MOHAWK VALLEY IRISH CULTURAL

Volume 14, Issue 3 EVENTS NEWSLETTER Mar 2017

Utica St. Patrick’s Day Parade - Irish Pride, Family Fun

On Saturday, March 11th, downtown Utica will once again be the site of one of the Mohawk Valley’s most fun-filled family traditions: the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Presented by the Great American Irish Festival, the parade starts at 10 AM at Oneida Square and continues until reaching Columbia Street. Many spectators find the reviewing stand area in front of the Stanley Theatre a prime location to enjoy the parade, but the fact is there is not a bad viewing spot along the route. The parade -- the culmination of a full week of Irish-centered activities in honor of National Irish Month -- will be proudly led by this year’s Grand Marshal, Vaughn Lang.

The St. Patrick’s Day parade is one of Utica’s oldest and grandest celebrations, originated in 1836 by Utica’s first mayor and pre-eminent Irishman, John C. Devereux. After a few years of inactivity, the parade was revived in 1978 as a short parade down Varick St. It was moved to Genesee St. shortly after the “Cable Cares Club” began hosting the parade. In 2007 the Great American Irish Festival took over the reins and it now holds the distinction of being one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in New York State.

Parade Committee Chairman Frank Redmond is pleased with the progress being made thus far, but still is looking for volunteers. If you’re interested, contact him at [email protected].

Construction in Full Swing at Utica’s Irish Cultural Center Site

The long-awaited construction of the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley is in full swing, with stalwart workers braving the elements of a Central New York winter.

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. After literally starting from the bottom and working up, workers have now finished pouring concrete for the first floor.

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 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 . 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. For more information and updates, follow the progress on Instagram and on Facebook.

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Grand Marshal’s Reception to be held at The Stanley Theater

Marking the ceremonial “passing of the Shillelagh” from the previous parade Grand Marshal to this year’s, the Grand Marshal’s Reception will be held on March 6th, 2017, in the lobby of the beautiful Stanley Theater. Last year’s Grand Marshal, Christopher McGrath, will be on hand to do the honors, when – flanked by an assemblage of past Grand Marshals – he hands off the shillelagh to this year’s honoree, Vaughn Lang. The reception, which runs from 5-8 PM, costs $10, which goes to defray the costs of the parade. Food and refreshments are included, and providing entertainment throughout the evening will be Craobh Dugan, Utica’s chapter of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.

Utica’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade Conducts Food Drive

“There is a story about a man who left this earth and was taken on a tour of the inner realms. He was shown a room where he saw a large group of hungry people trying to eat dinner, but because the spoons they were trying to eat with were longer than their arms, they remained frustrated. “This,” his guide told him, “is Hell.” “That’s terrible!” exclaimed the man; “Please show me Heaven!” “Very well,” agreed the guide, and on they went. When they opened Heaven’s door, the man was perplexed to see what looked very much like the same scene: there was a group of people with spoons longer than their arms. As he looked more closely, however, he saw happy faces and full tummies, for there was one important difference: the people in Heaven had learned to feed each other.” — Alan Cohen, “The Dragon Doesn’t Live Here Anymore”

For the 9th consecutive year, the Utica St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee is conducting a food drive, appropriately called “Remembering the Irish Hunger,” as a way of giving back to the community, and in remembrance of one of the most horrific and defining periods in Irish history.

On March 11th, St. Patrick’s Day Parade attendees and marchers are asked to bring non-perishable food items to the parade, which will be collected and turned over to Mother Marianne’s West Side Kitchen at the St. Joseph- St. Patrick Parish Center. Named for Blessed Mother Marianne Cope, who grew up in West Utica and went on to devote the last 30 years of her life to the lepers of Hawaii’s Molokai, this program also claims a unique tie to the local Irish community: It is located across the street from the future Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley; the site of the original St. Patrick’s Church, which was built by a burgeoning Irish population who had come to America to escape the Great Hunger in the 1850s.

Chairing this cause, as she has every year since its inception in 2009, is Chris Hoke, who took the germ of an idea from then Parade Director Kevin Dowling and turned it into the extremely successful event it is today. To date, Chris and her stalwart team of volunteers — her friends and family, GAIF volunteers, family and employees of Adorino Construction, and members of the Holland Patent HS National Honor Society — have collected and donated over 9000 food items and more than $9300 to the West Side Kitchen.

This year Chris wants to make the drive the most successful yet, so start collecting up your non-perishable food items and on Parade day, fill up the familiar wheelbarrows and green money boxes, before or during the parade.

Many thanks go to Chris for heading up this annual drive, to Adorino Construction for their continued support, to Carol Moseman and her charges from the Holland Patent Honor Society, and to the many parade attendees and participants who have so selflessly “learned to feed each other” year after year.

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Music of the Season There is so much going on this month, in order to keep the newsletter to a manageable heft, we’re going to bulletize some of the many events going on in the general area.

Glengarry Bhoys – Mar 4, Johnston’s Ballybay Pub, 7 PM. Kick off St Patrick’s Day week in the ‘Cuse with the one and only Glengarry Bhoys! They’re back at the Ballybay, where they first played in this area, for a memorial gig for Gus Johnston, owner. Tickets are $12, or $10 for 5 or more.

Scythian - Mar 4, Homer Center for the Arts, 8 PM. Named after Ukrainian nomads, Scythian (sith-ee-yin) plays immigrant rock with thunderous energy, technical prowess, and storytelling songwriting, beckoning crowds into a barn-dance rock concert experience. $23-$28.

Enter the Haggis - Mar 4, Kallet Theater, 7 PM. Everyone’s favorite roots rockers Enter the Haggis travels to Pulaski for a special 7 PM show. Tickets are $15.

Teada - Mar 7, Kitty Hoynes Pub, 7 PM and Mar 9, Old Songs series, 7:30 PM. A traditional band with a truly worldwide reach, Téada recently received a Yeats 2015 WDC Funding Award for a show production celebrating the Sligo-inspired poetry of W.B. Yeats. You can catch them twice this month, first at a dinner concert at Kitty Hoynes (tickets are $17 + dinner cost) and two days later at Voorheesville’s Old Songs; tickets for that show are $25.

Irish Comedy Tour - Mar 10, Proctor’s Theater, 7:30 PM. The party atmosphere of a Dublin pub combines with a boisterous, belly-laugh-inducing trio for The Irish Comedy Tour, featuring irreverent comedians Mike McCarthy, Derek Richards, Damon Leibert and Derrick Keane. $30.

Causeway Giants & Gerry Dixon - Mar 11, Kitty Hoynes Pub, Starts at noon. With his performing skills and engaging personality, Gerry will take you on a memorable trip to the Emerald Isle; Syracuse’s Causeway Giants wrap up the day with their unique high-energy show. There is no admission.

Girsa - Mar 11, Walton Theatre, 7:30 PM. GIRSA (Gaelic for “young girls”) is a traditional Irish music band made up of eight women with a passion for their music and incredible skills across the board. You can catch them – and you should -- at the Walton Theater. Tickets are $15.

Pat Kane and West O’Clare, Mar 11, Cummings Theater, 8 PM. Pat Kane is a seasoned showman, having performed as a singer, dancer, actor and instrumentalist since childhood. Performing as a soloist or with his band, West O’Clare, Pat is sure to keep you entertained. Tickets are $10.

Rattlin’ Bog - Mar 15, Twin Ponds, 1:15 PM and Mar 18, Park Coffeehouse, 7:30 PM. Long-time veterans of the local Irish Music scene, Rattlin’ Bog promises a smorgasbord of musical styles from a cappella sea shanties to traditional and popular tunes of Celtic origin. The event at Twin Ponds is a dinner show (tickets are $39 w/meal, email for reservations); tickets for the Coffeehouse performance are $10.

“Rhythm in the Night” - Mar 15, Clemens Center, 7:30 PM. Experience the new Irish dance phenomenon that is sweeping the country. Led by former Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance lead dancer, Justin Boros, the accomplished cast -- featuring 20 of the world’s most skilled Irish dancers and musicians -- brings the inspiring story of love and salvation to life against a backdrop of ancient ruins that transports the audience to another time and place where the imagination unfolds. Tickets range from $20-$50.

North Country Goes Green - Mar 17-19, State Office Building. Back for its 32nd year, NCGG brings in The Willoughby Brothers, Searson, 1916 and many other acts over three big days! Tickets are still only $6.

Lunasa - Mar 18, Troy Music Hall, 8 PM. The band is internationally acknowledged as being the finest traditional Irish instrumental outfit of recent times. They are renowned for their stunning shows honed by superb musicianship and a constant touring cycle. Don’t miss this rare local opportunity! Tickets are $34.

The TownPants - Mar 18, Smith Opera House, 8 PM. With decades worth of headlining Roots and Celtic festivals, The TownPants’ own brand of Celtic roots rock spans five albums so far, backed up with a legendary live show that’s garnered them fans internationally from New York to Norway. General Admission tickets are $20 on the day of the show.

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“An Irish Night at The Stanley”

The Stanley Theatre stage will showcase three Celtic bands when ‘An Irish Night at The Stanley’ returns to Utica on Friday, March 31st at 7:30 PM. Three groups will perform, including the very popular band The Elders, from Kansas City. They are no strangers to the Central New York area, having performed at The Stanley, The Great American Irish Festival and other local venues. Returning to the Stanley stage that night will be local Irish music favorites The Blarney Rebel Band, along with an all-new band to our Irish Night, Barleyjuice. The bands will have back up provided by two local Irish Step dancing companies, The Johnston School of Irish Dance and The Butler-Sheehan Academy of Traditional Irish Dance!

Since forming in 1998, The Elders have set the music scene on its ear, thanks to a skillful blend of American roots rock and amped-up Celtic folk; a cross-pollination of elements that is high-octane and progressive, yet rooted in tradition. It didn’t take long to establish themselves as one of the top American Celtic-rock bands, headlining the biggest Celtic festivals in & . Employing a variety of instruments including guitars, drums, , accordion, mandolin, piano & , the band creates music that transcends the stereotypical notion of Celtic music, with powerful four-part harmonies, blazing instrumentals and song writing that is unaffected by fads, trends and the giant maw of mind-numbing commercialism. To date, The Elders have produced 6 full-length studio CDs and 3 live CD/DVDs. Their album, “Gael Day,” released in 2009, garnered significant radio play and their 2011 release, “Wandering Life & Times,” resulted in top 25 positions on the national Americana Radio chart, while their latest CD, “Story Road,” has been getting universal rave reviews. The band is also familiar to many television viewers, thanks to the more than 130 PBS stations across the nation that aired their “Live at the Gem Theater” concert special.

With six studio albums and a double CD collection in their sporrans to date, the five spirited yanks of Barleyjuice are currently one of the most beloved Celtic rock bands in the USA. Frontmen Kyf Brewer and Keith “Swanny” Swanson lithely cover lead vocals, guitars, accordion, harmonica, mandolin, bouzouki and bagpipes. Both originally piped in the Loch Rannoch Pipe Band, and performed in Edinburgh’s Millennium March for Prince Charles. While Swanson was once a member of New York’s legendary Flailin’ Shilaleghs, Kyf’s been a pro performer since his first band, The Ravyns, produced the hit “Raised on the Radio” for the 1982 film Fast Times At Ridgemont High. Backing Brewer and Swanson are a mad trio of characters: captivating fiddler Alice O’Quirke, whose classical roots stray to Irish and bluegrass in the middle of the most authentic jigs and hornpipes; drummer John Tracey, a powerhouse of driving decadence; and hopping bassist Eric Worthington, musical snake- charmer of the deep and dulcet. The ayes have it – Barley Juice is a grand group of talented tunesmiths and prodigious performers, and the absolute best time you can have at a concert without removing your kilt.

The Blarney Rebel Band is group of musicians from the Celtic hotbed of Central New York performing all types of traditional Irish music, from rollicking pub songs to traditional folk fare, from rousing sea songs to moving ballads, from stirring rebel songs to hand-clapping jigs and reels. It’s all on display by a group of talented musicians boasting virtuoso musicianship and perfectly blended harmonies. Their debut studio CD, “Buy My Soul,” has sold all over the world and throughout the United States and Canada. A cut from that CD, “Stand With Me Boys,” placed No. 1 in the Irish and Celtic Music Podcast Best of 2009 Listener’s Poll. Their 4th CD, “Pile High the Pennywall,” is an ambitious collection of original material penned by all five band members. They were recently named by the worldwide Irish and Celtic Music Podcast as one of 2015’s Top 20 Celtic bands. The Blarney Rebel Band consists of Mark Sisti – banjo, bouzouki, mandolin, pennywhistle, concertina, accordion, flute, vocals; Al Sisti – bass guitar, vocals; Dan Sisti – guitar, vocals; Shawn Hawley – fiddle; Gene Voce – bodhran, tambourine, percussion.

“Our area loves all things Irish and we’re happy to host three great Irish bands at the Stanley for one big night. We know there will be a big crowd,” said Jerry Kraus, executive director of The Stanley. Ticket prices range from $18 to $48 and are available at the Stanley Box Office (10 AM-3 PM, M-F), by calling (315) 724-4000, or by going on-line. For more information, call (315) 794-0695 or visit www.stanley.org.

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“How to Defuse a Bomb: The Project Children Story”

When we emptied the MVICE mailbag this month, a stack of letter fell out, and it came from the local Project Children coordinator, Pat Costello. For those of you who don’t know Pat, he is very, very passionate about the program; essentially its heart and soul in the area. Rather than try to paraphrase his letter, we’ve included it in its entirety.

Dear Friend of Project Children,

Many of you have helped in some way to make Project Children in Central New York a big success. You may have been a host family and opened your hearts and your homes to a child from Northern Ireland, or you may have donated either money or goods and services to the charity, or you may have helped in so many other ways. For all that you have done for the success of Project Children – we Thank You!

Now to the exciting part! Most of you have heard that a documentary film has been in the works detailing the origins of Project Children and the impact that its over 40 years of existence has had in the peace process in Northern Ireland. We are very excited to say that the film is complete and is scheduled to be shown on March 19, 2017 at Le Moyne College. This upstate premier will be shown at 1:30 PM in the Campus Center in the James Commons Room. After the viewing, we will have a Q&A session beginning at 3:00 PM to share stories of our experiences with this great program. We will also have some light refreshments after the viewing.

We are very excited to announce that Denis Mulcahy will be in attendance. As we all know, it was the Mulcahy family and a handful of families in Greenwood Lake, NY that established Project Children in 1975. Under the leadership of the chief architect and founding chairman Denis Mulcahy, Project Children has been, and continues to be, one of the most effective programs in bringing peace to Northern Ireland.

Please mark your calendars and join us on March 19th as we watch the award-winning documentary film. This film, called “How to Defuse a Bomb: The Project Children Story,” is narrated by Liam Neeson, and it is a great legacy to all who participated in Project Children, including host families, volunteers, the companies that employed interns and the many other Irish organizations that have helped along the way.

There will be no charge to attend this event. As already stated, the showing of this documentary is a Thank You to everyone who helped along the way.

For Irish organizations, business and others, we will be offering and accepting sponsorship opportunities. Those that wish to donate will be acknowledged at the event.

Thank you for all you have done for Project Children. We look forward to seeing you at Le Moyne College on March 19th, 2017. It promises to be a memorable day of meeting with old and new friends and to hear firsthand from the Chairman, Denis Mulcahy.

Any questions, contact Pat Costello, either by phone (315) 729-8031 or via email [email protected].

Thank you, The Committee

Now, you may recall the name Denis Mulcahy. Last November, he, Eddie Gilmartin and Geordy Austin all spoke about Project Children and their first-hand knowledge of the atrocities of “The Troubles” in Ireland, as part of an inspiring event at MVCC’s Shaffer Theatre, called “A Catholic View of Life in Northern Ireland During The Troubles.” Project Children itself had its birth in 1975, when Mulcahy -- an Irish immigrant on the NYPD bomb squad – gathered a group of family, friends and neighbors to start a scheme offering children from Northern Ireland a chance to temporarily escape the violent turmoil of their daily lives. From modest beginnings Project Children ultimately brought over 20,000 Catholic and Protestant children to suburban US for summer-long visits where they forged unexpected friendships and found they had more in common with the “enemy” than they thought. Denis has been nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in helping to bring peace to Northern Ireland.

For more information and to watch the film’s trailer, visit the documentary’s web site, and check out the form at the end of this newsletter if you would like to sponsor the viewing of this great documentary.

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New Artist Spotlight: “Arise & Go” – by Mark Sisti

“I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made”

Those, of course, are the opening lines from “The Lake Isle of Innisfree,” by W. B. Yeats.

More to the point for a music column, they’re also the inspiration for “Arise & Go,” an exciting new trio getting ready to release their first recording.

“We’d been brainstorming names for a while, but had trouble finding the right fit,” explains piper Mike Roddy. “Our group is based solidly on traditional music, so we wanted a name that was both rooted in tradition, but had a connotation of moving forward.”

The trio, consisting of Roddy on uilleann pipes, border pipes, smallpipes, and whistles, Tim Ball on guitar, and Ellie Goud on fiddle, does indeed play traditional tunes – chiefly from Ireland, Scotland, Cape Breton, and French- Canada – but they play them with a precision and an energy not often encountered in this style of music.

This energy is apparent in the eponymous EP; because each of the four tracks is made up of a set of two or three separate songs, there is actually a wealth of material on the recording, which runs a total of approximately 20 minutes.

“We selected material that we thought would give a good overview of the band’s sound and style,” Mike explains. “The four tracks feature each of the instruments and styles that Arise & Go draws from – Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton, French-Canadian.”

One problem unique to bands playing this style is that the majority of the tunes were originally intended as dance tunes and not as performance or concert pieces.

“So much of the music we play is dance music, and as such some sets are straight ahead traditional jigs, reels, and the like,” notes Roddy. “However, one of the things we really enjoy is taking these traditional tunes a step further. Sometimes the sets seem to take on a life of their own, ending up in a very different place than we expected them to go.”

However, since these are primarily dance tunes, they do need to be felt as well as heard, which means they are best experienced in a life setting.

Fortunately for local trad music fans, there will be two occasions to do just that during the next week, March 14th at the St. Joseph's Concert Series at 5748 Stokes Lee Center Road in Lee Center (free) and March 16th at the Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts, 401 Canal Place in Little Falls ($5 requested donation.). Both shows start at 6:30 p.m.

“I will arise and go now, for always night and day I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore”

Listen to “Arise & Go,” and maybe you will hear it too.

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From the Irish Kitchen (recipes suitable for clipping)

This month’s recipe – “Paddy’s Whiskey Chicken” -- This recipe was created and inspired by a wonderful Irish chef, Clodagh McKenna from her recent cookbook, Clodagh’s Irish Kitchen. Chef Clodagh McKenna owns and operates two Dublin Restaurants, Blackrock and Arnotts and hosts her own PBS TV series, Clodagh’s Irish Food Trails. Note: No matter what method you use to cook chicken (sauté, roast, poach or bake) this delicious, rich sauce works.

INGREDIENTS:

3 Tablespoons Kerrygold Irish butter 1/3 cup Paddy’s Irish whiskey 2 shallots peeled and finely diced. Sautee till soft ½ cup heavy cream Add 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour to create the roux 1 Tablespoon fresh tarragon. If using dried, less is needed to thicken the sauce. based on personal taste. Thyme and/or parsley works 11oz. button mushrooms (optional addition) well in place of tarragon. 1 cup homemade chicken stock (commercial chicken Season with salt and pepper stock works well)

METHOD

Sweat the shallots in butter. Add the flour to the shallots and butter. Let cook (and stir) on very low simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until lightly thickened and browned. Add the whiskey and the chicken stock. Gently simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Heat the heavy cream over a low heat and then add it to the stock and simmer gently. Salt and pepper to taste (carefully; salt might intensify the sauce as it reduces). Simmer carefully and gently reduce the sauce to 1 cup. Keep warm and nap the chicken with the sauce. NOTE: This is a reduction sauce. The thickness of the sauce is demonstrated by coating the back of the spoon. The taste of the sauce should have a definite hint of tarragon and Paddy’s Irish whiskey. If too thick, approximately 1/3 cup of chicken stock will thin it perfectly. This recipe makes one cup of sauce, enough for 4 to 6 persons.

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

Riverdance – The 20th Anniversary World Tour

The international Irish dance phenomenon, Riverdance, will be making three stops in the general area this month, direct from a sold-out run of their 20th Anniversary Tour across Europe and Asia. Drawing on Irish traditions, the combined talents of the performers propel Irish dancing and music into the present day, capturing the imagination of audiences across all ages and cultures in an innovative and exciting blend of dance, music and song. Of all the performances to emerge from Ireland – in rock, music, theatre and film – nothing has carried the energy, the sensuality and the spectacle of Riverdance.

On March 1st and 2nd, the OnCenter in Syracuse (800 South State St., Syracuse) will be hosting the final two nights of their three-day run, at 7:30 PM each night. Single tickets, ranging from $30-$70, are available by calling (315) 435- 2121, or by going on-line. Then, making Utica’s “Parade Week” even better, the troupe comes to the beautiful and historic Stanley Theatre for three big days, from March 7-9. Tickets for those shows, also all at 7:30 PM, range from $35-$70, and are now on sale, either at the Stanley Box Office (call (315) 724-4000) or by going on-line. Finally, they’ll make their way to the Rochester Auditorium (885 East Main Street, Rochester) for a total of five more shows between March 10th-12th. Tickets for the Rochester shows are $30-$70.

(Psssst! You! Yeah, You! C’Mere a Sec!)

I have it on good authority that if you want to go to the Stanley Theatre performances of Riverdance, you can get $10 off tickets at Price Level 2 (normally $60) and Level 3 (normally $50), simply by calling the Box Office and mentioning the Great American Irish Festival, or by going to Ticketmaster.com and entering the password: IRISH. (Note: this offer is not valid for previously purchased tickets).

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Solas is in the House!

…in Daryl’s House, a Restaurant and Music Club located in Pawling, NY. Daryl’s House Restaurant and Music Club was born with Daryl Hall and his television show “Live From Daryl’s House” where he invited his favorite musicians to his home in upstate New York for an afternoon of music and great food. Daryl’s House Restaurant and Music Club looks to continue this tradition by combining top-notch food with amazing artists. And on March 16th, the House brings in as amazing a traditional Celtic band as there is in the world, the legendary Solas, as part of their “All These Years 20th Anniversary Tour.”

Now entering their 3rd decade, Solas has been loudly proclaimed as the most popular, influential, and exciting Celtic band ever to emerge from the United States. Anchored by founding members Seamus Egan (flute, tenor banjo, mandolin, whistles, guitars, bodhran) and (violins, vocals), who form the backbone of the uniquely definable Solas sound, long time member Eamon McElholm (guitars, keyboards, vocals), and newest member, the dynamic Moira Smiley (vocals, banjo), Solas is musically at the top of their game and continues to be the standard bearer not only for great Irish music, but great music in any genre. Tickets for the 8 PM show, which range from $25-$35, are available on-line.

Cherish the Ladies, Symphoria In Concert in Syracuse

Cherish The Ladies, who helped catapult the Great American Irish Festival to its position as one of the preeminent Irish events in the world with their appearance in 2004, will be gracing the stage at Syracuse’s Crouse-Hinds Theater, on March 4th, as part the Syracuse Symphoria’s Pops Series. Cherish the Ladies -- led by all-everything whistle/flute impresario Joanie Madden -- was organized by folklorist/musician Mick Moloney as a concert series featuring the brightest lights in . Though initially the group won recognition as the first and only all-women traditional Irish band, they soon established themselves as musicians and performers without peer and have won over millions of listeners and fans of their music. This special Irish-themed concert kicks off at 7:30 PM. Tickets range from $20-$81, and are available on-line, or by calling the OnCenter at 315-435-2121, or Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000.

High Kings Return to Central New York

Central New Yorkers fell in love with the High Kings when they headlined the Great American Irish Festival and the Syracuse Irish Festival, and the band obviously feels the same way about our area. Making two of their final performances in the US before bringing their “Grace and Glory” tour to Ireland, the band best known for their impeccable harmonies, infectious humor, outstanding musicianship and unique interpretations of Irish classics will be performing at the beautifully-restored Syracuse Downtown Marriott on March 11th, and at the Egg in Albany on March 14th.

The band -- Finbarr Clancy, Brian Dunphy, Martin Furey and Darren Holden -- has released four highly-acclaimed studio albums, two live albums, and two live DVDs. Their first three studio albums appeared at number three or higher on the Billboard world music chart, the first two went platinum in Ireland, and all of their albums charted in Ireland. They just received a 2017 World Country Music & Entertainment Award for “Outstanding Contribution to Irish Music Worldwide.”

The band will be performing an intimate show billed as “An Evening with the High Kings” in the historic Marriott Syracuse Downtown (100 East Onondaga Street, Syracuse) Grand Ballroom, in the evening of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 11th. Tickets are $40 for General Admission. Doors open at 7 PM, show begins at 8 PM. Food and drink concessions will be available during the show. For an overnight package, please call (315) 474- 2424 for arrangements! Then on the 14th, they’ll head east to the Egg for a special 7:30 PM show. Tickets are $34.

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“The Forgotten Ones” -- Book Review by Mark Sisti

As I’ve occasionally mentioned in these reviews, there are authors whose next release will lead me to haunt book stores in eager anticipation, and there are others whose latest offerings I’ll read if there’s nothing else more interesting available. Brian McGilloway is rapidly moving himself from the former list to the latter. McGilloway began his writing career with the Benedict Devlin series, which started out slow but which I came to like a lot. He then introduced Northern Ireland-based Detective Sergeant Lucy Black in “Little Girl Lost,” which was excellent. But the follow-up, “Hurt,” while a solid effort, did not live up to the promise of its predecessor. DS Black is back in “The Forgotten Ones,” and the trend continues. It’s far from unreadable, but it’s not going to leave you impatient for another entry in the series. Which is unfortunate, since the plotting in this entry is probably superior to that in the last book. For those of you who haven’t read the first two novels (it’s not necessary for an understanding of this one) Lucy’s father has Alzheimer’s; it’s advanced to the point where he will live out his life in a hospital and Lucy is slowly coming to grips with that. She also has mommy issues with her mother, who is her superior at work but who walked out of Lucy’s life when Lucy was a child. And to top it off, her significant other is pressuring her to move in with him, but she’s not sure if what she feels for him is love or guilt for injuries he suffered for which she feels responsible. All caught up now? Well, it doesn’t matter, because none of that relates to the plot in any way. (That’s one of the problems with the story; her personal issues, which were central to the plot in the earlier books, are tangential here and serve no real purpose but to slow down the pace.) While Lucy is visiting her father in the hospital, the body of an old man, dressed as if for a funeral, is discovered floating in the nearby river. The initial theory is that it was a suicide. However, as it turns out, not only was the man dead before he went into the river, he had already been embalmed. Further inquiries track the corpse to a funeral home where the man had been prepared for cremation. How did he get from the funeral home to the river? Who was cremated in his place? And why? Such are the questions that make a good mystery. At the same time, Lucy is handed another case when the body of a badly beaten homeless man is found in the compacter of a garbage truck. Lucy’s investigation suggests that the case of the homeless man and the unidentified cremation are connected. She soon discovers that homeless men have been going missing all over Derry, all connected to offers for employment from an unknown man in a van. As if she doesn’t have enough to deal with, Lucy is approached by a neighbor whose sister has been badly beaten, presumably by her husband. Lucy agrees to speak to her, but doesn’t want to identify herself as police for fear that the cowed woman will be scared off. But is there a link between the abused woman’s husband and the missing men? And would I have asked if there wasn’t? Well, let’s face it, it wouldn’t be a very satisfying mystery if we didn’t get answers to these and other burning questions. And we do. And for the most part, they are satisfying. As Lucy uncovers more information in each case, the threads slowly begin to tie together, connecting these seemingly random and separate crimes to one another. As noted, the story is well-plotted, but comes off a little disjointed with so many stories going on at once; while the linking of some of them make sense, some of the connections come off strictly as a plot device. The writing itself is, much like Lucy, competent and efficient, if not brilliant. Which brings me to my main complaint – and I will readily acknowledge that this may not bother some people as much as it did me: this may be the most poorly edited book I’ve ever read coming out of a major publishing house. There are typographical errors that the most underpaid proofreader should have caught, but on top of that, there are sentences that are so clumsy that reading them becomes a chore. The Inspector Devlin series read so effortlessly that you hardly realized you were even reading. That’s not the case here. Too much of the writing seems forced and awkward – and would have been easily fixable by a competent editor. Again, this is not to suggest that the book isn’t worth reading. There is a very clever plot. There is a satisfying conclusion and there is a likeable – if somewhat ordinary and predictable – protagonist. Will I read the next entry in this series? Probably. If there’s nothing better available.

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RANDOM RAMBLINGS

“Nuacht as Craobh Dugan”---news from the Dugan Branch Chris Hoke writes: “Condolences to the family of Winnie Kauth. Winnie died February 7th at the Masonic Home where she had been a resident for several years. Winnie was a long-time member of Craobh Dugan. She was a great supporter of all things Irish and particularly enjoyed the traditional music. Winnie always had a smile and a kind word to say to everyone. We pray that she is now at peace, smiling down on us with her Irish eyes! RIP, Winnie... Our March calendar includes: Mar 3 - Kirkland Town Library, 7 PM; Mar 4 - Mohawk Valley Homestead, 2 PM; Mar 5 - Woods Valley, 1-4 PM; Mar 6 - Grand Marshall Reception, Stanley Theatre, 5-8 PM; Mar 7 - Session at Nail Creek Pub, 7:30 PM; Mar 8 - Lutheran Care, 7 PM; Mar 11 - St Patrick’s Day Parade; Mar 11 - Utica Maennerchor, 1-4 PM; Mar 14 - Preswick Glen, 7 PM; Mar 16 - Presbyterian Home, 7 PM; Mar 17 - Woods Valley, 7-10 PM; Mar 25 - Brookside Senior Living, 2 PM.”

Utica St. Patrick’s Day Parade Raffle Tickets On Sale! Raffle tickets to help offset the cost of the 2017 St. Patrick’s Day Parade are now available. All tickets are $1, with chances to win seven great prizes: 1st: a party for 20 in the 1888 Tavern, FX Matt Brewing Company; 2nd: private catered dinner for 4 in your home by O’Connor’s “A Moveable Feast;” 3rd: a $100 Certificate for The Tailor & The Cook Restaurant; 4th: a $100 certificate to the Celtic Harp; 5th: two tickets ($76 value) to “Irish Night at the Stanley,” featuring the Elders, Barleyjuice and the Blarney Rebel Band; 6th: a $50 certificate to Gerber’s 1933 Tavern, and 7th: four weekend passes to the Great American Irish Festival, July 28-30, 2017. Contact Mike Rinaldi at [email protected] for tickets, or track down any GAIF committee member. The drawing will be at 3 PM on March 12th at the Celtic Harp.

Irish Flag Raising at City Hall On Wednesday, March 8 at 11:30 AM, what has become a revered tradition will continue, as the Irish Flag will be raised over Utica’s City Hall, while Friday, March 10th will find the new Grand Marshal, Vaughn Lang, painting a green stripe on Genesee Street in front of the Stanley at 11:30 AM.

Mass honoring Saint Patrick Lest anyone forget the reason for this special and reverent Irish holiday, the John C. Devereux Chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Ladies AOH have arranged for a Mass honoring St. Patrick on March 10th, 2017, at Saint Joseph-Saint Patrick’s Church, 702 Columbia St. in Utica. There will be Irish music beginning at 6:30, and the Mass proper begins at 7 PM. All are welcome.

GAIF Volunteer Site Is Open for Business GAIF Volunteer Chairperson Mike Rinaldi reminds us that the volunteer web site is now open, and he invites you to sign up via the web page (and that’s even if you’ve volunteered with the festival in the past). Several venues could use your help, and many of them are filled early on a first-come, first-served basis. As you know, volunteering 8 hours of your time over the course of the weekend makes you eligible to get all the great perks that aren’t available to the general public, including a post-festival volunteer party.

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

Mar 1-2 Riverdance OnCenter Syracuse 7:30 PM $30-$70 Mar 4 Cherish the Ladies w/Symphoria OnCenter Syracuse 7:30 PM $20-$81 Mar 4 Glengarry Bhoys Ballybay Pub Syracuse 7 PM $12 Mar 4 Scythian Homer Ctr for the Arts Homer 8 PM $23-$28 Mar 4 Enter the Haggis Kallet Theater Pulaski 7 PM $15 Mar 5 Gerry Dixon Celtic Harp Utica 1-5 PM Free Mar 5 Syracuse Irish Session J. Ryan’s Pub Syracuse 4-7 PM Free Mar 6 Grand Marshal’s Reception Stanley Theatre Utica 5-8 PM $10 Mar 7-9 Riverdance Stanley Theatre Utica 7:30 PM $35-$70 Mar 7 Nail Creek Sessions Nail Creek Pub Utica 7:30 PM Free

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Mar 7 Teada (Dinner Concert) Kitty Hoynes Pub Syracuse 7 PM $17 + dinner cost Mar 9 Teada Old Songs series Voorheesville 7:30 PM $25 Mar 9 Blarney Rebel Band Colgate University Hamilton 5:30 PM Free Fri - 8; Sat – 2 & 8; Mar 10-12 Riverdance Rochester Aud Rochester $30-$70 Sun – 1 & 6:30 Mar 10 Irish Comedy Tour Proctor’s Theater Schenectady 7:30 $30 Mar 10 Kevin McKrell & the Druids The Parting Glass Saratoga Springs 8 PM $10 Mar 11 Utica St. Patrick’s Day Parade Genesee St. Utica 10 AM Free Mar 11 Parade Day w/Blarney Rebel Band Piggy Pat’s Washington Mills 1-4 PM Free Mar 11 The High Kings Downtown Marriott Syracuse 7 PM $40 Mar 11 Causeway Giants & Gerry Dixon Kitty Hoynes Pub Syracuse Starts at noon Free Mar 11 Girsa Walton Theatre Walton NY 7:30 PM $15 Mar 11 Get Up Jack The Parting Glass Saratoga Springs 8 PM $12 Mar 11 Pat Kane and West O’Clare Cummings Theater Cazenovia 8 PM $10 Mar 12 Blarney Rebel Band Celtic Harp Utica 1-5 PM Free Mar 12 Donal O’Shaughnessy Coleman’s Irish Pub Syracuse 4-7 PM Free Mar 14 Arise & Go St. Joseph’s Church Lee Center 6:30 PM Free Mar 14 The High Kings The Egg Albany 7:30 PM $34 Mar 15 Rattlin’ Bog Twin Ponds New York Mills 1:15 PM $39 w/meal Mar 15 “Rhythm in the Night” Clemens Center Elmira 7:30 PM $20-$50 Mar 16 Blarney Rebel Band Kallet Civic Center Oneida 7 PM Free Mar 16 Solas Daryl's House Pawling, NY 8 PM $25-$35 Mar 16 Arise & Go MV Ctr for the Arts Little Falls 6:30 PM donation $5 Mar 16 The New McKrells The Parting Glass Saratoga Springs 8 PM $10 Mar 17-19 North Country Goes Green State Office Building Watertown varies $6 Mar 17 St. Patrick’s Day The Parting Glass Saratoga Springs Starts at 11:30 Free Mar 17 Blarney Rebel Band Coleman’s Irish Pub Syracuse 12-3 PM Free Mar 17 Blarney Rebel Band Celtic Harp Utica 5-8 PM Free Mar 18 Lunasa Troy Music Hall Troy 8 PM $34 Mar 18 Hair of the Dog The Parting Glass Saratoga Springs 8 PM $13 Mar 18 The TownPants Smith Opera House Geneva, NY. 8 PM $20 Mar 18 Rattlin’ Bog Park Coffeehouse Holland Patent 7:30 PM $10 Mar 19 “The Project Children Story” Le Moyne College Syracuse 1:30 PM Free Mar 19 Traditional Irish Session Irish Amer Ass'n Albany 2:30-6 PM Free Mar 19 Syracuse Irish Session J. Ryan’s Pub Syracuse 4-7 PM Free Mar 21 Traditional Irish Session Stockdale’s Oriskany 7:30 PM Free Mar 25 Blarney Rebel Band Woods Valley Westernville, NY 2-5 PM Free Mar 25 Traditional Irish Session Kitty Hoynes Pub Syracuse 2-5 PM Free Mar 26 Blarney Rebel Band Celtic Harp Utica 1-5 PM Free Mar 26 Flying Column Coleman’s Irish Pub Syracuse 4-7 PM Free Mar 26 Hair of the Dog Proctor’s Theater Schenectady 7:30 PM $30 Mar 31 “Irish Night at the Stanley” Stanley Theatre Utica 7:30 PM $18-$48

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 it turns out striving is really hard. It always makes sense to call ahead for some of these further-out events.

Mohawk Valley Irish Cultural Events - 11

Mohawk Valley Irish Cultural Events - 12