www.IMDA-MN.org

Irish Music &

Dance Association

June 2017

Meitheamh

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.

The inaugural event in the IMDA’s new “Irish Open Mic Night” series was held at the Black Dog Café in St. Paul on the evening of May 23. The audience was treated to an interesting and engaging variety of instrumental music, vocal music and recitations, including the following:

Legacy (Patti Drew, David McKoskey, Kevin Carroll) started things off with a lively song and a tune set.

Brian Casey offered stirring renditions of two works by Patrick Pearse: “The Rebel,” and an excerpt from Pearse’s graveside oration at the 1915 funeral of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa (a founding member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood a/k/a the Fenians).

Mike Casey, accompanying himself on guitar, sang two of his favorite folk songs, interspersed with the poem “Requiem for the Croppies” by Seamus Heaney.

Aja McCullough Beers and Becca Michaelson sang “Tam Lin” (with Becca on guitar) and “Grace” (the moving song about Grace Gifford, who married her fiancé Joseph Plunkett in Kilmainham Jail only a few hours before he was executed for his part in the 1916 East Rising).

Sean Egan played a completely improvised (but very Irish-sounding!) air on the clarinet.

The Center for Irish Music’s An Luan Ensemble (Aja McCullough-Beers, Emma Liu, Bob Ford, David McKenna) played two rousing sets of tunes.

The Young Adult Ensemble (Hannah Flowers, David Ochs, Haley Olson) from the Center for Irish Music also played two nice sets…joined by Norah Rendell!

Patrick Maun graced the audience with some tunes on the uilleann pipes. (It’s not a real Irish Open Mic Night without some piping!)

The band “Unwelcome Visitors” (Ryan Behnke, Buddy Ferrari, Rosa Wells) played a couple of nice tight tune sets …and explained the origin of the band’s name clever name!

Eddie Owens, a member of the Celtic Collaborative, recited three of his own works: “Righteous Rebels,” Family Fox Holes” and “Flow to the Sea.”

Legacy wrapped things up with a set of polkas and the song, “Hills of Connemara.”

The supportive owners and staff of the Black Dog Café make it a great venue for this type of multi faceted performance event. The next IMDA Irish Open Mic Night will be in mid-to-late August… watch for more details in future IMDA newsletters, and write to us if you’d like to be included in the next line-up for Open Mic Night! Write to: info@irishmusicanddanceassociation.org

Inside this issue:

10th Annual MIM Festival 4-5

IMDA Honors 6

Summer Music Camps for Kids 10

2

www.IMDA-MN.org

Irish Music &

Dance Association

Tune of the Month by Amy Shaw

Whenever I get a new CD by fiddler Nathan Gourley, it quickly becomes my new favorite. As many readers will know, Nathan was a resident of the Twin Cities until relocating in 2013 to Boston, where he’s become a fixture of the traditional music scene. I’ll bet I drove hundreds of miles last year with Life is All Checkered, the recording he made with Laura Feddersen, in my car stereo. Now I’m obsessed with Copley Street, the duo album Nathan made with uilleann piper Joey Abarta. The CD’s title is a nod to the rich history of Irish music in Boston. Copley Street, which is home to Nathan and Joey, is located in Roxbury, not too far from Dudley Square, where many Irish dance halls flourished through the 1950s. (The fascinating story of these big halls is told by Susan Gedutis in See You at the Hall: Boston’s Golden Era of Irish Music and Dance.) Moreover, Copley was the name of a famous record label that released recordings of Joe Derrane, Paddy Cronin, and other prominent Boston musicians. Nathan and Joey clearly love trolling through old recordings and collections in search of interesting tunes, with the result that it now seems imperative to learn every last tune on Copley Street…if only I can find the time! In the meantime, it will continue to play rather loudly in my car stereo and cheer me up considerably on my daily round. Of this particular tune, the notes state, “Joey learned Cheer Up Old Hag from Denis Murphy [1910-1974] and Julia Clifford [1914-1997], who titled it ‘Bill the Weaver’s’ referring to their father, William Murphy, whose family’s ancestral profession was weaving.” Denis and Julia were, of course, the famous Sliabh Luachra-style fiddlers from Gneeveguilla in Co. Kerry.

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: Julia Rogers

Vice President: Jan Casey

Treasurer: Rob Thomas

Secretary: Jean Bergstrom

Board Members: John Concannon Kevin Carroll Kathie Luby Amber Ladany Editor: Kathie Luby Assistant Editor Kevin Carroll IMDA Board Meetings are open to the membership. The Board meets regularly on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:00 pm at the St. Clair Broiler in St. Paul. Members are encouraged to verify the time and location shortly before, as meeting times and locations can change.

Contact Information

E-mail: info@irishmusicanddanceassociation.org

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: editor@irishmusicanddanceassociation.org

3

www.IMDA-MN.org

Irish Music &

Dance Association

Imagine you at are a recognition event for someone. Perhaps they have won an award, or earned a trophy, or published a book, or produced a new CD. Whatever the case, if that person already has a string of accomplishments, we might say, "That's another feather in her cap."

Cleite is the word for "feather" in Irish. But in Irish, we would not put "another feather in her cap," we would put "another feather in her wing," cleite eile ina sciathán. And at the recognition event, perhaps the honoree is so blown away that she says, "you could have knocked me over with a feather." In Irish that comes out as, Leagfá le tráithnín mé, that is, "You would have knocked me down with a bit of straw." A tráithnín is a dried up stalk of grass.

As in English, something can be "as light as a feather": tá sé chomh héadrom le cleite. But in Irish we are equally likely to say tá sé chomh héadrom le sop, "as light as a wisp of straw."

Or perhaps the honoree was "unruffled" by all the fuss. We might say, Níor baineadh cleite aisti, "not a feather was plucked from her." But when someone's feathers are "down", a chleití síos leis, that person is "crestfallen."

Now, if you want to put a stop to someone's antics, you want to cleite a chur ina shrón, "put a feather in his nose." In that instance you might be "sticking your feather in," do chleite a chur i rud, to interfere, or to "stick your oar in" in English.

There are several subtly related words for some kind of "little feather." Cleiteán is literally a "little feather," but it is also used for a painter's brush, and to refer to any light, dainty little thing. Similarly we find cleiteog mná, a "little feather of a woman." And we also have cleiteachán, which is a "featherweight" in the sense of cleiteachán fir, "a little wisp of a man." (The "featherweight" of boxing is literally "feather - weight": cleitmheáchan.)

Cleiteáil, then, is the act of plucking feathers. When we say of people, fuair siad a gcleiteáil, we're not

literally saying, "they were plucked" but rather, "they got a hiding," or were roughed up. And cleitearnach, which looks like it would mean "feathering", actual refers to "fluttering." It can

be really annoying when someone is ag cleitearnach thart ort, "fluttering or hovering around you" all the time. Feathers, that is, plumage or down as opposed to a single feather, are clúmh. It is what you find in a comforter or feather bed, and by extension, can refer to fur on an animal, foliage on trees, or hair on a person's body. In the latter usage, it could be used for something like "downy cheeks," but not for an actual beard or moustache. Cleite is also used for a quill, and if I wrote this column under a pseudonym, that would be my "ainm cleite," my quill or pen name. But I'm not operating faoi sciathán -- "under a wing" -- that is, "surreptitiously" or "under pretence." If you are interested in the Irish language, you will find Gaeltacht Minnesota to be "birds of a feather" with you. Stop by www.gaelminn.org to learn more about what we do. Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile (literally, "One beetle recognizes another beetle," or) "Birds of a feather flock together"

4

www.IMDA-MN.org

Irish Music &

Dance Association

Tenth Annual Minnesota Irish Music Weekend (MIM) Center for Irish Music

This three-day festival offers a free Friday night Great Session Experience, a Saturday night Master Artists

Concert and music workshops and lectures throughout the weekend for children, teens and adults.

Weekend Schedule

Friday, June 9th

Saturday, June 10t

Sunday, June 11th

Youth Programs registration & Food Order Form: http://www.centerforirishmusic.org/assets/PDFs/MIM-2017-Registration-Form-youth-v2.pdf Adult Workshops & Lectures Registration & Food Order Form: http://www.centerforirishmusic.org/assets/PDFs/MIM-2017-Registration-Form-adult.pdf

9:30am-12:30pm

1:30-6:30pm

1:30-9:00pm

7:00-9:00pm

Beginner Program for children, ages 7-11

Irish Trad Immersion Camp, ages 9-12

Teen program with visiting artists, ages 12-19

The Great Session Experience - FREE

9:30am-12:30pm Beginner Program for children ages 7-11 cont’d

9:30am-4:30pm Teen Program cont’d

9:30am-4:30pm Workshops, interviews and lectures for adults with visiting artists

12:30pm- 1:30pm Lunch

4:45-5:30pm Late Afternoon Performance - Teen Trad Showcase - CJ studio 3 - FREE & open to the public!

5:30pm Pre-concert Public Social Hour, Dinner & Session

7:30pm Master Artists Concert!

11:00am-4:30pm Teen Program cont'd

11:10am-4:30pm Workshops, interviews and lectures for adults with visiting artists

12:30pm-1:30pm Lunch

1:30-4:30pm Beginner Program for Children ages 7-11 cont'd

4:00-4:30pm Beginner children's performance - FREE

5

www.IMDA-MN.org

Irish Music &

Dance Association

Master Artist and Regional Artist Bios: http://www.centerforirishmusic.org/mim/artist-bios/

Master Artists Concert Order Form: http://www.centerforirishmusic.org/mim/concert/

MIM 2017 Master Artists

John Carty - Fiddle, Banjo

Colm O'Donnell - Flute, Whistle, Song

James Kelly - Fiddle

Méabh Ní Bheaglaoich - Accordion, Song

Sean Gavin - Flute, Uilleann Pipes

Regional Teaching Artists

Danielle Enblom, Beginner Program, Trad Irish Dancing

Aislinn Gagliardi, Teen Program, Adult harp workshops

Brian Miller, Teen Program, Accompanying tunes on Irish bouzouki

Norah Rendell, Trad Irish Immersion Camp, teen pro-

gram

Dáithí Sproule, a pioneer of guitar Irish Music

Mary Vanorny, Teen Program

6

www.IMDA-MN.org

Irish Music &

Dance Association

Calling All IMDA Members

IMDA Honors Nominations

An evening to recognize and celebrate the outstanding contributions of some very special members of our Irish community – that’s IMDA Honors. Over the years, IMDA has honored a wide range of very deserving community members – people who have helped to foster the rich Irish music, dance and cultur-al life of the Twin Cities and beyond. Previous IMDA Honorees include musicians Martin McHugh, Ann Heymann, Paddy O’Brien, Tom Dahill, Laura MacKenzie and John McCormick, dancer Fred Kedney, writers Lar Burke and Erin Hart, Irish language instructor Frank Joyce, newspaper publisher Jim Brooks, and community leader and entrepreneur Kieran Folliard.

The IMDA Board would like to invite IMDA members to nominate candidates for IMDA Honors 2017. The recipient must be a living member of our Irish community who has made a long term and sig-nificant contribution to our cultural life. If you have someone in mind, please send along a note to Julia Rogers, IMDA President at president@irishmusicanddanceasociation.org by June 30. Include as much background as possible.

Friends of St. Patrick Young Ambassador Named

The Friends of St. Patrick Minnesota Chapter has named Michael Haugan its 2017 Young Ambas-sador. Michael will travel to Northern Ireland this summer to represent Minnesota in the Young Ambas-sador Program sponsored by Friends of Saint Patrick and the Saint Patrick Centre in Downpatrick. The program exposes young adults to the history, culture and politics of the country. In addition to working on an individual project, Michael and other Young Ambassadors from across the U.S. and Canada will tour sites of historical and cultural interest across the country and participate in programs tailored to their specific interests.

Let’s let Michael introduce himself:

“I am twenty-three years old and come from a small town in Minnesota called Cannon Falls. My par-ents, Dan and Linda Haugan had eight kids and I am the second youngest. That was pretty crazy, but tons of fun! My family has always loved Irish culture to the extent that my mom almost named me Pádraic. She however settled for giving me the middle name of Patrick. I was able to experience Ireland firsthand when two of my brothers and I traveled there, rented a car, and traveled up the west coast. I have had a craving to back ever since!

I am a student at the University of Minnesota studying Biology, and have plans to go into habitat res-toration after of couple of years doing some sort of Mission work. At the university, I enjoy volunteer-ing for campus outreach programs because of my love for people. In my free time, I enjoy playing the violin, fishing, camping, or just being with people.”

7

www.IMDA-MN.org

Irish Music &

Dance Association

Center for Irish Music Summer Camps

Are you looking for some fun musical activities for your kids this summer? Check out these summer camp offerings at the Center for Irish Music. This summer, the Center for Irish Music has planned many fun, creative, physically active and educational music camps to cater to new and experienced students alike. The camps are offered at the Center at the Celtic Junction, 836 Prior Ave. N, St. Paul, with beautiful Newell Park nearby for a daily jaunt outside to relax in the fresh summer air.

For ages 4 to 7: Exploring Irish Instruments, taught by Becca M, July 17 thru 21, 9 am to noon. This camp is designed specifically for early music and movement development. Campers will be intro-duced to the wonderful world of Irish music and tradition through stories, song, dance and play. The week will be filled with activities that will ignite imagination, foster creativity, and build skills for future musicians including Irish music demonstrations by CIM instruc-tors. With an opportunity to try real instruments, campers will showcase their new skills for parents at the end of the week.

For Ages 8 to 12: Introduction to Irish Harp Camp, taught by Mattie Ernst, June 26 thru 30, 10 am to noon. Learn all about the harp, one of Ireland's oldest instruments! This camp is for new and current students with no prior harp experience. Students will learn to play tunes and accompany songs while learning about the history of the instrument. Music, games and other fun activities will provide an opportunity to learn basic technique as well and rhythm and ear-training skills valuable to any Irish musician!

Rince agus Ceol Camp (Dance and Music Camp), taught by Danielle Enblom, Aug. 14 thru 18, 9 am to noon. Irish songs, dances, instruments, and language! Campers will be introduced to the wonderful, wide world of Irish music, dance, and tra-dition through activities designed to ignite imagination and build skills for future musicians and dancers. With an opportunity to try real instruments and learn old style and modern Irish dances the new musicians and dancers will showcase their skills for parents at the end of the week! This camp is appropriate for students completely new to music and dance, with other music and dance backgrounds, and those with some experience in Irish music and dance.

Playing Together – An Intro to Ensemble Playing and Arranging, taught by Norah Rendell, Aug. 21 thru 25, 10 am to noon. For students who already play an instrument, but may have not played any Irish music, come to this camp to meet new friends who share your passion and want to try learning to play Irish music in a group. This is a great camp to if you are interested in joining one of the CIM ensembles this fall term. We will learn one new tune each day, plus a few songs with chords and choruses. Norah looks forward to meeting you!

Please direct any inquiries about summer camps & classes to us at admin@centerforirishmusic.org or register online at http://www.centerforirishmusic.org/instruction/summer-camps/.

Irish Dance this Summer

Is there a youngster in your world who might like to try Irish dance? Summer is a great time for something new – this year make it Irish dance!

Dance Camps: O’Shea Irish Dance – Irish Dance Camp is open to boys and girls that would love to learn the basics of Irish Dance. The program includes music, games and crafts, with a “recital” on the last day of class. Offered July 17-20th and August 28 – 31 at the Celtic Junc-tion in St. Paul. The schedule is 9:00 am – 9:45 for ages 3 to 6 and 10:00 am to noon for ages 5 to 10. Details and registration at http://www.osheairishdance.com/summer-camp/.

Rince na Chroi Summer Dance Camp provides current dancers and potential new dancers the opportunity to participate in a week-long program in the summer. The Beginner session is July 24 – 28 from 8:30 am to noon on the Concordia University campus in St. Paul. Camp participants learn Irish dance, and they also have the opportunity to learn about Irish music, sports, language and culture. Throughout camp, students work hard and also have a lot of FUN! The week ends with a celebration for families. Details and registra-tion at http://rincenachroi.herokuapp.com/.

Introductory Irish Dance Classes: Eilís Academy at Escalate offers an 8-week summer session beginning June 19 that includes both beginning and returning dancers. Eilis Academy classes are at Escalate Dance in Osseo. Details at https://escalatedance.com/classes/schedules/.

North Star Irish Dance offers classes for new youth dancers on Thursday evenings beginning July 13 at the Main Street School of Performing Arts in Hopkins. Details are still being finalized – check at http://www.northstaririshdance.com/index.shtml.

Rince Nua Irish Dance offers a 6-week Introduction to Irish Dance on Thursday evenings beginning July 13 for children 5 to 10 years old. Rince Nua classes are in Maple Grove, MN. Details and registration at http://www.rincenua.com/intro/.

8

www.IMDA-MN.org

Irish Music &

Dance Association

IMDA Community Calendar June 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 6pm Sister Tree with Illusion Valley & Jillian Rae Hook and Ladder Theater & Lounge, Mpls 6:30pm Keegan’s Pub Trivia Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 7pm Shanty Pub Singing Merlins Rest 7pm Center for Irish Music’s Advanced Youth Ensemble Como DocksidePavilion, St.Paul

2

12:30pm Two Tap Trio Flint Hills Children’s Festival Ordway Theater, St.Paul

6pm Irish Music Session Dubliner Pub, St. Paul

8:30pm Irish Sessiun & Highland Pipes Merlins Rest, Mpls

9pm Broken Spoke Dubliner Pub

9:30pm Irish Brigade McCormick’s Pub and Restaurant, Wayzata

3

11am The Eddies Mill City Farmers Market, Mpls

11:15am Rince na Chroí with the Two Tap Trio Rice Park, St. Paul

7:30pm The Northerly Gales Wicked Works Brewing Co, Robbinsdale

7:30pm The Eddies Dubliner Pub, St. Paul

9:30pm Irish Brigade McCormick’s Pub and Restaurant, Wayzata

4 Irish Music: Grand Old Day Irish On Grand, St. Paul Noon: Traditional Music Session Kieran’s Pub, Mpls 2pm Sunday Pub Sing Merlin’s Rest, Mpls 4pm Learners Irish Session 6pm Advanced Irish Music Session Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 7pm The Sweet Colleens CD Release Parkway Theater, Mpls 8pm Pub Quiz Dubliner Pub, St. Paul

5 7pm Intermediate Celtic Session Merlins’ Rest, Mpls

6 7:30pm Pub Quiz Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 7:30pm Irish Set Dancing Dubliner Pub, St.Paul 7:30pm An Early Evening with the Irish Brigade Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 9pm St. Dominick’s Trio Driftwood Char Bar, Mpls

7 7pm Irish Social Dance Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 7pm Irish Music Session J. Grundy’s Rueb ‘N’ Stein Northfield 7:30pm Pub Quiz Merlins Rest, Mpls 9pm The Langer’s Ball DublinerPub, St. Paul

8 6:30pm Keegan’s Pub Trivia Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 7pm Celtic Music Showcases Underground Music Café, St. Paul

9 All Day: Minnesota Irish Music Weekend Presented by the Center for Irish Music The Celtic Junction Arts Center, St. Paul

6pm Irish Music Session Dubliner Pub, St. Paul

6pm Curtis& Loretta Tin Bins Café, Stillwater

7pm MIM The Great Session Experience The Celtic Junction Arts Center, St. Paul

7:30pm Belfast Cowboys Lake Harriet Pkwy, Mpls

8:30pm Irish Sessiun & Highland Pipes Merlins Rest, Mpls

9:30pm Irish Brigade McCormick’s Pub and Restaurant, Wayzata

10 All Day: Minnesota Irish Music Weekend Presented by the Center for Irish Music The Celtic Junction Arts Center, St. Paul

9am Greenwood Tree Prior Lake Farmer;s Market

7:30pm MIM Master Artists Concert The Celtic Junction Arts Center, St. Paul

8pm Locklin Road Hayes Public House, Buffalo

9pm The Northerly Gales Dubliner Pub, St. Paul

9:30pm Irish Brigade McCormick’s Pub and Restaurant, Wayzata

11 All Day: Minnesota Irish Music Weekend The Celtic Junction Arts Center, St. Paul

Noon: Traditional Session Kieran’s Pub, Mpls

4pm Learners Irish Session 6pm Advanced Irish Music Session Keegan’s Pub, Mpls

8pm Pub Quiz Dubliner Pub, St. Paul

12 7pm Intermediate Celtic Session Merlins’ Rest, Mpls 7pm Síocháin – Loring and North Star Irish Dancers Patrick Henry High School, Mpls 7:30pm Sea Shanty Sing Dubliner Pub, St. Paul

13 6pm IMDA Monthly Board Meeting St. Clair Broiler, St. Paul 7:30pm Pub Quiz Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 7:30pm Irish Set Dancing Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 7:30 Celtic Woman Orpheum Theatre, Mpls 9pm St. Dominick’s Trio Driftwood Char Bar, Mpls

14 11:30am Legacy Regions Hospital, St. Paul 7pm Irish Social Dance Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 7pm Irish Music Session J. Grundy’s Rueb ‘N’ Stein Northfield 7:30pm Pub Quiz Merlins Rest, Mpls

15 5pm Bloomsday Celebration Summit Manor, St. Paul 7pm Brass Lassie Normandale Lake Bandshell, Bloomington 6:30pm Keegan’s Pub Trivia Keegan’s Pub, Mpls

16 6pm Irish Music Session Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 8pm Locklin Road Celts CraftHouse, Apple Valley 8pm MMC Presents Celtic Rock NightThe Celtic Junction Arts Center, St. Paul

8:30pm Irish Sessiun & Highland Pipes Merlins Rest, Mpls

17 7pm Irish Céilí Dancing with the Twin Cities Céilí Band The Celtic Junction Arts Center, St. Paul 8pm Belfast Cowboys Whiskey Junction, Mpls 9pm Bedlam Dubliner Pub, St. Paul

Visit http://www.irishmusicanddanceassociation.org/calendar.html for detailed information about each event.

9

www.IMDA-MN.org

Irish Music &

Dance Association

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

18 10am An Luan Claddagh Coffee House, St. Paul Noon: Traditional Session Kieran’s Pub, Mpls 4pm Learners Irish Session 6pm Advanced Irish Music Session Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 8pm Pub Quiz Dubliner Pub, St. Paul

19 7pm Resist! Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 7pm Intermediate Celtic Session Merlins’ Rest, Mpls

20 7:30pm Pub Quiz Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 9pm St. Dominick’s Trio Driftwood Char Bar, Mpls

21 7pm Irish Social Dance Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 7pm Irish Music Session J. Grundy’s Rueb ‘N’ Stein Northfield 7:30pm Pub Quiz Merlins Rest, Mpls 9pm The Langer’s Ball Dubliner Pub, St. Paul

22 6:30pm Keegan’s Pub Trivia Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 9pm Irish Brigade Dubliner Pub, St. Paul

23 7:30pm Legacy Charlies Irish Pub, Stillwater 6pm Irish Music Session Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 8pm Belfast Cowboys Turf Club, St. Paul 8:30pm Irish Sessiun & Highland Pipes Merlins Rest, Mpls 9pm The Northerly Gales Dubliner Pub 9:30pm Irish Brigade McCormick’s Pub and Restaurant, Wayzata

24 7:30pm Legacy Charlies Irish Pub, Stillwater 9:30pm St. Dominic’s Trio Kieran’s Irish Pub, Mpls

9:30pm Irish Brigade McCormick’s Pub and Restaurant, Wayzata

25 10am Curtis & Loretta Kingfield Farmers Market, Mpls

Noon: Traditional Session Kieran’s Pub, Mpls W.A. Frost’s, St. Paul

1pm Legacy Charlie’s Irish Pub, Stillwater

1:30pm Greenwood Tree Glewwe’s Castle (Root Beer) Brewery Prior Lake, MN

2pm Belfast Cowboys Loring Park, Mpls

3pm Traditional Singers Club

4pm Learners Irish Session 6pm Advanced Irish Music Session Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 8pm Pub Quiz Dubliner Pub, St. Paul

26

27 7:30pm Irish Set Dancing Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 7:30pm Pub Quiz Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 9pm St. Dominick’s Trio Driftwood Char Bar, Mpls

28 7pm Irish Social Dance Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 7pm Irish Music Session J. Grundy’s Rueb ‘N’ Stein Northfield 7:30pm Pub Quiz Merlins Rest, Mpls

29 6:30pm Keegan’s Pub Trivia Keegan’s Pub, Mpls 7pm Greenwood Tree Underground Music Café, St. Paul

30 6pm Irish Music Session Dubliner Pub, St. Paul 8:30pm Irish Sessiun & Highland Pipes Merlins Rest, Mpls

10

www.IMDA-MN.org

Irish Music &

Dance Association

St Paul’s Center for Irish Music Wins 35 Medals in St Louis

Young musicians from The Center for Irish Music (CIM) in St. Paul, MN, made an impressive showing at the Midwest Fleadh Cheoil (traditional Irish music festival) in St. Louis, MO, on Mother’s Day week-end, returning to Minnesota with an astounding 35 awards for first-through third-place finishes.

“I couldn't be more proud to bring these young musicians to the Fleadh,” said Norah Rendell, executive director at The Center for Irish Music. “This year's tremendously successful showing is a testament not on-ly to their passion for the music, but to the quality of the teaching at the school.”

The Midwest Fleadh (pronounced flaw), was held May 12-14 and drew more than 200 musicians to St. Louis, where competitors who won 1st or 2nd place in their categories qualified to compete in the world’s largest Irish music festival, the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann, in August. That famous event is sponsored by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, the premier organization devoted to preserving and promoting traditional Irish music. More than 400,000 people are expected to flock to the All-Ireland Fleadh, including competi-tors from all over the world, during the week-long festival in Ennis, County Clare.

Among the competitors will be many young musicians from The Center for Irish Music (CIM) in St. Paul. Twenty-seven students performed in St. Louis last weekend, playing in 58 separate categories and taking home 1st place in 22 of them, with another eight winning 2nd place medals and a further five finish-ing in 3rd place. Fundraising efforts to help defray the expense of the travel to Ireland are expected to begin shortly.

“The passion these kids have for the music is infectious,” said Executive Director Rendell. “They came through in St. Louis with some of the best, most authentic performances I've ever heard from them -- per-formances fit for the Ordway, as far as I'm concerned...”

Age categories at the St. Louis Fleadh included Under 12, 12 to 15 and 15 to 18, with competitors com-ing from Chicago, Cincinnati, St. Louis and other cities around the Midwest, including some from as far away as Seattle. The Center for Irish Music’s first-place awards included category wins in accordion, whis-tle, flute, singing in Irish and English, tenor banjo, ceili band, duo, trio, and Grúpa Ceoil (music ensemble).

NOTE: The Grúpa Ceoil features 12 of the center’s most-advanced musicians and will be performing in public at the Como Dockside Pavilion on Thursday, June 1, at 7 p.m. The concert, part of the Music in the Parks series, is free. The Center for Irish Music also is preparing for its 10th annual Minnesota Irish Music weekend, June 9-11, fea-turing world-class Irish music performers and guest artists who will lead workshops and perform concerts. For more information, see the CIM website: http://www.centerforirishmusic.org/mim/

11

www.IMDA-MN.org

Irish Music &

Dance Association

(The Bookcase)

Nine Folds Make A Paper Swan Author: Ruth Gilligan

Published by Tin House Books 2017

All great storytelling cultures have things in common: deep love, pain, loss, im-probable coincidence, and often, migration and displacement. When Eastern European Jewish spielers collide with Irish seanachies, the result is a beautiful beginning, born of conflict but rooted in fierce determination for survival and appreciation of their twin tra-jectories. This is a shining and heartbreakingly worthy first novel, and I can't wait to see what Ruth Gilligan comes up with next. Yes, there were--and are-- Jews in Irish-Catholic Ireland and their stories are seldom told, although their contribution to Irish literature is noteworthy and impressive. This novel weaves several stories: in 1901 a Lithuanian fami-ly of Jews embark for America, only to wash up in Cork instead and make a life there. In 1958 a mute Jewish boy is institutionalized in a "home for the spazzes and cra-zies" and becomes the amanuensis for a crabby old git who only wants to record the story of a love he lost in World War II. In today's London, an Irish journalist falls for a Jewish magician and has to decide whether she can remain her true self if she converts to Judaism and marries him. In a delicate and masterful way, the author manages to connect these people and their stories in a subtle weave: there really are no degrees of separation in the human experience. Ruth Gilligan has garnered fans the like of Colum McCann, Joseph O'Connor and other Irish literary lights, for good reason. She suggests that what we are, after all is said and done, are our stories. And stories must be told to live, and we live to tell them. The best stories have heartbreak and loss, yes, but also the triumph of the human spirit and the connectedness of our lives. We are all in this together; books like this remind us that being human lies somewhere between the pratfalls and the pinnacles of our existence. A more delightful first novel you will not find; I was delighted with it from start to finish.

Sherry Ladig is a Saint Paul, MN Irish trad musician and was a reviewer for the late great Hungry Mind Bookstore's literary newsletter, Fodder. Sherry welcomes books of Irish or Irish-American interest to re-

view---or, write one yourself! She may be reached at ladig-dunquin@msn.com.

Happy summer reading!

12

www.IMDA-MN.org

Irish Music &

Dance Association

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 along with a video of me 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. -Brian Miller

MINNESOTY, THE LILY OF THE WEST

Come all ye noble emigrants that feel inclined to roam, Into this western country, to seek a pleasant home, Just take a pioneer’s advice, he’ll point you out the best, Go to lovely Minnesoty, that Lily of the West. In eighteen hundred and fifty four, I left my native shore, My worthy friends and native home never to see them more, Besides, my aged parents I left among the rest, And sailed for Minnesoty, the Lily of the West. When I viewed this pleasant country, it filled me with sur-prise, To see those spreading prairies, and fields of grain likewise, You call into a cabin, you are always a welcome guest, That’s the fashion of Minnesoty, the Lily of the West.

I viewed those jolly farmers, a-toiling at their ploughs, Likewise the pretty fair maid, a-milking of the cows, I viewed those lovely house-wives with tempers of the best, They’re the darlings of Minnesoty, the Lily of the West. Our lands they yield spontaneously potatoes, corn, and grain, The climate’s also healthy, with cooling showers of rain, There is plenty of fish in every stream, and game in the forest, We have pleasures in Minnesoty, the Lily of the West. Our pleasant burgs and villages they decorate the soil, The architect, mechanic most manfully doth toil, We have churches here of every sect, and schooling of the best, We’ve industry in Minnesoty, the Lily of the West.

13

www.IMDA-MN.org

Irish Music &

Dance Association

We have a flowing commerce upon our inland seas, Where lofty ships and steamboats do sail continually,

We have mariners here both stout and bold, and masters of the best, We have all things in Minnesota, the Lily of the West.

O, Michigan is not the place, nor Illinois the same,

The soil and climate can’t compare in raising of the grain, A land of milk and honey, and temperature of the best,

And they call it Minnesoty, the Lily of the West.

Again this month we have one of the very few songs I’ve found that mentions my beloved home state. In this case, it’s a song of praise, advertising the wonders of pioneer-era Minnesota to prospective “emigrants.” Bessie M. Stanchfield collected a version of the song, titled “The Beauty of the West,” from Mrs. Elma Snyder McDowell of St. Cloud in 1936. Stanchfield went on to gather three other Minnesota-sourced versions and all four texts were published in her article “‘The Beauty of the West’ A Minnesota Ballad” in the September 1946 issue of Minnesota History. The Snyder McDowell version was the only one collected by Stanchfield that came complete with a melody. The above melody comes from the singing of Ezra “Fuzzy” Barhight who was recorded by song collector Ellen Stekert at his home in Cohocton, New York in the 50s. The text is primarily one of the texts published by Stanchfield that she found in the Saint Peter Courier of June 26, 1857. It is quite different than the other three published by Stanchfield but similar to Barhight’s fragment. I mixed in some lines from Barhight and the other Stanchfield texts to create the version above. In her Minnesota History article, Stanchfield wrote that “this song, and others collected later, made me realize the

fallacy of the belief that there is no Minnesota folk music”

Visit a full archive of all Northwoods Songs columns and songs online at www.evergreentrad.com

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

14

www.IMDA-MN.org

Irish Music &

Dance Association

Irish Fair Updates

Irish Fair Photo and Baking Contests

The Irish Fair of Minnesota is once again calling on amateur photographers to post their entries in this year’s Irish Fair Photo Contest.

Now in the fifth year, the contest has been growing steadily each year. Photos may be taken in Ireland, or may be taken anywhere, so long

as they convey something about Ireland, Irish culture, or the Irish experience.

The Irish Fair of Minnesota is also pleased to announce another year of the Irish baking contest. This year’s judging panel of professional

bakers is eager to taste what our community has in store. For further details, go to www.irishfair.com

Irish Fair Headliners Announced The Irish Fair has a wonderful lineup of headliners announced for this year’s festival: We Banjo 3, Eileen Ivers, the Wild Colonial Bhoys, Socks in the Frying Pan, Screaming Orphans, Aoife Scott, and Katie McMah-on. With a wide range of our wonderful local and regional talent, it promises to be a great festival! Details on the Irish Fair website – www.irishfair.com. (Irish Fair is Aug. 11 – 13, 2017.)

Smidirini*

(*Irish for ‘Bits and Pieces’)

By Copper Shannon

Comhghairdeas léi (Congratulations) to harpist Hannah Flowers who has been chosen as a recipient of a Gaeltacht Summer Award from the Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange. Hannah will spend five weeks in the Gaeltacht in Donegal at Oideas Gael studying Irish Language. Hannah is a 2015 IMDA Educational Grant recipient. Hannah performs as a soloist on harp and vocals, and in the duo Sona with Mattie Ernst. Hannah also teaches at the Center for Irish Music. Our very best wishes go with her on this wonderful adventure!

Irish Network Minnesota Presents Its

BLOOMSDAY FESTIVAL

When: Thursday, June 15, 5-7:30 Where: Summit Manor, 275 Summit Avenue, St. Paul Tickets: $20

Come and participate in this celebration of James Joyce’s acclaimed novel with croquet on the lawn if it doesn’t rain, and wine, beer, appetizers, readings from Ulysses, and music, whether it rains or not!

Bloomsday is a commemoration of James Joyce’s celebrated and barrier-breaking novel, during which the events of his novel Ulysses (which is set on June 16, 1904) are relived. It is observed annually on June 16 in many places all over the planet. Joyce chose the date as this was his first outing with his wife-to-be, Nora Barnacle, the day on which they walked to the Dublin suburb of Ringsend.

The name is derived from Leopold Bloom, the protagonist of Ulysses.

Celtic Woman 10 Percent Discount!!

Tuesday, June 13 at the Orpheum Theater in Minneapolis

The promoter is offering a discount on remaining tickets. Use this link to purchase tickets. Receive a 10% discount if you enter the code word IRISH before checking out!

http://www.ticketmaster.com/venueartist/49292/963285?brand=hennepin&_ga=2.248037767.1649928412.1494894550-220990345.1494894550

15

www.IMDA-MN.org

Irish Music &

Dance Association

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.

IMDA Membership

Demonstrate your support of live Irish music, dance and cultural activities by becoming a member of the Irish Music and Dance Association. Become a supporting member by making a financial contribution. Member bands, businesses and organizations receive priority listing in the IMDA Community Resources List. All IMDA members receive the newsletter by e-mail.

Name: Today’s Date:

Address: Where did you hear about us?

Membership Type (circle one)

Individual $20 ___ Family $25 ______ by US Mail $35 ____

Band / Organization / Business $25 _______________________________________________

(Name of band, organization, business)

Interests (circle all that apply):

Music Dance Theater Gaelic Volunteer

Email Address __________________________________ Phone Number ___________________

Your monthly newsletter is delivered electronically via email Please advise us at f your email address changes at www.info@IrishMusicandDanceAssociation.org if your email address changes. Supporting members who contribute at least $35 annually may receive their newsletter by US Mail. __________Request US Mail

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 or visit the IMDA website (www.imda.org) to pay electronically.

16

www.IMDA-MN.org

Irish Music &

Dance Association

Po

stm

ast

er:

Tim

e/D

ate

d M

ate

ria

l

Iris

h M

usic

an

d D

an

ce

Asso

cia

tion

4

00

Ma

ca

leste

r S

treet

St.

Pa

ul M

N 55

105