Alaska Irish Music Events and Related.
This site is to keep you updated of all Irish events happening in Alaska and elsewhere. I will try to keep this updated as much as possible. If you have something you want to link to or post, please feel free to email me. Hopefully I will be able to keep the site up to date and look forward to hearing from anyone with suggestions and comments.
You can contact me by sending an email to banjowalsh@akirishtrad.net
I CAN NO LONGER BE CONTACTED AT WALSH@MTAONLINE.NET
LAST UPDATE MAY 25 2009
I am no longer involved or in any way associated with The Alaska Irish Music Festival. In the past few years, I have been asked about the festival on numerous occasions, this is my own site and is not affiliated with the Festival in any way.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Fir Og Concert
Taproot
July 31st at 8pm
Celtic Treasures' first ever evening concert featuring Alaska's newest Irish musical group - "Fir Og": John Walsh, Philip Price and Tom Walker played to a very appreciative audience and all had a great night, they are playing again at the Taproot on July 31st
Call 345-0282 for more information.
Taproot is at 1330 Huffman Rd # C
Anchorage, AK 99515
THURSDAY SESSION NEWS
John Walsh and friends are still at McGinley's every Thursday night, starting 8.00pm
Mick Mulcrone, (Flute, Vocals & Bouzouki) was up from Portland, for the session on May 7th but had to leave early due to his Mother's health, so he won't be around for session on the 14th.
Philip Price will be down on the 14th of May for a few songs and tunes.
THURSDAY SESSION NEWS
John Walsh and friends are still at McGinley's every Thursday night, starting 8.00pm
Mick Mulcrone, (Flute, Vocals & Bouzouki) will be up from Portland, for two sessions on May 7th and the 14th.
GERARD MCDONNELL
Gerard McDonnell was a great friend and one of the musicians I played with here in Alaska. Gerard was the first Irishman to summit K2, but himself and a number of others are believed to have died while descending the mountain, after an Ice avalanche.
He was a Gentleman and a Scholar as my father would often say and he was, there's no doubt in my mind. He was loved by all who knew him and he touched the hearts and souls of many people.
My deepest condolences to his family and his girlfriend Annie, we will all miss his smiling face and good humour at the sessions, gigs and everywhere.
Ger's last blog on the 25th of July ended with "Sin e anois a chairde. Ta an t-am ag teacht." ("That's all for now, friends. The time is coming").
It's here Gerard McDonnell Expedition Dispatches
Slán go foill mo chara (Goodbye for now my friend).
GERARD MCDONNELL MEMORIAL FUND
Below is a link to the Gerard McDonnell Memorial Fund, which is a fund to run a training school twice a year to properly train High Altitude Porters in the K2 regions. As we all know Ger passed away tragically risking his own life to help others. This School which will be run by The Mountain Fund and will be aided by international Climbers will help to train porters the basics needed to prolong survival in the harsh conditions of the 8000's. A small portion of funds raised will also be distributed to the families of the porters who lost their life's in K2 last August. The very best people are behind this fund so please any donations are very welcome.
Check out the link. Gerard McDonnell Memorial Fund
Celtic Treasures site is now up and running, their site is here Celtic Treasures.
They are located in mid-town Anchorage, Alaska on the corner of Old Seward Hwy and Tudor Road in the City Center Mall.
The Irish Dance Academy has a new site here The Irish Dance Academy of Alaska.
I've updated the Upcoming Events page again with more about what's going on, but if you have any events you would like mentioned here, let me know or if you have any more info about events already posted, please pass it on, thanks.
When I'm not playing music (which is more often than I'd like) I do carpentry and construction, I've loaded a few pictures of some projects, I have worked on in the past, if you're interested, just click on the "View my photo album" over on the left.
New Session at Middle Way Cafe
Starts around 7 and runs till 10 every Tuesday Night. Middleway Cafe
Kevin Burke and Patrick Street.
Kevin Burke's new album is Across the Black River and the new one from Patrick Street is On the Fly, they are both on Kevin's new label Loftus Music
John Carty is now part of the line up and although Jackie Daly is on the Album, he is not touring with them. the rest of the band is of course Andy Irvine and Ged Foley
SESSION UPDATES.
Every Tuesday Night, from around 7 to 10, mainly a dance session, but everyone is welcome, tell your friends. Middleway Cafe
Thursday night session at McGinley's Pub
From 8 to 11 - Everyone is welcome.
645 G St. Suite 101(279-1782).
But in other related news, Dan Possumato'd CD, Land of Sunshine, is now out and getting some great reviews, both here and in Ireland and getting a lot of airplay, it's available at Dan Possumato.
Recently I was searching to see if I could find any recordings of Gerry Carthy and I was successful in that and also came across a site that some of you may be interested in about the late Mickey Finn, the great Galway based fiddler
Mickey Finn Gerry Carthy was always very encouraging in regard to the banjo, when I lived in Galway and I always loved his playing style, he played a lot with Mickey back then. His CD is available here Gerry Carthy Anyway a few new sites and CD's worth checking out Laura Byrne has a new CD out. "Time for the Road", lovely stuff and she's joined by some of the best musicians in America. Billy McComiskey, Peter Fitzgerald, Donna Long, Pat Egan etc. Check out Laura's site.Laura Byrne Traditional Irish Flute Pat Egan of Chulrua fame, also has a new site and well worth a look and of course his CD's with Chulrua (Paddy O'Brien, Pat Egan & Patrick Ourceau) are there too. "Paddy, Patrick and Pat are currently working on a brand-new Chulrua recording that should be available by Christmas 2005." If you are thinking of heading to Ireland, this is site worth checking Authentic Ireland Travel. Here's a link to a great radio site in Ireland, well worth checking out. I recommend Celtic Airs with Keith Fahey. This programme features the cream of Irish Traditional and Folk music.
If you are an Irish musician interested in performing in Alaska please contact me at the address below or you can also email banjowalsh@akirishtrad.net
JOHN WALSH
4518 Reka Drive
Anchorage AK 99508
I would highly recommend Live at Mona's recorded in Mona's in New York City. It features Patrick Ourceau, Eamon O'Leary, Dana Lyn, Brendan Dolan, Brian Holleran, Aidan Brennan, Mick Moloney, & many more.
It's available locally at Suzi's Woollies Suzi's Woollies
Dana Lyn one of the musicians that I have played with at McGurk's and various other places, has a new CD out, Dana is also on the Live at Mona's CD above, her site is here before sleep comes
Joe Burke's Live CD's Volume 1 & 2 - More about Joe Burke at the link on the left. The live recording's of Joe are available for $20 from Guaranteed Irish at (518) 634-2392, or from Joebanjoburke@aol.com.
There is a page here about Joe with photo's from The Alaska Folk Festival. See the link on the left.
The last link on this page is a letter that has been passed around the internet for quite awhile and is well worth having a copy of, if you have ever had a problem with taking your instrument on board a plane.
Thanks to all.
Thanks to all.
Thanks to everyone who has supported Irish Music in Alaska over the years and I am delighted to see more and more players. Don't forget the Thursday night session at the McGinley's 645 G St. Suite 101(279-1782). McGinleys Pub
Weekly, Monthly and Annual Events have been moved to the "Upcoming Events"
Enjoy the site.
John Walsh
Click on the link below to join the Alaska Irish Music Group.
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E-mail me
You can contact me by sending an email to banjowalsh@akirishtrad.net
Please note the change of email address, I will no longer be using the walsh@mtaonline.net after December 31 2006.
In an effort to cut down on spam, you can no longer click on the email to mail me, you will have to cut & paste.
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