MOHAWK VALLEY IRISH CULTURAL

Volume 13, Issue 11 EVENTS NEWSLETTER Nov 2016

Enter the Haggis Comes Back Home

November 5th is no doubt going to be a long day for Toronto Celtic Rockers Enter the Haggis. Beginning at 10 AM at the F.X. Matt Brewery’s 1888 Tavern, they’ll be hosting a listening party for their latest release, “Broken Arms,” and then at 7 PM they’ll be giving a concert in MVCC’s Schafer Theater.

Since 1995, Enter the Haggis has led the charge among Celtic Folk Rock bands, with their most recent album debuting at No. 9 on the U.S. national Billboard Heatseekers charts. And while their ambitious touring schedule has earned them fans around the globe, they seem to have a special affinity for the folks in this area. Their first trip here was in April 2005 to perform at Utica’s legendary club, the Devereux, and they’ve returned at least once a year ever since then. Besides their several appearances as headliners at the Great American Irish Festival and playing at every “festival eve” Saranac Thursday since 2009, they have also included Utica as one of only two cities to hold listening parties for their last two CD releases (the other being a small Irish town called Boston).

The band’s new album, “Broken Arms” is their third EP (fourth if you include the one the released as Jubilee Riots) to go along with their eight studio, five live and one compilation CDs (and if that wasn’t enough, guitarist/vocalist Trevor Lewington just released a new solo album, “Lion of Grace,” while House of Hamill -- the duo made up of bandmate Brian Buchanan and his fiancée, Burning Bridget Cleary’s Rose Baldino -- has just released an album called “Wide Awake”). While the listening party was originally offered as a reward for pledges in a crowd-funding campaign for the new CD, it is now open to the general public. Says Brian “If you don’t have a ticket and you’d still like to come, tickets are $45 (which includes a copy of the new album) and there’ll be a limited number available at the door until the room is too full to squeeze anyone else in.” The party is open to all ages.

The concert at MVCC (1101 Sherman Drive in Utica; Shafer Theater is in the Information Technology Building), is part of MVCC’s Cultural Series. The show begins at 7 PM, and will feature songs from the new CD as well as many of the old songs that have made Haggisheads of us all. Tickets for the show are $20 for the general public, $15 for MVCC employees, and free for MVCC students. Tickets can be purchased over the phone and in person at the MVCC Box Office, Information Technology Building 106, from 10 AM to 2 PM Monday-Friday, in person at the Utica Campus Bookstores, or online at any time at www.mvcc.edu/tickets.

Hothouse Flowers Founder Liam O’Maonlai To Perform in Kingston

Irish singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Liam O’Maonlai will be making a rare visit to the Arts Center of Kingston on November 4th. Best known as the founder and charismatic frontman for the eclectic Irish rock group, Hothouse Flowers, he has earned his place as one of the most beloved and respected music carriers in Ireland. This show, presented by Irish Cultural Center Hudson Valley, begins at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $30, and are available on-line. The Arts Society is located at 97 Broadway in Kingston, NY.

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Anything But Bland - the next installment of MVICE’s Notable Irish Women series by Sue Romero

On an August morning in 1910 what sounded more like a large-scale catfight than an engine, revved in Randallstown, Co. Antrim in Northern Ireland. Lilian Bland gave it a little more gas and Mayfly moved forward, faster and little faster, until it lifted itself off the grassy track and rose up into the air. Giving it a few more tries that day, she grinned from ear to ear. She had done it. She would always know she was the first woman in Ireland to fly an airplane and the first woman in the world to design and build one.

Lilian was never one to hesitate when she got an idea to do something. By the time she was 32, the year she flew, she had already traveled throughout Europe, been a sports photographer and journalist, a proficient hunter and crackshot, and horse trainer and rider. Daring and unconventional as she could be for a woman at the turn of the 20th century, she walked about in breeches, smoked cigarettes, rode astride (not sidesaddle) and practiced Ju- Jitsu.

And when her uncle sent her a postcard picturing Louis Blériot’s aeroplane that had crossed the English Channel in July 1909, she looked up at the seagulls she was photographing in Scotland that day and decided what her next project would be.

When she returned to Ireland in early 1910, she started building a kite-like model biplane out of bamboo, spruce, fabric, and wire. She steamed the wood to curve its 6-foot wingspan like the seagull wings she had observed. It flew beautifully.

Next she built her design into a glider large enough to hold herself as pilot and added a set of bicycle handlebars to steer it. This wafted into to the air as well, but she needed to know if it could hold the weight of an engine, so she enlisted the help of four burly constables and a gardener named Joe Blain.

With all the guys hanging on to the outside of the plane, she took off, and the whole shebang lifted into the air for a few seconds, until the constables got spooked and let go. Only Joe stuck around for the rest of the ride, but it was enough to convince Lilian that adding the engine would work.

So she sent to England for a gas engine and a propeller. When she heard her order was delayed, she went to the factory in Manchester herself and brought it back by boat and train even though the gas tank was still not finished. No worries. When she got home she just cobbled one together from a whiskey bottle and her deaf aunt’s ear trumpet. This girl was just unstoppable.

After waiting for the windy rainy weather to clear and puzzling through several mechanical difficulties for weeks, finally the day arrived when she could test her creation with a real flight. The Mayfly (named after the doubters around her said it “may fly or may not”) would have its moment of glory.

With the engine situated behind her, Lilian settled into the pilot’s seat and called out to her helpful friend Joe Blain to give the propeller a spin. The engine kicked in with a roar and she was off the ground for at least a quarter mile and 30 feet high.

“I could hardly believe it. After each flight, I ran back to see where the wheel tracks left the grass to convince myself that I really had been airborne,” she said.

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It was a glorious day, but it was the last one in Lilian’s flying career. Her father’s nerves had had all they could take, and he offered to buy her a Ford Model T if only she would give up flying airplanes. As a woman of many interests and aware of the huge expense required to take her Mayfly to the next level, she accepted pretty willingly.

Cars would be her next adventure. She taught herself to drive and started a Ford dealership in Belfast, which she managed successfully for a couple of years.

In 1912 she married her cousin Charles Bland and emigrated to Western Canada where together they built a farm in a remote area with a view of a quiet sound. Of course she took her camera with her and made more than 400 photos while she lived there, recording their rustic pioneer life on the Canadian frontier.

One picture shows her true to form in overalls with an early motorized farm tractor that looks similar to a push lawnmower. The caption says it had several different attachments that could accomplish various farm tasks. She was also known for her expertise in repairing boat motors.

In 1913 their daughter Patricia was born and in 1922 their son Jackie. Lilian captured many adorable photos of them as children playing on their farm with lots of dogs, cats, cows and horses. Patsy, as they called her, took after her adventurous mom wearing pants and working and playing hard in the wilderness. The photos in a gallery here are full of fun and smiles.

Then in September 1929 tragedy struck. Patricia, Lilian’s dear daughter, best friend and constant companion, died of a tetanus infection at the age of sixteen. The disease leads to a terribly painful end and they were not able to provide her with medical help in their remote location.

Lilian was devastated.

“A child of the woods, a born naturalist and artist, she was yet my right hand in all practical work, with the skill and energy of an old-timer, utterly unselfish, calm and brave in the face of danger. She died as bravely as she had lived, without the help that science and civilization might have given to dull the agony. Death in connection with one so full of life seemed impossible – unreal,” Lilian wrote in a letter some months later.

Even before Patricia’s death, money had become scarce for the family, and life for Lilian seemed nothing but day after day of grinding work. Finally, in 1935 with her marriage failing, Lilian decided to move to Kent, England, where she was born. She lived with her brother there until the 1950s when she retired to a cottage in Cornwall. She spent her days gardening until she died in 1971 at the age of 92.

In 1964 she received a letter from a firm in Dublin which must have done some research into the history of aviation in Ireland. It said, “I can at last send you photocopies of the local paper dealing with Harry Ferguson’s first flight and then yours. You will see that you were the first biplane, but he was the first aeroplane proper. At any rate you must have been the first woman in the world to build and fly an aeroplane, which isn’t so bad.”

Stockdale’s Welcomes Springhouse

Stockdale’s Bar and Grill (103 River St in Oriskany) is happy to welcome local artists, Springhouse, for an entertaining evening of traditional American and Celtic music, on Saturday, November 5th. Springhouse brings together diverse styles, tastes and performers -- Mike Carroll (flute, whistle, bones and vocals), Tavia Pellani (fiddle and harp) and Bill Fahy (mandolin, banjo, guitar and vocals) -- to create a repertoire that Carroll describes as “…old songs stitched together with Irish, Scottish and American fiddle tunes, peppered with weird takes on more contemporary music.” The show runs from 8-10 PM, and is free to the public.

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Celtic Sister Duo to Perform at Six On the Square

On November 19th, 6 On the Square welcomes sisters Cassie and Maggie MacDonald for a special 7:30 PM show. Born in Halifax, with strong roots in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Cassie and Maggie have been wowing audiences across Canada with their unique blend of original and traditional Celtic music. Cassie’s fiddle playing has been described as “sweet and elegant with just the right amount of raw power,” while Maggie’s piano playing has an “irresistible drive that will leave your foot incapable of staying still” and complements Cassie’s playing perfectly. Cassie is an award-winning highland and step dancer and also sings harmony for Maggie. In addition to her piano playing, Maggie sings lead, plays guitar, banjo, accordion and is also an accomplished step dancer. Their vocal harmonies are sweet yet powerful and their step dancing exact and exciting, showing off their youthful charm and energy. (I caught them this year in Dublin, Ohio, and I can attest to the buzz: “Cassie and Maggie MacDonald have emerged onto the music scene as the ones to watch.”) Tickets for the show are $18 in advance or $20 at the door. 6 On the Square is located at 6 Lafayette Park in Oxford, New York.

From the Irish Kitchen (recipes suitable for clipping)

This month’s recipe – “Irish Blackberry Jam and Custard Donuts” - by Donal Skehan. “Who needs Dunkin’s when you can make your very own Irish inspired blackberry jam and custard donuts!”

INGREDIENTS:

For the Doughnuts: For the filling: ¼ lb plain flour, plus extra for dusting 4/5 cup milk (must be a metric thing) 4/5 oz caster sugar (really Donal? “4/5”?) 4/5 oz caster sugar 2 1/5 oz sachets of easy blend dried yeast 3 large egg yolks 1/2 cup milk 1 tbsp cornflour 2 large eggs 1 tbsp butter 4/5 oz butter, melted (again with the “4/5”?) 1 tsp of vanilla extract Sunflower oil, for frying Blackberry jam, strained through a sieve

METHOD

To make the doughnuts, place the flour, caster sugar and yeast in a large mixing bowl and make a well in the center. Add the milk, eggs and butter to the bowl together with 1/2 cup of water and, using your hands or a wooden spoon, combine the ingredients until you have a dough. It is a little sticky to work with, but resist adding too much extra flour. Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and knead for 8–10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. Form the dough into a smooth ball and place it back in the bowl. Cover with cling film and leave in a warm, dark place to rise for about 50 minutes until the dough has doubled in size. When the dough has risen, punch it down and divide into 12 equal pieces and shape into balls. Transfer them to a baking tray dusted with a little flour, cover with a damp cloth and leave to rise again for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the custard filling. Place the milk in a saucepan and gently heat until just boiling, then remove from the heat. Whisk the caster sugar and egg yolks in a bowl until they are pale and then mix through the cornflour. Slowly pour the hot milk into the egg mixture, whisking until it is all incorporated. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and simmer over a low heat, whisking until thickened. Remove from the heat and rub the top with a little butter to prevent a skin forming, allow to cool and cover with cling film. Firm up in the fridge. Cook the doughnuts in batches in a deep-fat fryer or a large saucepan filled with sunflower oil at 350°F for 2–3 minutes on either side or until golden brown. Drain on a plate lined with kitchen paper and allow to cool. Transfer the custard to a piping bag fitted with a plain 5mm nozzle and inject it into the side of each doughnut. Repeat this process with the blackberry jam. The doughnuts are best eaten straight away! Makes 12 doughnuts.

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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Craobh Dugan Annual Report

In addition to her monthly report on the activities of the Craobh Dugan chapter of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Craobh Dugan’s Chris Hoke also submitted this summary report of the chapter’s accomplishments for the year. She sounds proud… and she should. “As usual, Craobh Dugan had a great year, with sessions, performances, ceili dance classes and Irish Language lessons. We continue to make our mark in the Mohawk Valley--and beyond. While our Acacia Village performance was great and uplifting, we also had the chance to open for Eileen Ivers when she played in Cortland in December. Eileen complimented us as we were playing via a message from her manager, from the stage during her show and when we met her after the concert. It was great to get accolades from someone so famous and well-travelled.

Altogether this year, we put on 29 performances and hosted 28 sessions. The dancers continue to meet on a fairly regular basis, but they really could use more feet and hands! Tom Malley has taught Irish language at MVCC and HCCC, and he is currently teaching this semester.

One of the highlights of the year was the 1916 Irish Uprising Commemoration Events. This was unique as 5 local Irish clubs joined forces to host two events….a screening of the Notre Dame University produced documentary “1916 The Irish Rebellion” and a Commemoration Dinner on April 30th. Both events were well attended and received. When we showed the documentary, it was the first showing in the US, other than when it premiered at Notre Dame University! At the dinner, 7 local people were honored for their contributions to Irish culture and the preservation of it here in the US. Several honorees are from Craobh Dugan including Pat Dugan, Jim and Diana O’Looney, Kevin Kearney and Mark Sisti. I believe the Utica NY area Irish Coalition did a great job of commemorating the events of 1916.” Congratulations on another stellar year of support and promotion of the culture.

Construction Resumes at Utica’s Irish Cultural Center Site

The long-awaited construction of the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley has resumed. The center – a joint vision of the John C. Devereux Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Great American Irish Festival – has seen good progress since construction stepped up in late September. Of necessity, the original foundation that had sat in place for years was removed, partly to address structural concerns, but primarily to serve as a proper footprint for accommodating updated designs for the building.

Situated directly at the “five points” on the site of the original St. Patrick’s Church -- the first Irish parish in the area, having been established and built in the mid-1850s by a burgeoning population of expatriate Irishmen – it is considered “sacred ground” by many in the local Irish community. Vaughn Lang, a Syracuse-area based attorney and developer who joined the project last year in an effort to help move it forward, said walls are going up and the foundation is being worked on. The project, which is estimated to cost about $2.5 million, is expected to include a new 21,211-square-foot building, an Irish heritage museum, an event center that would seat about 250 to 300 people and an 1800s-style Irish pub that is being constructed and shipped from Ireland. Lang said they hoped to work through winter on the project, and on-line posts have suggested a completion date sometime during the Summer of 2017. Encouraged at the spate of activity, a once-skeptical Utica Mayor Rob Palmieri offered this more upbeat prediction: “I think the Irish culture center, if the theme is what they say it’s going to be, it’s definitely a tourist attraction for the city and a great part of Varick Street.”

For more information and updates, follow the progress at their website.

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“The Emerald Lie” - Book Review by Mark Sisti

OK, this is kind of a weird one. Not surprising, considering it’s a review of the latest Jack Taylor novel by Ken Bruen, “The Emerald Lie.” As previously mentioned, Taylor is one of the most distinctive and original characters in all of detective fiction, and Bruen’s style is among the most idiosyncratic. So I guess it’s not all that unusual that a review of this book would not be a standard “recommend/don’t recommend.” On the one hand, no aficionado of this genre – or, for that matter, of good writing – can fail to appreciate the brilliance of Bruen’s prose. You can’t discuss this series without discussing Bruen’s writing style. The language is sharp, coarse and sarcastic, and peppered with cultural references from TV, music, books and movies. The combination of black humor and horror in the prose is seamless simply because, to Taylor, they are two sides of the same coin. On the other hand, this is, in many ways, a story without a story. Almost all of the Taylor novels are more along the lines of a character study than a plot-driven tale, but “The Emerald Lie” carries that to extremes. The story is a mystery in name only, since the facts are given to us from the start with nothing hidden (perhaps; you’re never sure with Bruen. I have my suspicions about a few elements that appear to be wrapped up.) But the crimes are dealt with almost in passing, and are used more for character development than to move the plot along. The crux of the tale here is not the murders themselves but rather the people involved in the murders. To begin with we are given a man who perpetrates brutal acts of violence against people who commit the unforgivable sin of misusing the English language. (My personal suspicion is that this plot line was brought about as an act of authorial revenge against book reviewers who pedantically take Bruen to task for his unique manipulation of the language.) Once this killer, named “The Grammarian,” is caught, Taylor is hired by the suspect’s aunt to prove him innocent. At the same time, a grieving father asks Jack to avenge the torture and murder of his daughter. He doesn’t hire Jack to find out who did it: he has heard of Jack’s reputation and makes no secret of the fact that he wants Taylor to kill the man he holds responsible. As if all of this isn’t enough, the mercurial – ok, the psychotic – Emily (or Emerald, depending on her ever-changing mood) comes back into Jack’s life. Em, who we met in “Green Hell” – and who we immediately decided to avoid in any dark alley – is a younger, female kindred soul of Jack’s but with even less self-restraint, if such a thing seems possible. There are dangerous psychos in all of the Taylor books, but none quite as scary – or enticing – as Em. She will calmly tell Taylor of some insane thing she’s just done and, because she’s full-tilt bozo, Taylor (and the reader) is never sure whether these events happened or if they are products of her hyperactive imagination. Despite (or because of) his knowledge of her craziness, and despite his best attempts to deny it, Jack is attracted to her, and believes she feels the same way toward him. Eventually, it finally all gets to Taylor. His physical problems – he has two fingers he can’t use, he walks with a limp and he has a hearing aid, in addition to other, more serious health issues – are matched by his mental and moral ailments. The state of the world, the state of Ireland and his mental state combine to do what none of the villains have been able to do – Jack is finally ready to give up. He disappears to London and falls heavily off the wagon, a journey of debauchery even by his own impressive standards. By the time he’s finished, he may be – well, finished. Bruen writes, “I looked back and he was gone. I thought, not for the first time, that he was mostly fiction, a rumor pretending to be relevant;” it doesn’t take a great detective to figure out who he is really referring to. Sounds like both Taylor and Bruen may have come to a fork in the road. I started off this review by pointing out that it wasn’t going to be a standard “I recommend this” or “I don’t recommend this.” That’s because, in the case of the Jack Taylor series, such recommendations are completely irrelevant. If you’ve read the other 11 books in the series, there is no way you would refrain from reading this one. Or for that matter, the next one, if there is one. However, if you haven’t read any of the previous Taylor books, this is not the one to start with. The distinctive elements of Bruen’s writing style that some readers find annoying – a surreal sense of controlled chaos – are even more prevalent here than usual.

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Craobh Dugan “Tune of the Month” – Crabs In The Skillet by Skip Mansur

Sunset, October 31 to sunset, November 1, it is once again Samhain (SAH-win) , marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the darker half of the year. The Samhain sunrise on this day will mark the alignment of the The Mound of the Hostages, a Neolithic passage tomb at the Hill of Tara, located in the Tara-Skryne Valley in County Meath, Leinster, Ireland. It is on the order of 5000 years old. This day is one of two hinges during the year, celebrated since ancient times in Celtic tradition. It is a hinge in the sense of being an in-between time, at the junction of harvest end and winter beginning, twilight and dawn marking the transition between night and day, midway between the equinoxes. Many of the ancient celebrations were also centered around such boundaries, between land and sea, lake shores, crossroads and the like. Some also believed it was a hinge in time, between the past, present and future, when the boundaires between the living and the passed on were also blurred. Holy times were also border times such as these, including the Catholic All Saints Day.

One Irish and Scottish tradition was a Dumb Supper on Samhain Eve. As explained in Deeper Into Samhain, “supper was served in absolute silence, and one place was set at the head of the table ‘for the ancestors.’ This place was served food and drink without looking directly at the seat, for to see the dead would bring misfortune. Afterwards, the untouched plate and cup were taken outside ‘for the pookas (faeries),’ and left in the woods. In other traditions, this is the night to remember, honor, and toast our beloved departed, for the veil between the living and the dead is thin…” Samhain fires are often lit, to provide light and warmth in the coming winter, and security from the many creatures that may be wandering about. Special bonfires were deemed to have protective and cleansing powers.

Unsettling creatures like spiders and crabs..? Even better, how about Spider Crabs..?? November is the hinge time, when crabs descend from the shallower warmer waters into the deeper ocean for the winter. Quite a fitting monstrous creature to be wandering about on All Hallows Eve. They do happen to be the largest crabs found in Irish/Scottish North Atlantic waters. While the Irish Brown Crab is a tad smaller treat and the most commercially valuable pot-caught species in Ireland, the spider crab is also considered a delicacy: “In Spain, for instance, centolla, as the spider crab is called there, is valued as highly as lobster. Spider crab baked in its shell in the oven is one of the Basque country’s most highly prized dishes.” However, as the Independent also states, “It's not often that the dinner on your plate looks like something out of War of the Worlds. With their striking orange armoured bodies, complete with menacing studs, and long Meccano legs, spider crabs are undeniably alien.” Spider crabs are thought to live as long as 100 years and are known to congregate in large numbers and form ‘mounds.’ Now that that is a pleasant image…

In honor of the unsettled humours and creatures surrounding Samhain, we present a creepy, rather catchy little double jig: grab yourself a few (smaller) spider crabs, light a Samhain bonfire, and throw a few Crabs in the Skillet. This tune is fittingly believed to hail from the Irish west coast of Clare and Limerick. It is set in the unsettling key of G minor featuring two flats for your playing pleasure; it can be played as a jig, or more slowly as an air.

Here are two different settings: the first is by Horselips at a bit more frenetic pace, Crabs-1; and the second, a tasty, slowly sauteed skillet version by Liz Carroll (starts at 1:45), Crabs-2. (However, I must protest at the major chord ending!)

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RANDOM RAMBLINGS

“Nuacht as Craobh Dugan”---news from the Dugan Branch Chris Hoke writes: “Performances this month include: Nov 1 - Open Session, Nail Creek Pub, 7:30 PM; Nov 4 - Ceili Dance Class, Seton Center, 7 PM; Nov 11 - Ceili Dance Class, Seton Center, 7 PM; Nov 15 - Open Session, Stockdale’s Pub, 7:30 PM; Nov 18 - Ceili Dance Class, Seton Center, 7 PM.”

St. Andrew’s Day Party You’ll see in the calendar that follows an entry for “St. Andrew’s Day Party” this month at the Brae Loch Inn. In case you don’t know who St. Andrew was (I didn’t), he is the patron saint of Scotland, Greece, Romania, Russia, Poland, Ukraine, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and Saint Andrew, Barbados. His “feast day” occurs in November, and as such, on November 19th, the Brae Loch will offer Scotch tasting and Scottish finger foods, with entertainment from Kitchen Party. The Brae Loch Inn is located at 5 Albany Street in Cazenovia, New York.

AOH and LAOH Memorial Mass The annual AOH and Ladies AOH Memorial Mass is planned for Sunday, Nov. 13th at 11:15 AM at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Genesee St. in South Utica. A memorial service will be held after the mass at the An Gorta Mor memorial just to the north of the Church.

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

Nov 1 Nail Creek Sessions Nail Creek Pub Utica 7:30 PM Free Nov 4 Liam Ó Maonlaí Arts Society of Kingston Kingston, NY 7:30 PM $30 Nov 5 Enter the Haggis Listening Party F.X. Matt 1888 Tavern Utica 10 AM $45 Nov 5 Enter the Haggis Shafer Theater, MVCC Utica 7 PM $20 Nov 5 Pat Kane Kitty Hoynes Pub Syracuse 8:30 PM Free Nov 5 Springhouse Stockdale’s Oriskany 8-10 PM Free Nov 5 Kevin McKrell The Parting Glass Saratoga Springs 8 PM $8 Nov 6 Syracuse Irish Session J. Ryan’s Pub Syracuse 4-7 PM Free Nov 6 Kilgore McTrouts Coleman’s Irish Pub Syracuse 4-7 PM Free Nov 12 Traditional Irish Session Kitty Hoynes Pub Syracuse 2-5 PM Free Nov 13 Donal O’Shaughnessey Coleman’s Irish Pub Syracuse 4-7 PM Free Nov 15 Traditional Irish Session Stockdale’s Oriskany 7:30 PM Free Nov 18 Donal O’Shaughnessey Piggy Pat’s Washington Mills 6-9 PM Free Nov 19 Hair of the Dog The Parting Glass Saratoga Springs 8 PM $13 Nov 19 St. Andrew’s Day w/Kitchen Party Brae Loch Inn Cazenovia 7-11:30 PM Free Nov 19 Cassie and Maggie MacDonald 6 On The Square Oxford, NY 7:30 PM $18; $20 at door Nov 20 Blarney Rebel Band Coleman’s Irish Pub Syracuse 4-7 PM Free Nov 20 Traditional Irish Session Irish Amer Ass'n Albany 2:30-6 PM Free Nov 20 Syracuse Irish Session J. Ryan’s Pub Syracuse 4-7 PM Free Nov 25 Blarney Rebel Band Piggy Pat’s Washington Mills 6-9 PM Free Nov 26 Get Up Jack The Parting Glass Saratoga Springs 8 PM $12 Nov 26 Traditional Irish Session Kitty Hoynes Pub Syracuse 2-5 PM Free Nov 27 Flyin’ Column Coleman’s Irish Pub Syracuse 4-7 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, we strive to not make mistakes, but we’re fairly deluded. It always makes sense to call ahead for some of these further-out events. And remember, on Nov. 11th – Veteran’s Day – be sure to pay tribute to the brave men and women who fought, and in many cases died, to preserve, defend and advance the rights that America’s founders imagined for all of us.

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