub, St. Paul St. Dominic’s Trio Nye’s, Mpls


23 6:30pm Pub Quiz 8pm Pub Quiz Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 9pm Irish Brigade Dubliner Pub, St. Paul

24 6pm Irish Music Session Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 7:30pm Tom Dahill & Ginny Johnson Charlie’s Irish Pub, Stillwater 8pm Julie Fowlis: Music of the Scottish Isles The Cedar, Mpls 8pm Celtic Session Merlins Rest, Mpls 9:30pm Wild Colonial Bhoys Morrissey’s Pub , Mpls 9:30pm St. Dominic’s Trio Kieran’s Pub, Mpls

25 7:30pm Tom Dahill & Ginny Johnson Charlie’s Irish Pub, Stillwater 9:30pm St. Dominic’s Trio Kieran’s Pub, Mpls

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Northwoods Songs: Irish Songs from Lumberjacks and Great Lakes Sailors By Brian Miller

Northwoods Songs features a new song each month pulled from my research into old songs collected in the pine woods region that stretches from New Brunswick west through northern Minnesota. In the 1800s, a vibrant culture of singing and song-making developed in lumber camp bunkhouses and on Great Lakes ships. The repertoire and singing style were greatly influenced by Irish folk repertoire and Irish singing styles. Many singers in the region had Irish background themselves. Each installment of Northwoods Songs is also published online at www.evergreentrad.com/northwoods-songs. As of December 2013, I will also videotape myself singing the song of the month. My hope is that others will learn some of these songs and make them their own as I have. Links to song videos will be posted along with the online version. -Brian Miller

BARNEY BLAKE.

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O me name is Barney Blake, I’m a roving Irish rake I’m considered by my neighbors good and handy

I was brought up to the spade til I learned the tailor trade And I think myself as good as Ben or Sandy.

Chorus

O it’s Biddy Donahue sure I caught my eye on you If you marry Barney why be damn you’ll never rue You’re the apple of me eye and my Irish cocateau

Mr. Cupid’s knocked me stupid over Biddy Donahue

It’s at a wedding of Pat Malare, sure I first met Biddy there As I sat beside her at the wedding supper

How I felt I couldn’t say when she handed me the tay For my heart it melted like a lump of butter.

Now she’s handsome and she’s mild she’s a dacent father’s child

She’s the pride of all around our Irish nation You would go from here to Spain to hear her sing Napolean’s Dream

And for dancing, boys, she has a lovely carriage.

Now some folks they do try, for to poke out Barney’s eye But in this I’m sure they all will find a failure

She would not see me fooled, she’s as good as guinea gold And she’ll marry none [hold on “none”] but Barney Blake the sailor.

__________ This is another song I transcribed from a reel-to-reel recording made in Beaver Island, Michigan while I was at the American Folklife Center in Washington, DC this summer. The prolific singer John W. Green (1871-1964) sang this for collector Ivan Walton in 1940. A wonderful aspect of field recordings can be the chat caught on tape before and after songs. Walton made a point of asking Green where he got each song and when he asked him about Barney Blake, Green replied:

Green: “I learned that in the lumber woods about 45 or 50 years ago from a Canadian Scotsman. Walton: “What lumber woods was that?” Green: “Up in Grand Marais [pronounced Marase] on Lake Superior shores.”

Suffice to say, I was quite excited when I heard that as I am always on the lookout for songs with a Minnesota connection and they tend to be hard to come by. This is the first song I’ve found that I know was sung on the north shore! The song itself seems to have its origins in the Irish music halls of the 1870s where I have found evidence of it being performed by (and perhaps written by) a song and dance duo by the names of Devlin and Tracy that were active in Boston and New York in that era. It was very common for singers to pick up Irish music hall songs and sing them unaccompanied in lumber camps. In fact, another version of Barney Blake was collected from Ottawa Valley singer O.J. Abbott.

Visit my blog version of this article and my Northwoods songs online at www.evergreentrad.com/northwoods-songs

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An Leabhragán (The Bookcase)

The Bend For Home by Dermot Healy

Ppublished by Harcourt Brace, 1996

Noted Irish novelist and poet Dermot Healy died this summer at age 67. He left behind a rich vein of descriptive, colorful narrative in his memoir, frankly admitting that every detail within the pages may not be the literal truth, and that memory is a bigger thing shared within a family and a town. "Corr baile' " means "the bend for home", with all the anticipation, dread, humor and collective experience that phrase implies. Growing up first in tiny Finea, County Westmeath, where his father was a policeman until taking early retirement, the family later moved to the bigger market town of Cavan when Dermot was nine. His mother and aunt ran a bakeshop and tearoom, while his father, always in poor health, played cards with his friends and looked after his son's education in a kindly but ineffectual way. To say Dermot Healy and formal schooling were not fast friends would be a gross understatement; our hero majored mostly in truancy, mooching, "courting" (as he called it) local girls without number, drinking and generally getting up to no good. His martinet Aunt Maisie scolded him, his mother despaired, but his father essentially said, "be who you are, and be that person with gusto". What young Healy had in abundance was imagination and a talent for writing stories and poetry. This memoir draws fine details of his early life, slides through his middle years without much mention, and draws its conclusions about his later years informed by his

youthful wanderings. He returns many times to the diary of his adolescence, written in code so arcane that its middle-aged author sometimes has a hard time deciphering his own wild adventures. What happens between Healy's eighteenth year and his mid-fifties isn't entirely clear; suddenly he is care-taking his octogenarian mother and aunt in the last few chapters . Memories of his own days in Finea and those of the family matriarchs seem to interweave; time has no dominion, and memories are shared property. If you like a neat, orderly memoir in chronological order, this book is not for you. If you enjoy a richly messy, tasty stew of recollection and sensate feasting, you'll love this book. Life doesn't make a lot of sense sometimes, says Healy, but oh, the places you'll go! Sherry Ladig is a Saint Paul based trad musician and a former reviewer for the late, great Hungry Mind Bookstore's newsletter, Fodder. Sherry welcomes suggestions for books to review----or write a review yourself! She may be reached at [email protected]. Happy autumn reading!

Best Wishes to Juli Acton

Many thanks and best wishes to Juli Acton, who recently resigned from the IMDA Board. Juli served as Secretary on

the Board as well as serving the Entertainment Committee. Juli has been a long-time volunteer with the children’s

crafts on St. Patrick’s Day and most recently has been our enchanting Face Painting artist at Landmark Center. We’re

delighted to know that she will be back as a volunteer and are grateful for her help.

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Political Scientist Speaks on Peace-making in Northern Ireland

Political scientist Timothy J. White will present “Lessons from the Northern Ireland Peace Process,” a lecture based on his recent book of the same name published by the University of Wisconsin Press in 2013, at noon, Friday, October 3, in O’Shaughnessy Education Center auditorium, University of St. Thomas. The event is free and open to the public.

The lecture is presented by the university’s Center for Irish Studies, and co-sponsored by the departments of Political Science, Theology, and Justice and Peace Studies.

This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the ceasefires that proved essential to the ultimate success of the Northern Irish peace process, which culminated with the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. “Peace processes are journeys,” White has written, “and it takes time for parties to forget enough of the past to envision a different future.”

White believes there are at least eight clear takeaways from the Northern Irish experience. These include being as inclusive as possible in organizing negotiations; guaranteeing security for all invited parties; and holding to a strategy of supporting moderates and marginalizing spoilers. According to White, the success of the peace process in Northern Ireland, though unique in may particulars, has nonetheless “let Americans and others to believe they can play a positive role in mediating seemingly intractable conflicts in other parts of the world.”

A professor of political science at Xavier University in Cincinnati, White is the author of more than forty-five scholarly articles and book chapters on politics in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland, in such publications as New Hibernia Review, Irish Journal of Sociology, Irish Studies in International Affairs, Éire-Ireland, International Studies Perspectives, and Peace Review. He has won grants from the Irish American Cultural Institute, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick Foundation, the Moore Institute of the National University of Ireland-Galway, and the Political Studies Association of Ireland and others. White has been named by the Irish Voice as one of the top 100 Irish educators in the United States and has been nominated for the Carnegie National Teacher of the Year Award.

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The Center for Irish Music

Come check us out at

The Celtic Junction 836 Prior Avenue, St Paul MN

Please check the website for information on

our full range of instruction in traditional Irish music, language , culture and fun.

For class schedule and other information call or email

651-815-0083 [email protected]

Or visit our website

www.centerforirishmusic.org

Dedicated to Handing Down the Tradition

Smidirini* By Copper Shannon

(*Irish for ‘Bits and Pieces’)

♣ Maith sibh! (Good on you!) Jim Rogers of the Center for Irish Studies at St. Thomas tells us that there is a new

student Irish Club - Cumann Gaelach forming on campus. The club plans a range of activities, including film nights,

céilí dancing, and participating in Irish programs both on and off campus. Center director Jim Rogers will serve as

the faculty advisor.

♣ Slán go fóill – bye for now. Leslie Rich is leaving the Hounds of Finn. If you caught the Hounds recently at

Charlie’s Irish Pub, you saw one of the last performances. Best wishes to Leslie on the next phase of his musical/

creative adventures!

♣ They’re great gents all together! Imagine this: Local humorist Kevin Kling telling the story of The Burning

Wisdom of Finn McCool with music by Victor Zupanc performed by the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and

Tom Klein on uilleann pipes! Mark your calendar for Nov. 23 at St. Phillip the Deacon Lutheran Church in

Plymouth for a wonderful afternoon of stories and music. (The event is free!)

♣ Guess who else loves harp music? We love the music of the harp – and so do the primates at Como Zoo!

Volunteer harpist Terri Tacheny plays regularly and elicits sounds of contentment from the gorillas – the

equivalent of purring in gorillas. Find the whole story at http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/274502901.html

♣ Irish Step Dancer Kevin Doyle from Rhode Island has been awarded a 2014 NEA National Heritage Fellowship, the

nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts, becoming the 13th Irish American to receive this

prestigious award. With more than five decades of Irish step dance under his feet, Rhode Island-born Kevin Doyle

began dancing at the age of eight, learning from his mother and began competing successfully in feiseanna from

the age of ten. Kevin has performed with a wide range of groups, including Atlantic Steps. See Kevin’s wonderful

dancing at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGnosQ7ARvI. The Awards concert, including all the artists, is

available at http://arts.gov/video/2014-nea-national-heritage-fellowships-concert-webcast-archive.

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Ceili Corner By Bhloscaidh O’Keane

Third Saturday Night Céilí - The Celtic Junction, 836 Prior Ave., No, St. Paul.

Irish Dance Classes:

Céilí Dancing - Wednesday Nights

Dubliner Irish Pub - 2162 University Avenue in Saint Paul. Learn Irish dancing in a genuine Irish pub with a wooden floor that has known a whole lot of dancing feet. Steps and dances are taught by Paul McCluskey and Kirsten Koehler. Basic beginning steps are taught beginning at 7:00, with advanced lessons and dancing continuing until 9:30 PM. Year-round; no children, and must be of legal drinking age. Free.

Set Dancing - Tuesday Nights

Dubliner Irish Pub - 2162 University Avenue in Saint Paul. Set Dancing at 7:30 pm on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month, music by the Twin Cities Ceili Band. The cost is $5 for the band, beginners welcome, for more information call Geri at the Dubliner (651)646-5551.

Check www.lomamor.org for all up-to-date Irish folk dancing information.

Update on IMDA Membership The Irish Music and Dance Association would like to remind members of a change in policy regarding membership. Because of rising costs in printing and postage, the Irish Music and Dance Association asks that members who want to receive their newsletter by U S mail support the IMDA by contributing at least $35 a year. All members have the option of receiving their newsletter by e-mail for faster delivery and color photos! We welcome your financial support of the IMDA at any level and that support helps us continue our work to promote Irish music and dance in the Twin Cities and beyond. You may also become a newsletter-only member without making a financial contribution. Whichever membership option you choose, we appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you at a concert or dance event soon!

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Tear out the above form and send it with a check made out to “IMDA” to: The IMDA Membership Coordinator c/o Jan Casey 400 Macalester St. St. Paul, MN 55105

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Postmaster: Time/Dated Material

236 Norfolk Ave NW

Elk River, MN 55330

Comhghairdeas le (Congratulations to) Laura MacKenzieLaura MacKenzieLaura MacKenzieLaura MacKenzie,

selected for IMDA HonorsIMDA HonorsIMDA HonorsIMDA Honors in 2014.

Mark your calendar for a festive evening honoring

this amazing musician and teacher

on Saturday, November 22 Saturday, November 22 Saturday, November 22 Saturday, November 22 at The Celtic JunctionThe Celtic JunctionThe Celtic JunctionThe Celtic Junction.

Look for details in Next month’s IMDA newsletters!

october irish music · october 2014 deireadh fómhair the mission of the irish music and dance...

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