Finvarra’s Wren Summer Solstice

Gary | June 16, 2013 | Performances of Note

Hello everyone!

We will be traveling a lot this Summer, with shows in Chicago, New Jersey and Boston, but you don’t have to go that far to catch up with us.

Finvarra’s Wren will be celebrating the Summer Solstice with Songs, Tunes, and other cool stuff, Saturday, June 22 at the ARK – 316 S. Main Ann Arbor MI 8:00 pm.

The ARK is truly one of the best listening rooms in the country, and we feel very fortunate to have it here in Michigan.

Hope you can come out for this show.

Jim & the Wren Gang

Motor City Irish Fest Interview

Gary | June 15, 2013 | Motor City Irish Fest

MOTOR CITY IRISH FEST

Gary | June 14, 2013 | Motor City Irish Fest

Motor City Irish Fest 2013, June 14th-16th.

Friday 5-11
Saturday Noon-11
Sunday 1-8

Western Graham Field
14841 Beech Daly, Redford Township
Between Five Mile And I-96

Entertainment- Searson, The Kreellers, The Codgers, Diggers, Jamrocks And Many More.

Five Schools Of Irish Dance, Pipe And Drum Bands, And Exciting Shows By Ring Of Steel.

Food- Slows BBQ And St. Valentines

Irish Genealogy, Irish Merchandise, And Much More

The Weekend Will Be A Weekend The Irish Community Will Be Proud Of. Bring Dad On Sunday, And He Gets In Free.

Mass At Noon On Sunday

Cost $7 At Gate

Please Pass This On To Your E Mail List. More Info, Motorcityirishfest.com Or On Facebook.

2013 St Patrick’s Irish Festival.

Gary | June 7, 2013 | Fundraisers

Sunday, June 9th

1p-9p

Details

St. Patrick Senior Center, Inc.
58 Parsons St.
Detroit, MI 48201-2202

St. Patrick Senior Center provides a “home away from home” for over 2000 older adults all year round. It is also instrumental in assisting many seniors to live independently on their own. Our Center is a safe, friendly place where No one is alone!

View Larger Map Driving Directions

Craichouse Session 2

Gary | June 6, 2013 | Important News, Session News

“Time to roll out the barrel – I have half a keg of beer and plenty of leftover chili from past Saturday’s event, and this is a “non-session Friday” at the AOH – positively providential if you ask me. Join me and Samwise (my dog) if you’re game to hear/play some tunes and willing to risk a lively bout of gastrointestinal distress”. – Sean

Ardan Academy of Irish Dance Raising Money for Jane

Gary | June 6, 2013 | Dancing, Fundraisers

“You can help support this effort by attending the recital, St. Patrick’s festival and the Motor City Festival. The Ardan Academy of Irish Dance will be performing at these events and raising money for this family”.

Patrick Johnson, Shamrock DJ Service

READ Whole article in the The News Herald for the complete story.

“She [Liz Heinzman] heard about a little girl injured in the Boston marathon bombing and saw an opportunity to raise money for her at the upcoming Motor City Irish Festival, set for June 14 to 16 in Redford Township.

Seven-year-old Jane Richard, who’s also an Irish step dancer, lost her leg just below the knee after the second explosion in the bombing. After recently undergoing her 11th surgery at the Boston Children’s Hospital, Jane’s journey has been a challenging one.

She has had several infections and other complications but her last surgery finally closed the wound and will eventually lead to the fitting of a prosthetic.

Her 8-year-old brother, Martin, was one of the three people killed at the marathon’s finish line on April 15. Jane’s mother and father also were wounded in the explosion but are expected to make a full recovery. Clifden Academy of Irish Dance in Boston, where Jane attends, held a fundraiser called “Dance Out for Jane” to help the family with the increasing medical bills.

Liz Heinzman decided to do the same.”

READ the article HERE

DIMA – Last Session Before Break

Gary | May 30, 2013 | Session News

Colleen Gavin says “Tonight!!! This is DIMA’s last gathering at Greenwood before the summer break”.

Go to the DIMA Facebook page an “LIKE” so you will always be up on what is happening there. Colleen does a great job on keeping us informed and motivated.

Sessions at the AOH

Gary | May 27, 2013 | Session News

Every 2nd and 4th Fridays. You are invited.

Anne McCallum and Dancers

Gary | May 24, 2013 | Dancing

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

Gary | May 24, 2013 | Important News

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

Gary | May 23, 2013 | 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

Gary | May 23, 2013 | Session News

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

Gary | May 22, 2013 | Important News

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

Gary | May 21, 2013 | Session News

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

Gary | May 21, 2013 | Performances of Note

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

Gary | May 17, 2013 | Fundraisers

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

Gary | May 7, 2013 | Fundraisers, Session News

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

View Larger Map Driving Directions

Radio Fundraiser

Gary | May 6, 2013 | Fundraisers

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

Gary | May 6, 2013 | Important News

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

Gary | May 6, 2013 | Performances of Note