MOHAWK VALLEY IRISH CULTURAL

Volume 13, Issue 8 EVENTS NEWSLETTER Aug 2016

Maura, Karan: A Celebration of Song and Life

Two of Ireland’s most beloved singers join together to present an exceptional evening of songs and stories, as Maura O’Connell and Karan Casey bring their Celebration of Song and Life mini-tour to The Egg in Albany on August 12th, 2016. Maura and Karan – for they certainly do merit “one-name only” status – are both known for the depth, beauty and sheer joy in their exploration and interpretation of songs. A Celebration of Song and Life has them sharing what it means to be Irish today, a woman today, a world view seen through the broad emotional spectrum of song. Mostly this collaboration is about the sheer enjoyment of singing and a fresh approach to their long established solo careers, and as the faces and voices of the legendary bands they fronted.

One of Ireland’s most revered chanteuses, Maura O’Connell is known for blending Celtic and folk sounds from her formative years in Ireland and filtering them through contemporary American country and bluegrass music. Described as “...a captivating stylist, introspective chanteuse, musical explorer and songwriter’s singer,” her multi-decade career, which rose to prominence when she joined the great Celtic traditional music band De Danaan, has earned her international acclaim, plus two Grammy nominations – including one in 2010 for her most recent release Naked With Friends.

Karan Casey has long been one of the most innovative, provocative and imitated voices in Irish traditional and folk music. Her career has spanned twenty-five years from the early days as a jazz performer in George’s Bistro in to her heady days in New York with the band Solas, and now to her established solo career. She released her first album with the group Solas, which quickly became the most celebrated Irish band in the U.S. A multi- award winning performer, Karan has been described by the Irish Voice as “a singer who has moved gracefully and freely through the ages and genres of music that have influenced her since she first started singing.”

Tickets for the 7:30 PM show are $34, and are available on-line. The Egg is located in the Empire State Plaza in Albany.

Goitse – Irish Music With a Twist

The Earlville Opera House will be hosting a very special performance from Ireland’s award-winning quintet, Goitse, on Saturday, August 13th at 8 PM. Goitse -- the name is a Donegal Irish word (pronounced gwi-cha) meaning “come here” – has made a name for themselves as one of the most sought after bands among connoisseurs of , having won feverish critical plaudits for their Dónal Lunny-produced second album, “Transformed.” As we all witnessed in their 2011 GAIF appearance, their distinctive sound lies in the quality of their own compositions interspersed with well-known traditional tunes, which make each set entertaining and . The gripping rhythm section sets a breath-taking pace for the music, while the sweet, charismatic voice of Áine McGeeney draws audiences into the music in a way very few performers are able to do.

Ticket prices range from $11-32, and are available on-line or by calling the EOH at (315) 691-3550. The Earlville Opera House is located at 18 East Main St. in Earlville, NY.

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Scottish Legend Returns to New York

Dougie MacLean holds a place in his native Scotland that can only be compared with artists like or Christie Moore, but here in the States he remains for many an undiscovered pleasure. While audiences might have a passing familiarity with his early work with the seminal Scottish folk bands the Tannahill Weavers and , or with cover versions of his songs by performers like Kathy Mattea, Mary Black or Dorothy Keane, American fans have not had many opportunities to experience MacLean as a live performer. That can all change on August 15th when Dougie MacLean makes a rare return trip to the 8th Step stage at Proctor’s Theater in Schenectady NY.

Although he has composed orchestral works and film scores, MacLean is best known for his songs, including “Ready for the Storm” -- the song that introduced him to American audiences when it was covered by Kathy Mattea -- and “Caledonia,” an unofficial Scottish anthem that hit No. 1 on the charts. His melodies retain echoes of the ancient , but his emotionally intimate lyrics touch people of all cultures, and his beautifully understated work and infectious voice are as instantly comforting as an old friend, whether his masterful compositions are introducing you to something altogether new or reminding you of something long forgotten. Tickets for the 7 PM show range from $28-$45, and are available here (although it looks like there may only be $28 general admission tickets left; call (518) 346-6204 for more information). Proctors is located at 432 State Street in Schenectady, NY

Hunter Mountain “International Celtic Festival” set for August 6th

On August 6th, Hunter Mountain (Hunter, NY) hosts the annual “International Celtic Festival.” The International Celtic Festival brings the sights and sounds of the Emerald Isles. World-class musicians from Ireland and North America perform on three stages, with plenty of variety to suit any taste. Providing the musical entertainment will be Off Kilter, The Narrowbacks, Barleyjuice, Andy Cooney, Little Creek Band, the Donny Golden Dancers and more. The festival also features a EUSPBA pipe band competition, with 16 Grade 3-5 outfits vying for coveted firsts place ribbons, and more importantly (kinda), bragging rights. Of course, there is the spine-tingling Mass March, which finds hundreds of pipers and drummers marching down the mountain in unison. And new this year, Hunter Mountain will host its 1st Annual Highland Games Competition. The NASGA Sanctioned (North American Scottish Games Athletics) Competition will consist of eight traditional heavy events including the stone put, hammer throw and the caber toss (a crowd favorite).

Tickets for the festival are $16 for adults (discounted by $3 when purchased on line), with children 12 and under being free. Hunter Mountain is located just over 2 hours north of New York City in the northern Catskill Mountains; a convenient half-hour ride from New York State Thruway exits 20 or 21. For more information, check out their web site.

CNY Scottish Games and Celtic Festival Marks Its 75th (!!) Year

The 75th Central New York Scottish Games and Celtic Festival will be held at Long Branch Park on August 13th. Long Branch Park is conveniently located west of Syracuse and a wee stone’s throw from the NYS Thruway. The Festival goes from 9 AM until 8 PM and will feature solo competitions, band competitions, drum major competitions, athletic events and highland dance competitions. The band competitions are held in a natural amphitheater. There is plenty of shade and the park is absolutely breathtaking. Performing this year are Enter the Haggis, Charlie Zahm, Harmony of Harps and the Rince Na Sonas Irish Dancers. Tickets for the festival are $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $4 for children from 5 to 12, and children under 5 get in free. For more information, visit the CNY Scottish Games and Celtic Festival web site (here).

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Celtic Thunder Rolls into Central New York

Celtic Thunder, the world-renowned music and visual theatrical production, is bringing their brand new show “Legacy” to the Palace Theater (19 Clinton Ave., Albany NY), as part of a 75-city tour of the US and Canada (you’ll get ‘em fresh; this appearance is just the fourth date on the tour). Continuing their tradition of paying homage to the musical culture and traditions of Ireland, Celtic Thunder’s latest show is a depiction both their musical footprint over the past 8 years as well as their amazing heritage of Irish and Celtic music.

“Legacy” is an exciting new live show that celebrates the influence of Irish and Celtic music around the world and the imprint that such music has made. Lively, fast paced and upbeat songs represent the fun loving nature of the Irish, while the slower classic ballads play to their nostalgic and romantic side. Featuring all new recordings, the songs in “Legacy” are varied in style and run the gamut from classic Irish folk songs and ballads such as “Danny Boy” and “Buachaille On Eirne” to the more contemporary hits “Falling Slowly” and “Ride On,” and rousing anthems “Caledonia” (Hey, remember? We talked about that one!) and “Ireland's Call.”

Legacy finds Celtic Thunder soloists Colm Keegan, Keith Harkin, Ryan Kelly, Emmett O’Hanlon and Neil Byrne reunited with guest artist Damian McGinty, an original member of Celtic Thunder who went on to win Fox’s “The Project” before landing a recurring role (“”) in the hit series “Glee!” As respected as the singers, The Celtic Thunder Band provides backing on strings, , percussion, whistles, pipes and more, led by musical director David Munro, who also plays keyboards in the show.

Tickets for the 8 PM show range from $49.50 to $79.50, and they can be purchased on line, by calling (800) 745- 3000, or in person at the Palace Theatre Box Office, located at 19 Clinton Ave (on the Clinton Avenue Side of the theatre).

Lake George Arts Project Presents Koehler and Kelly

Chances are many of you have not heard of fiddler Gretchen Koehler. Well, as you know, one of the reasons we put this newsletter out each month is to educate you to something you might not already know. So, are you ready? Here it is: the capitol of the Faroe Islands is Tórshavn.

You’re welcome. Now here’s something else you should know. Gretchen Koehler is good… really good. Growing up in New England surrounded by the rich traditions of Old Time and Contra Dance music, she established her reputation throughout the US and Canada winning numerous championships, prompting TIME Magazine to call young Koehler “astonishingly good.” In 2012 she was inducted into the New York State Fiddlers’ Hall of Fame, and Fiddler Magazine labeled her “one of the futures of Celtic fiddle.”

If you care to witness her for yourself, you can catch her and jazz pianist Daniel Kelly at 7 PM on August 31st, at Shepard Park in Lake George, NY., as part of the The Lake George Arts Project Summer Concert Series. Daniel Kelly is no slouch himself; he’s an award-winning pianist and composer who blends jazz, classical and folk music into a signature sound, and together they blend the raw energy of authentic Celtic and New England-style fiddling with the nuanced lyricism of jazz piano.

So why not make plans to catch the duo that Fiddler Magazine calls “Masterful…works for both listening and dancing.” The concert is free, and takes place rain or shine; call (518) 668-2616 for rain venue.

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The Story of a Socialite Who Became a Soldier - by Sue Romero

She was born into a wealthy Anglo-Irish family. She was married to a count. She was an artist and actress. She could have lived a life of luxury, but she traded in her gowns for guns when she embraced the cause of Irish freedom.

For my next story on Irish women, we’ll take a look at Constance Gore-Booth, who after her marriage came to be known as the Countess Markievicz.

Con, as her family and friends called her, was born in London in 1868. Her parents owned Lissadell, a 32,000 acre estate in County Sligo, and she grew up living in their grand house there and the family’s townhouse in London. She and her four siblings enjoyed horseback riding, hunting, art, music and parties. But it wasn’t all just fun and games. Constance’s parents did not turn a blind eye to the poor people who lived and worked on their estate as many of the other landowners did. To help poor women earn an income, her mother Lady Georgina, founded a school of needlework where students were able to sell what they crocheted and embroidered. Her father, an Arctic explorer and philanthropist, was known for his generosity to his tenants, helping them through the famine of 1879.

Perhaps it was their altruistic attitude that sparked a desire in Constance for more meaning in her life. In one of the journals she kept as a young girl she wrote, “Nature should provide me with something to live for, something to die for”.

Later another voice inspired her quest for a cause. William Butler Yeats, who would eventually win a Nobel Prize for his poetry, was her Sligo neighbor and friend. He often spoke of social issues and Irish nationalism with Con and her sister Eva.

So, when most girls of her class and age were trying to find husbands, Con left for London to study at the Slade School of Art. Later she moved to Paris to further her art studies. For years, she claimed she was “married to art”. But when she met Casimir Markievicz, a Polish count and fellow artist, she changed her mind, at least for a time.

They married in 1900 and their daughter Maeve was born at Lissadell in 1901. They left her there to be raised by her grandparents, and went to Dublin to pursue their art. Casimir wrote plays in which Constance often appeared.

But more and more, Constance was moved to shift her focus from art to social causes. She had been involved in the suffragette movement for some time with her sister Eva Gore-Booth, but now in Dublin, she responded to the poverty and growing sense of Irish nationalism she saw there. She sold her jewelry and set up soup kitchens. She joined James Connolly’s Irish Citizen Army. She helped found Na Fianna Éireann a scouting organization to teach teens how to use weapons. (Since her days at Lissadell she had been known as a very good shot.) Not just an organizer, she got personally involved in the work. People reported seeing her hauling heavy bags of peat in her car and carrying it up long flights of tenement stairs. During all this activity, Count Markievicz decided to go to the Balkans to work as a war reporter. The separation was amicable and although they never lived together again, he and Constance corresponded.

Considering her close connection with James Connolly and her passionate dedication to Ireland, it was inevitable that Constance would be involved in the Easter Rising of 1916. Though she would much prefer to work peacefully for her suffering neighbors, she felt the need to take up arms.

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“I have always hated war and am by nature and philosophy a pacifist, but it is the English who are forcing war on us, and the first principle of war is to kill the enemy.”

On that fateful Easter Monday, Constance donned the military uniform of a staff lieutenant, and took up her post as second in command at St. Stephen’s Green with Malin. Under heavy sniper fire from the tall buildings surrounding the park, she moved her troops to the College of Surgeons nearby and was able to hold out for the week doing her own sniper firing from the roof until Padraig Pearse issued the order to surrender. When the moment came to face the British officer, she kissed her revolver before handing it to him.

For this week’s work, Constance earned a death sentence from the British military court, though it was commuted to a life sentence of penal servitude because she was a woman, an outcome she did not favor. She said, “I do wish your lot had the decency to shoot me.”

Under the general amnesty of 1917, Constance was released from English prison and returned home where she continued to fight for Ireland as a politician.

In the General Election, December 1918, she was the first woman ever elected to the British House of Commons, but with the other members of Sinn Féin she abstained from taking her seat. Instead she served as Minister of Labor (1919-21) in the first Dáil during the Irish War of Independence. She opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 1921 which ended that war, and so found herself fighting with guns again during the Irish Civil War (1922-23). For the next four years she continued to speak out, serve prison sentences, help the poor and win elections.

Just five weeks after her election to the 5th Dáil, she suffered an attack of appendicitis which led to her death on July 15, 1927. Casimir was by her side.

Three hundred thousand people lined the streets of Dublin to bid her farewell. Her old compatriot Eamon de Valera, with whom she had fought in the Easter Rising and served in the new Irish government, gave the eulogy at her funeral. He captured the essence of her life in a few words, “Ease and station she put aside, and took the hard way of service with the weak and the downtrodden. Sacrifice, misunderstanding, and scorn lay on the road she adopted, but she trod it unflinchingly...The world knew her only as a soldier of Ireland, but … we knew the friendliness, the great woman’s of her, the great Irish soul of her…”

Lughnasa – Celebration of the Harvest Most of us know Lunasa as the name of one of the most popular traditional Irish bands in the world; others are familiar with the 1998 Meryl Streep movie, Dancing at Lughnasa. But what do you really know about Lughnasadh or Lughnasa or Lunasa? Well, however, you spell it, Lughnasa is one of the four major Irish seasonal festivals, this one celebrating the beginning of the harvest season. As those who were wise enough to have taken the brilliantly presented “Irish Myths and Legends” course offered at MVCC are aware, the name comes from the Celtic god, Lugh of the Long Arm, who came to be associated with grain in Celtic mythology after he held a harvest fair in honor of his foster mother, Tailtiu. In early Ireland, it was considered bad luck to harvest grain any time before Lughnasa. However, on August 1st, the first harvest of grain was cut by the farmer, and by nightfall the women would have made the first loaves of bread of the season. In early Christian times, these loaves would be blessed by the Church. Although originally held on August 1, the festival is now generally held on the Sunday nearest the date. In pagan times it involved mass gatherings that included religious rites such as an offering of the first of the corn, a feast of the

Mohawk Valley Irish Cultural Events - 5 new food and the sacrifice of a bull, as well as – to be expected in an Irish celebration – dancing and bonfires. Following their general pattern of incorporating pagan rituals into Christian celebrations, the Catholic church also set this date aside for a ritual blessing of farmers’ fields. Even today in Ireland, many people celebrate Lughnasa with dancing, song, and bonfires either as a religious holiday or a cultural event, and many traditional fairs, including the Fair, are believed to have stemmed from the Lughnasa festival. As those lucky souls who took the aforementioned “Irish Myths and Legends” class could tell you, Lugh was known as the God of All Skills, being adept at many different arts, and some believe this is why so many modern Renaissance Festivals and craft fairs are held around this time of year. So how to celebrate Lughnasa today? Well, obviously baking bread is a standard tradition, as are the making of corn husk dolls and cooking dishes that include early fall vegetables, such as squashes and pumpkins, or late summer fruits, like apples, plums and peaches. Me, I take the festival’s purpose as a celebration of grain seriously, and intend to consume a few units of beverages made from grains. Perhaps barley, or malt.

From the Irish Kitchen (recipes suitable for clipping)

This month’s recipe – “Chocolate Truffle Cakes with Raspberry Sauce” - By Margaret Johnson. Chocoholics will not be disappointed by these molten chocolate cakes with pudding-like centers surrounded by decadent sponge exteriors. Serve the cakes with Raspberry Sauce.

INGREDIENTS:

Cakes Raspberry Sauce 6 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semi-sweet chocolate 2 cups fresh raspberries 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted Kerrygold Irish butter 6 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 1 /2 tablespoons water 1 cup superfine sugar 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch (please note 4 large eggs the “/” in that step. I’m thinking 4 large egg yolks (No, I don’t know why they’re listed separately) 112 tablespoons of cornstarch might make 1 teaspoon orange extract it a little too dry).

METHOD

To make the cakes: In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the chocolate and butter. Melt, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes, or until smooth. In a small bowl, combine the superfine sugar and cornstarch. Stir into the chocolate mixture. Remove from the heat and let cool. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs and egg yolks with an electric mixer for 4 to 5 minutes, or until pale and thickened (the mixture, not you). Stir in the orange extract. Combine the chocolate mixture with the egg mixture, transfer to a large bowl, cover, and refrigerate for 10 to 12 hours to let the batter thicken.

To make the Raspberry Sauce: Put the raspberries in a food processor or blender and process for 10 to 20 seconds, or until puréed. Pass through a fine mesh sieve to remove the seeds. Transfer to a small saucepan and cook over medium- low heat for 2 minutes, or until heated through. Stir in the sugar and cook for 5 minutes, or until the sugar dissolves completely. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water. Stir into the raspberry mixture and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Let cool, then refrigerate for up to 2 days. (Probably should have mentioned that in the beginning).

Two days later, preheat the oven to 300°F. Butter six 6-ounce ramekins… okay, look up the word “ramekin” and then butter six 6-ounce ramekins and dust with flour. Tap out excess. Spoon the batter into the prepared ramekins and bake for 15 minutes, or until the tops are crusty (the centers will still be runny). Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. To serve, run a knife around the inside of each ramekin. Lift out the cake and transfer to a dessert plate. Put a spoonful of sauce on each plate. Serves 6.

If you try this recipe, feel free to share your experience with all of us. As always, if you have a recipe you’d like to share, please contact Beth Loftis at [email protected].

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“The Black-Eyed Blonde” - Book Review by Mark Sisti

A couple of observations:

Observation 1: It is apparently a literary rule, as immutable as “i before e,” that every hard-boiled detective novel from, let’s say, 1960 on has to contain the following blurb on its cover: “A worthy successor to Raymond Chandler!” This is, of course, not only ridiculous, but unfair. As good as many of these writers are – and some, like Ross MacDonald or Loren Estleman, are very, very good – none of them can compare to Chandler, not even the most commercially successful of them all, Robert B. Parker, whose two attempts at resurrecting Philip Marlowe were complete failures.

Observation 2: I wouldn’t argue with anyone who claims that John Banville is Ireland’s greatest living writer, but his detective series (written under his nom de plume Benjamin Black – nom de plume is Latin, of course, for “made of feathers”) hasn’t quite worked for me.

So when I saw that Benjamin Black had written a new Philip Marlowe novel, I approached it with more than a little trepidation.

Then I read the first paragraph: “It was one of those summer Tuesday afternoons when you begin to wonder if the earth has stopped revolving. The telephone on my desk had the look of something that knows it's being watched. Traffic trickled by in the street below, and there were a few pedestrians, too, men in hats going nowhere.” OK, this could get interesting.

The story, set in the late ‘50s, gives us all the noir staples: the world-weary knight-errant detective, the mysterious, seductive heiress who we all know isn’t telling the whole story, bad guys of both the smooth and coarse varieties, sinister philanthropists, cynical cops, and corpses who won’t stay dead.

PI Philip Marlowe is hired by the beautiful and rich title character to find her former lover. Marlowe quickly learns that the man in question had previously been killed in a hit-and-run. It turns out, however, that his client knew that and had neglected to mention it, also forgetting to mention that she had since seen the supposed corpse walking the streets. From there, events take off in typically convoluted Chandleresque directions, and Marlowe finds himself entangled with the rich and famous, drug dealers, killers from south of the border, and local gangsters, who consider Marlowe persona non grata (Latin, of course, for “guy with shaker cheese.”) By the time he has unraveled the mystery, our hero has been sufficiently beaten, battered and bedded.

As we know, Chandler’s stories succeed because of the prose, the characters and the dialogue, not because of the almost incomprehensible plots. In this area, at least, the imitation is more successful than the original. The pace is perfect, the plot is, as Black writes in one of his better similes, “as tight as Jack Benny’s wallet,” and the solution is logical and smoothly foreshadowed without being predictable.

It may come as a bit of a surprise that this, the most iconic American literary style and its most iconic practitioner, can be so closely emulated by an Irishman. (Although perhaps not: Chandler was quite interested in his Irish roots and, at the time of his death, was reportedly planning a Marlowe novel set in his ancestral homestead of Waterford.) It must have been daunting to try to follow such a monumental literary figure, knowing full well that many of Chandler’s fans were not going to be satisfied no matter what the result, but Banville/Black is up to the challenge, mimicking the master while still maintaining a distinct voice. In a good noir (Latin for “pretentious way of saying ‘dark’”) novel, every sentence tells a story of its own, and Black’s writing succeeds on that level. There is some bit of prose on every page that sparkles, whether describing place (“the city felt like one vast, congested lung,”) people (“Her voice dispelled some of the magic. It was so high-pitched and piercing she could have etched her name on the window with it”) or just a general observation (“Life is far more messy and disconnected than we let ourselves admit. Wanting things to make sense and be nice and orderly, we keep making up plots and forcing them on the way things really are. It’s one of our weaknesses, but we cling to it for dear life, since without it there’d be no life at all, dear or otherwise.”)

A bit of a caution: the story stands on its own, but there are numerous mentions of Chandler’s novels, including some spoilers, so it may be helpful if the reader was familiar with those books, particularly “The Long .” But that’s not absolutely necessary. Black adequately catches the reader up to date to the point where the story’s easy enough to follow. And follow it you should. It’s not Chandler, but it’s about as close as you can get.

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RANDOM RAMBLINGS

“Nuacht as Craobh Dugan”---news from the Dugan Branch Chris Hoke writes: “SEPTEMBER CONCERT: Craobh Dugan is hosting Irish singer/storyteller Helena Byrne in concert at the Kirkland Arts Center on Wed. Sept 21st at 6:30 PM. Helena is an Irish entertainer from Kilkenny/Dublin who is doing a concert tour of New York State. The KAC is a small venue so it will be an intimate show, and it will be very entertaining!! Tickets cost $10 each and will be available beginning on August 3rd from either Chris Hoke or Colleen Martin. Tickets will be available at our events or by mail order. To order your tickets, please call or email Chris at 827-4291/[email protected] or Colleen at 525-6618/[email protected]. Please purchase tickets asap so you do not miss out on this great show!...Performances this month include: Aug 2 - Open Session Nail Creek Pub, 7:30 PM; Aug 4 - Jervis Library in Rome, 7 PM; Aug 5 - Ceili Dance Class, Seton Center, 7 PM; Aug 6 - Cortland Wine and Arts Festival, 2 PM; Aug 12 - Ceili Dance Class, Seton Center, 7 PM; Aug 14 - Little Falls Canal Days @ West Park, 11 AM-1 PM; Aug 16 - Open Session Stockdale’s, 7:30 PM; Aug 19 - Ceili Dance Class, Seton Center, 7 PM; Aug 26 - Ceili Dance Class, Seton Center, 7 PM; Aug 27 - Clinton Arts & Music Fest @ KAC, 1:30 PM; Aug 28 - Our Lady of Lourdes Bazaar, 12 noon.”

Celtic Club Calendar Finally, here’s the Irish Musical and Cultural calendar for August:

Aug 2 Nail Creek Sessions Nail Creek Pub Utica 7:30 PM Free Aug 6 International Celtic Festival Hunter Mountain Hunter, NY 10 AM – 9 PM $16, 12 & under free Aug 6 Forthlin Road The Parting Glass Saratoga Springs 9 PM $5 Aug 7 Syracuse Irish Session J. Ryan’s Pub Syracuse 4-7 PM Free Aug 7 Kevin McKrell The Parting Glass Saratoga Springs 8 PM Free Aug 9 Blarney Rebel Band Summer Concert Series Clinton 7 PM Free Aug 10 Donal O’Shaughnessy Killabrew Saloon New Hartford 7 PM Free Aug 12 Blarney Rebel Band Piggy Pat’s Washington Mills 6-9 PM Free Aug 12 Maura O’Connell & Karan Kasey The Egg Albany 7:30 PM $34 Aug 13 Traditional Irish Session Kitty Hoynes Pub Syracuse 2-5 PM Free Aug 13 Goitse Earlville Opera House Earlville 8 PM $11-$32 Aug 13 CNY Scottish Games and Celtic Long Branch Park Syracuse, NY 9 AM – 8 PM Adults $10, Srs Festival $7, Kids 5-12 $4 Aug 14 Donal O’Shaughnessy Coleman’s Irish Pub Syracuse 4-7 PM Free Aug 15 Dougie MacLean 8th Step at Proctor’s Schenectady 7 PM $28-$45 Aug 16 Traditional Irish Session Stockdale’s Oriskany 7:30 PM Free Aug 19-20 Kevin McKrell Band The Parting Glass Saratoga Springs 8 PM $5 Aug 21 Traditional Irish Session Irish Amer Ass'n Albany 2:30-6 PM Free Aug 21 Syracuse Irish Session J. Ryan’s Pub Syracuse 4-7 PM Free Aug 21 Blarney Rebel Band Coleman’s Irish Pub Syracuse 4-7 PM Free Aug 21 Kevin McKrell The Parting Glass Saratoga Springs 8 PM Free Aug 23 Celtic Thunder Palace Theater Albany 8 PM $49.50-$79.50 Aug 26 Donal O’Shaughnessy Piggy Pat’s Washington Mills 6-9 PM Free Aug 26-27 Forthlin Road The Parting Glass Saratoga Springs 9 PM $5 Aug 27 Traditional Irish Session Kitty Hoynes Pub Syracuse 2-5 PM Free Aug 28 Flyin’ Column Coleman’s Irish Pub Syracuse 4-7 PM Free Aug 31 Koehler and Kelly Shepard Park Lake George 7 PM Free

If you have anything you want to share with us, feel free to send it to us ([email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]), and we’ll be happy to include it. As always, blah, blah, blah. It always makes sense to call ahead to confirm some of these further-out trips.

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