[caption id="attachment_68913" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Liz Noonan, left, pictured with Colleen Taylor and Tara Cuzzi, the student hosts of WFUV’s “Ceol na nGael."]
This year I made a New Year’s resolution that will be hard to break. I normally set myself up for failure by resolving to stay home more, save money, and behave myself, so I’m taking a different approach this year. In 2012, I resolve to continue to step it out, follow my ears to find the best music the city has to offer, and spread the word to Irish Echo readers about all the fun there is to be had.
I’ve been deeply involved in the Irish music scene in the tri-state area since I began working at WFUV radio in 2001. WFUV is a member-supported public radio station that broadcasts from Fordham University in the Bronx. As a Fordham sophomore, I was given the job of co-hosting the Sunday Irish music program, “Ceol na nGael.” For a girl who grew up listening to the show and falling madly in love with Irish music, this was a dream come true.
I spent my undergraduate years at Fordham studying hard, listening to countless albums from artists whose work is rooted in the music of Ireland, and squeezing in a trip or two (or two hundred) to the nearby McLean Avenue area to hear live Irish music. I would drag my tired bones into work on Sunday mornings brimming with excitement over the music I enjoyed the night before. WFUV gave me the chance to share that excitement with tens of thousands of listeners who tuned into 90.7 FM from noon-4pm each Sunday. It was the time of my life, and still is. Over a decade later, I continue to spend my Sundays at WFUV as the producer of the program.
I have learned a lot during my time at Fordham and WFUV, about media and radio, my heritage and my community. I’ve learned that I’m very lucky to be living in New York City, a place that is rich with all kinds of Irish music, and I’ve learned that anywhere there is live Irish music it is usually a very happy place. Still so many musicians go unrecognized, and so many music lovers don’t know where to go for their fix of Irish music. So I’m setting out to tell you about all the mighty music happening in the tri-state area.
Hat’s off to WFUV and the Irish Echo for giving me the opportunity to give some well-deserved exposure to the bands and artists who are passionate about the music of Ireland, and cheers to the artists who bring the music into our lives. My experience has shown me what a great source of joy it is to so many people.
I want to be your fun hunter, your session seeker, your concert connector, and your Irish album advisor. If you’re on board, check in with me weekly here at the Irish Echo and reconsider your New Year’s resolution!
