By George O'Brien (The following article was written as a "sample" of my work for an international Irish information web site that may include Arizona information in their directory)
Arizona Information 9-29-2000
ARIZONA IRISH MUSIC SOCIETY
Arizona Irish News
By George O'Brien
(The following article was written as a "sample" of my work for an international Irish information web site that may include Arizona information in their directory)
Arizona Information 9-29-2000
Architect Named to Board of Irish Cultural and Learning Foundation
Bill O'Brien, President of the Irish Cultural and Learning Foundation announced that the center's architect, Paul Ahern, has been named to the Foundation Board of Directors at last Friday's weekly meeting of the E.R.I.N. (www.erinaz.com) business group. Paul used the opportunity to present a drawing of the courtyard which will be a map of Ireland laid out in bricks. Each brick in the courtyard will be engraved with the name of a contributor or someone the contributor wants to honor. According to Bill O'Brien, each brick will be sold for $50 and the proceeds will be used to finish the inside of the center.
So far there are still bricks available for every country in the map, but some of the more popular counties may not remain available for long. Interested people should write the Irish Cultural and Learning Foundation, 3104 E. Camelback Rd. # 103, Phoenix, AZ 85010 or call 602-493-2280.
The Irish Cultural and Learning Center will be used for concerts, ceili's, community group meetings, and other events. The center will be wired with high speed data lines to link Phoenix to its sister city in Ireland, Enis, Co. Clare. There are plans to organize the first ever video conference Irish seisiun with musicians from Phoenix and Clare playing together.
The Irish Cultural and Learning Center will be next to Hance Park in central Phoenix, close to where the annual St. Patrick's Faire is held. Already on the grounds is the Hunger Memorial in memory of those who died as a result of the potato blight. Actual ground breaking for the center is expected to start in December.
Irish Artist to Lecture On His Work Prior to Exhibit Opening
Dublin artist Liam O'Neill will lecture on his work on Wednesday, October 4, 2000 at the Cultural Exchange Gallery beginning at 6:00 PM. On Thursday, October 5th Liam will be present at an opening reception for an exhibition of his large scale and studio work.
Liam O'Neill's work is wood turned into sculpture. He works in a variety of woods including Yew, Beech, Oak and Labumum. The chosen wood is only derived from felled trees or wood from construction projects throughout Ireland. The lathes and tools utilized to create these exceptional works have all been hand built by Liam, further emphasizing the skill and dedication of this renowned artist.
The Queen of England and the royalty of the Netherlands and Spain, are just a few collectors of Mr. O'Neills wood sculptures. His work is included in the Arthur and Jane Mason collection and is on display at the Mint Museum of North Carolina
Cultural Exchange Gallery, 4235 North Marshall Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 480-941-0900 and www.theculturalexchange.com Major Irish Presence At Sharlott Hall Folk Festival
Irish music fans will get a chance to beat the Arizona heat and hear some great music at the 22nd annual Sharlott Hall Fok Music Festival in Prescott, AZ, October 7th and 8th. Some of the Irish/Celtic bands represented include Round the House, the Bringers, Celtic Reel, Irish Coffee, Celtic Spirit, the Granite Creek String Band, the Amazing Ripples, and Irish Coffee. Members of other groups such as New Potatoes and Rossettistone are expected to join the "Irish Tunes Jam".
This folk festival includes six venues and an amazing variety of acoustic music styles from American folk, to bluegrass, to blues, to Cowboy, and contra dance music. There are workshops and an instrument swap. The program starts at 10:00 AM and runs until 5:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday. There is no admission, but they do accept donations.
Sharlot Hall Museum, 415 W. Gurley Street, Prescott, AZ 520-445-3122 www.sharlot.org
Eileen Ivers Returns To Arizona
The last time former Riverdance fiddle star Eileen Ivers visited Arizona, it was while touring with the Chieftains. Now she is returning with the Eileen Ivers band and will be playing in Tucson at the Leo Rich Theater, part of the TCC Complex at the University of Arizona on Wednesday, October 11th beginning at 7:30 PM.
According to Tom Nelligan of Dirty Linen Magazine, "On stage, Ivers is a sprightly dynamo with a trademark blue fiddle, adding abundant body English to her bowing, swaying to the music, flashing a sly smile and clearly having as good a time as the audience. And anyone who's seen her in concert knows that a consequence of her strong (but never heavy-handed) fiddling style is that few bows survive more than one night on stage with her. Indeed, the cover photo of Wild Blue shows the shredded remains of a bow that had given its all on one reel set during the recording session. "There are just certain tunes that are so powerful and driving. I know I really get into it, and come down harder on the strings. And there are certain tunes like slow airs or slower melodies that are really suited to a nice delicate approach. But some Irish music is written in such a lively, powerful, and exciting way that I like to play that way anyway. To me, I could never play any other way. I don't think it's a great night unless I went through a bow!", she finished with a smile."
Ticket information can be obtained by calling "In Concert", at '(520)327-4809 or e-mailing gpro@azstarnet.com Uilleann Pipe Workshop
The Arizona Uilleann Pipers Society (AUPS) will hold a workshop on October 14th, 9:30 am to 5 PM at Fiddler's Dream, 17th St., one block north of Glendale Av. Cost is $50. Call Caven Clark at 602/279-0678 for details.
Dublin-born uilleann piper Patrick D'Arcy will be performing that evening at Fiddler's Dream on October 14th. He is scheduled to play at 9:45-10:30. We may have an open session Sunday the 15th between noon and 4 pm at the Bandersnatch Brew Pub, 125 E. 5th St., Tempe to take advantage of Patrick while he is in town. Phoenix Irish Feis to Feature Two Ceili's
The 18th Annual Phoenix Irish Feis will feature two ceili's to go with the Irish dance competition to be held October 20-22 at St. Elizabeth Seton Church in Sun City, AZ (9728 Palmeras, just north of Bell Rd). After the Friday evening dance competition for the adults, the ceili band One Eyed Fiona will perform. The Saturday evening ceili will feature The Clare Voyants. Saturday afternoon, the band Round the House will perform in the beer garden prior to the music competition.
Information about the feis and the music can be obtained by calling 623-846-0137 or daugherty@gcmaricopa.edu
George L O'Brien
aims@azirishmusic.com
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