Máirín Fahy and "Trad on the Prom"... Galway

Tami and I had the pleasure of seeing on of the greatest Irish shows in my opinion while in Galway... "Trad on the Prom"... featuring several top ranked dancers and musicians including Máirín Fahy. I thoroughly enjoyed Máirín's fiddle playing while Tami loved her sister, Yvonne's amazing talent on the Bodhran, a percussion instrument. If you are ever in Galway... do NOT miss this show! One of the coolest things they mentioned was that the Irish traditional music is still alive and well in the mountains of North Carolina. They even played an Irish reel that crossed over into our old time mountain music and into our modern day blue grass.

Trad on the Prom, true to it's name, is the best of Irish traditional live entertainment, performed in the new conference center of the Salthill Hotel, located on the seafront promenade over looking Galway Bay and the Clare Hills.

The Band
The Trad on the Prom band comprises of the finest musicians on the Irish music scene today.The band includes Gerard Fahy on uileann pipes, Chris Kelly on guitar, Yvonne Fahy on accordion and percussion, Brendan Hayes on keyboard and guest musicians Brian Morrissey, Padraig Rynn and Kieran Munnelly on concertina, flute, banjo and additional percussion.
SOURCE:http://www.tradontheprom.com/show.html

The video below is an interview with the "Trad on the Prom" members discussing the music, dancing, and success of the event...

Spotlight Galway- Trad on the Prom


Finale from Trad On The Prom At Milwaukee Irish Fest

"Here's to you Ronnie Drew"...

Just after we got home from Ireland we got news that Irish folk artist Ronnie Drew of the famed Dubliners passed away... Many a'Irish souls are sad tonight...

Ronnie Drew, singer and guitarist: born Dú*Laoghaire, Ireland 16 September 1934; married 1963 Deirdre McCartan (died 2007; one son, one daughter); died Dublin 16 August 2008.

Irish folk singer Drew dies at 73

"Earlier this year many of the artists who had taken inspiration from him – U2, Sinead O'Connor, The Corrs, Chieftains, Damien Dempsey, Shane MacGowan, Christy Moore – released a tribute single, "The Ballad of Ronnie Drew", with proceeds to the Irish Cancer Society. It topped the Irish charts and a frail-looking Drew gave an emotional interview thanking them when they performed it on RTE's Late Late Show in February. "Illness can make you happy in a strange way," he said, "because it makes you realise people are there for you".
SOURCE: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ronnie-drew-lead-singer-of-the-dubliners-900669.html

The Ballad Of Ronnie Drew


One of my favs...

The Dubliners - In The Rare Old Times

"Máiréad's Window" by Bernie Rosage Jr.

"Máiréad's Window"... County Clare, Ireland... 20x16"... Oil on stretched canvas by artist Bernie Rosage Jr., 11-2008.

Finished work for the Enchanting Ireland series...

Click on image to enlarge....

While traveling through Ireland we noticed so many quaint little cottages... many with thatched roofs and white-washed walls. 99% of them had a splash of color and flowers a plenty... a woman's touch you'd say.

Dedicated to my wife's ggggreat grandmother, Margaret Fetters Lee, who was born in Belfast, Ireland. Margaret is a nickname from the gaelic... Máiréad (MAW-rayt or MAW-reed)... which means "pearl".

"The Cliffs of Moher" by Bernie Rosage Jr.

"The Cliffs of Moher"... County Clare, Ireland... 20x30"... Oil on stretched canvas by artist Bernie Rosage Jr., 11-2008.

Finished work for the Enchanting Ireland series...

Click on image to enlarge....

The Cliffs of Moher in County Clare on the West Coast of Ireland is Ireland's premier Tourist attraction. The 700ft high County Clare cliffs attract tourists and stretch for nearly 5 miles along the Western Shore.

Cherish the Ladies... "An Irish Homecoming"... a Review

A review of the Cherish the Ladies... "An Irish Homecoming" concert at Kenan Auditorium on the campus of UNC at Wilmington, NC, October 24, 2008.

"Superbly led by the larger than life Joanie Madden on whistles, flute, harmony vocals and introductions, these ladies dusted the perceived cobwebs off traditional music by presenting it in a new light, with a mixture of first class 'kick-ass' playing, sensational singing, dynamic dancing and infectious humour, that packaged it and sent it into the modern world - without ever losing respect for the musical roots." This homely approach, with great stage banter, ensured not only an entertaining night but also that never before has 'trad' been so enjoyable.
The Belfast Telegraph, UK

This review is worded perfectly to which I'll add the addition of new singer, Michelle Burke, is the crowning jewel on this already superb and talented group. Her vocals and Irish dialect warm and enchant the soul... watch the video below to see what I mean. The friends that the Ladies brought with them added an extra treat and truly made this an Irish Homecoming. The champion dancers added so much with their timely precision. Dermont Henry was a hoot! Bohola gave the music even more depth. I cannot say enough about Maura O'Connell... her charm and dry humor were only eclipsed by her awesome singing voice. My parents, wife, daughter, and I enjoyed the show immensely... The Kenan Auditorium was a perfect setting for this treat. Enjoy the various youtube videos and link of a few of the songs played at the concert.

Cherish the Ladies with Michelle Burke singing "Donegal Rain"...



Maura O'Connell... "Down by the Sally Gardens"... Click on link to see and hear...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2UZReQGNVI

Maura O'Connell preforming "Trouble in the Fields" which she called a modern day folk song when she preformed it at the show. Click link to see and hear this great performance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l87JpWkbI0