Music by Gerry Carthy (click play button to watch)
Join us March 7th & 8th, 2014
11th Anniversary
Eugene Irish Cultural Festival
Our headliner group is Mick Moloney, Michelle Mulcahy and Dana Lyn who play traditional Irish music. The opening concert will be on Friday, March 7th, 8 - 10:30 pm at Beall Hall at the University of Oregon. On Saturday, March 8th at the Eugene Irish Cultural Festival, there will be workshops taught by Mick, Michelle and Dana, and this trio will also play traditional Irish music for the Ceili (Irish social dance). Bios of these three musicians are below.
Mick Moloney Mick Moloney was born and raised in Limerick, Ireland. He is a traditional Irish musician and scholar. Mick moved to the United States in 1973. In 1992, Mick received a Ph.D. in Folklore and Folklife from the University of Pennsylvania. For his work in public folklore, he received a National Heritage Fellowship from the NEA, the highest honor a traditional artist can receive from the United States. In 1999, he was named "best tenor-banjo player" by Frets magazine. He has taught ethnomusicology, folklore and Irish studies courses at the University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown, and Villanova Universities, and currently teaches at New York University in the Irish Studies program. Mick is a very well known, respected and appreciated traditional Irish musician.
Michelle Mulcahy Michelle grew up in Abbeyfeale, County Limerick, Ireland. Michelle starting playing tin whistle at the age of 5 and currently plays the harp, accordion, concertina and fiddle and she mastered them all to All-Ireland champion standard. She also has a strong affinity for the sean-nos, or old style, of singing. The two airs on her CD Suaimhneas, Amhrán Mhaínse and An Bhuatais, the latter of which made the long-list for the BBC Folk Awards Best Traditional Track category this year, are played with the depth of someone who knows the story behind, as well as the lyrics to, the original songs. She is earning her PhD in arts practice at the University of Limerick.
Dana Lyn Dana Lyn is an esteemed traditional Irish fiddler and was featured on The Raw Bar and Geanntrai, two documentaries on traditional Irish music that aired on national television in Ireland. Dana has performed on Saturday Night Live and the Conan O'Brien Show. Dana has also performed several times with Mick Moloney.
Overview of the Festival
Evening Concert: The evening concert will be at Beall Hall at the University of Oregon from 8:00 to 10:30 pm, Friday, March 7th, 2014. Mick, Michelle and Dana will play from 8:30 to 10:15 with a 15 minute break between 9:15 and 9:30 pm. The opening performance will be The Nettles, who play from 8 - 8:25 pm..
The Nettles
Daytime Festival: Saturday, March 8th, 2014, 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM, Sheldon High School (2455 Willakenzie Rd Eugene, OR 97401):
No Alcohol, Illegal Drugs or Weapons Permitted and no use of tobacco permitted on the Sheldon campus.
Closing Performance, 5pm-6pm: The Nettles: Laura Brophy (fiddle), Kevin Johnsrude (guitar, vocals), Michael Proctor (upright base), Brian Bucolo (percussion). The Nettles are a Celtic acoustic band from Corvallis, Oregon, that play at dances, festivals, concerts and clubs in the Pacific Northwest of the USA. Acoustic Celtic music that’s progressive and exciting. This band ignites audiences with fiery music that blends traditional music with modern spices. On fiddle, guitar, upright bass and percussion, they play acoustic improvisational music based on traditional Cetlic tunes. The Nettles formed in 1996 from a living room jam session.
Additional Performers: Harp Circle, Eugene Highlanders, Brian O'Hart, Murray Irish Dancers, Sheldon Choirs, Ceili Mhor (Traditional Irish/Celtic Music), Yvonne Young (Irish Stories) and Three Of Hearts.
Music Workshops: Irish Song Workshop (Brian O'Hart), Mandolin and Tenor Banjo Workshop (Mick Moloney), Irish Musicology (Mick Moloney), Harp Workshop (Michelle Mulcahy), Introduction to Irish Music on Fiddle (Dana Lyn), How to Accompany Celtic Music on Guitar (Kevin Johnsrude), Uilleann Pipes (Eliot Grasso) and Intermediate to Advanced Irish Fiddle Workshop (Laura Brophy).
Art Workshops: Seagrass Basket Weaving Workshop - 13 years or older (Donna Crispin), Celtic Knot Workshop (Anne Merydith), Irish Calligraphy Workshop (Anne Merydith).
Irish Language Workshops: Introduction to Irish Language (Ger Killeen), Next Level of the Irish Language (Ger Killeen)
History & Geography Workshops/Presentations: How to Trace Your Ancestors Back to Ireland (Dawn Carlile), History and Rules of Hurling (Stephen Power), All About Irish Bogs (Peggy Hinsman).
Sports: Hurling Tournament on the Sheldon Turf Field (three Willamette Valley hurling teams)
Family Activities: Crafts and activities for all ages that help you learn more about Ireland and Irish culture
Irish Session: Bring your instrument, join the group and play Irish and other Celtic music with the others at the session.
Vendors:
Performer's CDs/DVDs/Books
Deliberate Innocence Books: Irish Books
Jenny's Irish Tours: Irish Tours
Celestial Wood Lands: Jewelry, Sun Catchers, Dragon Eggs, Greeting Cards
Daniel Conan Young: Celtic Ceramics
Bees Wax Candles
Eugene Irish Cultural Festival Items
Raffle Tickets and more to be added.
Food & Drink: The South Eugene High School Culinary Group will be our food vendor this year.
