Anne McCallum and Dancers

There will no Set Dance class on Monday May 27. The Gaelic League is closed but the AOH is open so please feel free to head there for a drink and a bit of socializing. However, there doesn’t seem to be enough dancers who can make it, so we’ll give the class a miss.

Anne McCallum

Jack’s Arrangements

Jack will be waked at O’Brien/Sullivan Funeral Home
41555 Grand River Ave.
Novi, MI.

Visitation will be Sunday 3-9 PM, and Monday 2-9 PM.

Rosary will be Monday 7 PM.

Funeral Mass will be Tuesday at St. Patrick’s Church, Brighton, 10:30 AM, with burial in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Brighton.

Schedule for Motor City Irish Fest

The Times and locations of the musical performances has bee published on the site of the Motor City Irish Fest HERE. An outstanding line-up.

Reunion Session at Dick O’Dow’s

It has been WAY TOO LONG, but we are having a reunion session at Dick O’Dow’s on Tuesday, June 11 starting at 7:30 pm until Tom kicks us out.

We will be on our own for food and drinks, but that is the least we can do for the hospitality Dick’s has shown us for many years.

Please come and bring your ‘A’ game – actually any game will work.

Please RSVP so we know who/how many to expect.

This should be a great evening!!!

Looking forward to it,

Don

We Lost a Good Friend

Rest in peace, Jack Derrig

I am very saddened to have to share with you that Jack Derrig passed away last night at Marywood Nursing Center in Livonia. He fought a many brave battles with so many illnesses and I’m sure he is at peace now. He was surrounded by family and friends and went very peacefully. Please keep him and his family in your prayers. – Chas French

No Session at the Gaelic League

Due to scheduling conflicts there will be no  session at the Gaelic League on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

Plan to be there the following Wednesday.

North Atlantic Drift in Concert

Thursday, May 30, 2013
7:00pm

Detroit Irish Music Association (DIMA) CCE
1001 Green Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Toronto’s North Atlantic Drift features piper Ross Griffiths, tenor banjo/guitar maestro Brian Taheny, and Cape Breton master fiddler Dan McDonald.

Together they are an entire Celtic orchestra in a trio. In one sitting you’ll hear Cape Breton fiddle, Sligo fiddle, tenor banjo, guitar, mandolin, Irish Uilleann pipes, Scottish Highland and Border pipes, whistles and bodhran.

Along with this impressive display of multi-instrumental talent is the striking blend of the separate traditions at work from players with deep roots in those traditions.

A powerful Celtic current, North Atlantic Drift traces the waves of Irish and Scottish sounds as it reaches the North American Coastline.

Tickets: $15 at the door

For more info please contact Colleen Gavin at colleen.e.gavin@gmail.com

Eastern Market

Plan to be at the Eastern Market for a great day of busking. We will be collecting donations to help someone in need.

Sunday is Flower Day at Eastern Market.

Click HERE for details.

Busking at E. Market – Flower Day

You are invited to join friends at Eastern Market on Flower day, Sunday, May 19th, for a day of busking.

As in the past, we take this opportunity to play tunes to a large crowd of Shoppers to raise fund for a cause. This year, we are raising money for funeral expenses of a man who is passing due to cancer. There is no money for the costs of the funeral.

Busking is lots of fun. You don’t have to know a whole bunch of tunes. Due to the shifting clientele, we can play the same 10-15 tunes over and over. At the end, you will know these tunes very well if you don’t already. You don’t have to consider yourself a great musician, either. Your big heart will make up for any squeaks and squawks. I won’t lie to you, it is a lot of work. But your participation will be remembered forever. That I can guarantee.

Busking is allowed from 8a until 4p. Some of us would have to show up a little before 8a because the allotted spots are available first come. Eastern Market is allowing us to bend the rules that day that we can stay in the same place and also to bring more than 4 musicians. They are great to work with.

Dancers, bagpipes,  jugglers are also encouraged to attend.

If you would like to join us, please let us know HERE. That is very important so that the organizers can know in advance how many musicians will be there and at what times.

Bring a stool and sun protection.

Bless you for your help in this special cause.

Questions? Tunes@SessioNite.com

Radio Fundraiser

Gaelic League
Saturday, May 11, 2013

5PM to 1AM Gaelic League

5PM -10PM Irish Singers, Dancers, Musicians

10PM-1AM McSPILLIN

An Evening of Tunes and Friends

Something very special happened last Friday night.

As you all know, Jack Derrig is in hospice care now. A group of his friends decided that they would like to put on a private “seisiun” or music session for Jack. Needing permission and not knowing how many musicians would be coming, I asked the staff if it would be ok to use one of the small conference rooms or even the one with the fire place. They offered me the use of the activities center, a bright and airy room that would accommodate any size gathering.

The musicians showed up about 6PM and started setting up. I went to get Jack, and when we returned, there were about 75 wheelchair residents already filling the room and the outer corridor. More would come in throughout the evening. Jack was placed in the front row, next to Marie Paul and Rachel Paul and the music began.

For the next 90 minutes, the residents, staff and friends were treated to the finest Irish music you will ever hear. When the music began, the faces on the patients lit up as the toe tapping and hand clapping kept time to the music. The smiles that came from recognizing an old song they hadn’t heard in years was amazing.

The staff brought an even more festive atmosphere when the served up ice cream sodas. The gentle banter between the musicians and the audience brought a closeness and warmth you really had to be there to see.

Many of the residents have not had this lively experience in years, and they embraced it.

When it was over, a tired but very happy Jack was back in his room and commented on the great friends who played for him that night. The emotions were high and the gratitude showed in his eyes. It was a night I’ll always remember.

The Irish Night at the center carried over to the next day. At breakfast, the dining room was full of happy people who recognized me (same shirt) from the night before. The band had had a gentle banter with the audience, and Kathy, an Irish lady from Kerry who is a long term resident, told me how much she enjoyed it and how she had called her daughter to tell her about it.

Another side story, Jack is already a legend here from his previous stays, and the staff has been even more attentive with quick visits and doing little things for his comfort.

Oh, and you wouldn’t believe how many people are asking for shortbread, scones and soda bread.

By Chas French

North Atlantic Drift Concert

Thursday, May 30, 2013
7:00pm

Toronto’s North Atlantic Drift features piper Ross Griffiths, tenor banjo/guitar maestro Brian Taheny, and Cape Breton master fiddler Dan McDonald.

Together they are an entire Celtic orchestra in a trio. In one sitting you’ll hear Cape Breton fiddle, Sligo fiddle, tenor banjo, guitar, mandolin, Irish Uilleann pipes, Scottish Highland and Border pipes, whistles and bodhran.

Along with this impressive display of multi-instrumental talent is the striking blend of the separate traditions at work from players with deep roots in those traditions.

A powerful Celtic current, North Atlantic Drift traces the waves of Irish and Scottish sounds as it reaches the North American Coastline.

Tickets: $15 at the door
For more info please contact Colleen Gavin at colleen.e.gavin@gmail.com

Detroit Irish Music Association (DIMA) CCE
1001 Green Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Free Hamburger Night

AOH WALSH HALL, 25300 FIVE MILE ROAD, REDFORD

Thursday, May 9th, 6:00 TO 7:00 PM

The Knights of Equity will sponsor a BBQ – free hamburgers to all.

“BRING A FRIEND, ASSOCIATE, AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE KNIGHTS OF EQUITY”

Inquiries to: knightsofequity@aol.com

Chefs Tom McKeown, Patrick & Brian.

Irish Traditional Session at the Gaelic League

We are so excited that we (Nick Brown and Alison Perkins) will be hosting a weekly Irish traditional music session at the Gaelic League starting on May 1st!

Wednesday
7:30pm until 10:30pm

Standard Irish session etiquette applies. Here are a few rules we will follow:

1. Only one bodhran at a time. (Please take turns)
2. Only one guitar, bouzouki, piano or other accompaniment instrument at a time. (Please take turns)
3. No electric or amplified instruments, with the exception of electric piano, and no percussion other than bodhran. If you are unsure if your instrument will fit into the session, please ask either Nick or Alison.
4. Respect the other players in the session.
5. Have fun!!

For a nice guide to session etiquette, check this out: http://fiddleandpick.ning.com/forum/topics/irish-session-etiquette

We can’t wait for this to start! I hope to see many of you down there for music, drinks, and conversation.
Address
2062 Michigan Ave
Detroit, MI 48216-1303

Phone (313) 964-7474
Website http://www.gaelicleagueofdetroit.org/

- Nick Brown and Alison Perkins

Jack Derrig

Hello All,

Finvarra’s Wren Spring Concert

Join Finvarra’s Wren for a High Tea and FREE SPRING CONCERT.

Wed. May 8, 4:00 PM.

Christ Church Cranbrook. Bloomfield Hills MI.

Motor City Irish Fest Shirts

The Shirts for the 2013 Irish fest have been made and are available!

Comas Workshop – April 17, 2013

Join the fantastic musicians from Comas for workshops in:
Uilleann Pipes – Isaac Alderson
Fiddle – Aidan Burke
Guitar – Philip Masure
Bodhran – Jackie Moran

When: 7:30pm – 9:00pm, April 17, 2013
Where: Section8 – 23716 Woodward Ave., Pleasant Ridge, MI 48069
Cost: $30 for one 1.5 hour workshop

For bios and information on the musicians, please see
http://www.comasmusic.com/

To register please email nicolaslbrown@gmail.com
or call Nicolas Brown at 248 795 3691

Comas is playing at the Ark in Ann Arbor on Thursday April 18th. This is a fantastic opportunity to take workshops with these master musicians.

4th Annual Doctors Without Borders – April 14, 2013

At the Gaelic League, 2pm.

Music donated by Finvarra’s Wren, Crossroads Ceili, Ray Maguire, Katie Else, Frank Kennedy, Eddie McGlinchey, Colum Paige, Kenneth and Miriam McCloud, Tom and Calum MacNeil, Jim and Trese MacNeil, Terence and Siobhan McKinney, The Dolowy Family, Brian and Megan McParland and the Ardan School of Irish Dance, The Anne McCallum Set Dancers and more!

Food and drink available for purchase. Admission by free-will donation. Please make checks payable to Doctors without Borders.

Join on FaceBook

http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

Irish Fest Fundraiser

Motor City Irish Fest Fundraiser will be held on April 14th, at Dunleavy’s Irish Pub, located on 6004 Allen Rd in Allen Park. The fundraiser will be from 3 til 9 and will include several Irish Bands, basket raffles, and a great evening of fun.

The owners Brian and Tom Dunleavy are one of our biggest supporters and workers for the festival. Dunleavy’s is known for their great spirits and great food. The burgers are the best around and worth the trip themselves. Hopefully we can count on you to come out and start the two month count down to the Fest, with great music, dancing, and fun.

Hopefully we will have the shirts ready for the first time that evening.

MCIF Committee