National Heritage Fellow Mick Moloney.
By Daniel Neely
In the northeast, the Catskills Irish Arts Week is the year’s largest and most anticipated music event, featuring all the tunes, céilís, concerts, lectures, and camaraderie one could possibly hope for. Taking place this year from July 9-16, the week will attract musicians and dancers from all over the country who will descend upon the small hamlet of East Durham in search of the craic, as is tradition. And what craic they’ll find! With a lineup packed with the best artists around, CIAW 2017 promises to be a fantastic and memorable week that’ll keep folks buzzing for months.
It all starts at the top with Seamus Connolly, Mick Moloney, and Billy McComiskey, three of the four National Heritage Fellows who will be in residence. This trio, representing New England (Connolly), New York / Philadelphia (Moloney), and Baltimore / DC (McComiskey), has shaped instrumental Irish music in America in important ways for decades and their presence sets a strong creative tone that will turbocharge the week. Rounding out the National Heritage Fellow contingent is New York’s Donny Golden, who will add brilliant punch to the week's amazing dance program.
However, these four are just the tip of the creative iceberg. The week’s instructors include Willie Kelly, Patrick Ourceau, Jesse Smith, Ciaran O’Maonaigh, Bernadette Fee, Dylan Foley, Seán Cleland, and Nollaig Casey (fiddles); Kevin Crawford, Laurence Nugent, June McCormack, Sean Gavin, and Deirdre Corrigan (flute); Mary Bergin, Joanie Madden, and Linda Hickman (whistle); Billy McComiskey, Dan Gurney, Patty Furlong, and Colm Ganon (button accordion); Mirella Murray (piano accordion); Kathleen Boyle and Brendan Dolan (piano accompaniment); Don Meade (harmonica); Benedict Koehler, Kevin Rowsome, and Caoimhin Ó Fearghail (uilleann pipes); Caitlin Nic Gabhann, Doug Barr, and Brenda Castles (concertina); Pauline Conneely and Don Meade (tenor banjo); Mary Coogan (mandolin); Patrick Egan, Josh Dukes, and John Blake (guitar); Michael Rooney and Iris Nevins (harp); Brian Casey, Josh Dukes, and Myron Bretholz (bodhrán); Grace Toland and Mairin Ui Cheide (singing); Pádraig McEneany and Bridie Dal Pizzol (set dancing); and Donny Golden (step dance), Kieran Jordan (sean nós dance), and Niall Ó’Leary (Celtic tap improv). It’s an incredible bunch.
National Heritage Fellow Billy McComiskey.
There’s more to CIAW than just music. Mícheál Ó Máille will be there to teach Irish language; and Sarah McLoughlin (Irish knitting), Vincent Crotty (art/painting) will oversee the Celtic arts and crafts.
There are also outstanding activities for young people. Directed by Corbette Russell, the Tír na nÓg Children’s Program is ideal for young people ages 5-8 and will be taught by Annemarie Acosta (music & song) and Laura Travis (Celtic art). The “Stepping Stone” program (which Russell also directs) is ideal for aspiring musicians ages 9+. Its instructors include Lorraine Rowsome & Donna Long (fiddle), Regan Wick (step dance), Doug Barr (concertina), and Laura Byrne (whistle).
What happens when the classes are over? Tons, really. There are staff concerts and listening rooms every night featuring members of the staff. One of the week’s great features are the céilithe. Dances take place each night that also feature CIAW staff. The big dance, however, happens on Wednesday night, when “The Great Barn Dance” brings together all the musicians and dancers in an incredible outpouring of creative energy. It’s one of the week’s many highlights. Keep your ears open, also, for evening time CD release parties – these are typically high energy and greatly memorable events that attract cream of the crop players. Because they often feature young musicians they sometimes fly under the radar, but take a chance if you hear about one – you’ll be able to say you were there “back when.”
National Heritage Fellow Seamus Connolly.
It’s not just music and dance all the time: CIAW also has your intellectual interests taken care of with a pair of lecture series. In the late afternoons, the great Mick Moloney will speak on a range of interesting topics. In addition, I, your humble columnist, will also speak on a variety of subjects at 12:15 each day. Both series will feature special guests, a bit of live music, and you’re virtually guaranteed to hear about things you’ve never heard about before.
The week culminates on Saturday the 15th with the East Durham Trad Fest. An all day long music extravaganza, this grand finale, day-long event will feature command performances from top members of the CIAW staff. A social hang as well as a musical outpouring, it never fails to delight and draws the week to a spectacular close.
National Heritage Fellow Donny Golden.
Organized by the CIAW’s outstanding artistic director Reidin O’Flynn, Catskills Irish Arts Week 2017 really does have something for everyone. From high-powered sessions, the finest céilís, and top shelf concerts, to arts class and intro courses for youngsters, it’ll be stirringly full days all around, no matter your age. The hardest decisions you’ll have to make all week are where to eat, what session to join in with, and when to put yourself to bed, which can be difficult, especially when the tunes are going strong into the early morning. CIAW really is a must on the trad music calendar and this year is a blockbuster, so don’t miss out! For a full schedule of events and to register, visit catskillsirishartsweek.com.
Daniel Neely writes about traditional music each week in the Irish Echo.
