Cultural Tent – Supported by Bank of America

This tent is devoted to traditional music, song and dance (including set-dancing, step-dancing, and ceili-dancing).  Also in the Cultural tent is an extensive poster-board display on Irish culture, history and literature, including the priceless Book of Kells. Be sure to stop by. 

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Friday, July 23, 2010

The Saint Patricks Pipe Band, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational and cultural organization domiciled in the State of Connecticut. The Band is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any non-celtic causes. The men and women of the Saint Patricks Pipe Band are committed to promoting greater appreciation, understanding and achievement in Celtic Culture, its languages and its art forms. Scholarship and scientific research are encouraged and valued.

 

Music in the Glen Ceili Band

A Connecticut based Ceili band that has been providing the in traditional Irish music for over 15 years. The leader of the 4-piece band is Joe Heeran, whose late father was a noted Irish traditional fiddle player. The band features accordionist John Whelan who was the national champion on the button accordion in Ireland no fewer than eight times beginning when he was only 11 years old. John was voted the top accordion player for 2009 in an online vote conducted by the Irish Music Association on Kansas City. The covered North America and Europe. The band plays for four hours on Friday night.

 

Celtic Melody

Celtic Melody is a Connecticut-based group playing traditional Irish dance music and song. At a Celtic Melody show you can expect to hear jigs, reels, hornpipes, slides, slip-jigs, hop-jigs, polkas and more. Interspersed with these tunes you will also get plenty of songs, from the familiar Irish standards to some rare gems picked up in the backs of pubs in the wee hours of morning... Celtic Melody is (L to R in the photo above) Liz Farley Raymond, Eileen Burke Grabowski, Tom Morgan, Janet Morgan, and Brent Morgan.

 

Music in the Glen Ceili Band - Back again.

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Saturday, July 24, 2010

Celtic Melody

 

Jeanne Freeman

Each year for the past few years a renowned musician has been featured in the Cultural tent. The year “The Women and Her Music” is fiddle player Jeanne Freeman who is well known in Connecticut and beyond. Originally from a classic background, she began playing traditional music as a fiddler in Colonial Williamsburg and has since become an accomplished traditional Irish player. She has performed with many people over the years, in various venues, and appears on a number of recordings. Jeanne brings out the best in traditional Irish music and most loves playing great tunes with others at sessions as often as possible.

Pride of Moyvane Ceili Band

The “Pride” is a well known Ceili Band featuring husband and wife John Reynolds (fiddle) and Margie Mulvihill (flute). The band keyboard player is the legendary Felix Dolan who has been featured on perhaps a dozen or more recordings going back many years. Margie teaches traditional Irish music (flute) in their home town of Pearl River, New York.

 

Girsa

Girsa (Irish for girls, pronounced, “geer’-sa) is a group of college-age young women from the Pearl River area of New York, the home of the traditional Irish music instruction. All have taken music/singing lessons from prominent teachers in the Pearl River area, some of whom have won national championships in Ireland. Some of the members of Girsa have also won in Ireland at the national championship level. They expertly mix jigs and reels with slower tempo tunes and lively songs.

 

Pride of Moyvane Ceili Band - Back again.

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Sunday, July 25, 2010

The Saint Patricks Pipe Band - Back for more.

 

Green Gates Ceili Band

This New York / Nw Jersey area Ceili Band that has played for set dancers at numerous venues on the East coast. Led by well known Eileen Goodman whose “roots” are in Co. Clare, she is joined by other musicians who have had much success at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann as teachers of traditional music and individually.

 

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