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 15 2010

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 Óg were at Celtic Treasures on the 22nd of May.

They had a great night as did the audience going by all the comments we have received since.

Fir Óg are at Resurrect Art Coffee House in Seward on the 5th of June.

Fir Óg are Philip Price, John Walsh & BenSaylor

Ben Saylor has joined Fir Óg

Ben has been a multi-instrumentalist and composer for most of his life. He began playing Irish traditional music in 2007 after being introduced to it by Anchorage musicians Jim Kerr and Denise Martin, first on mandolin and banjo, then on flute, which has become his main instrument. He has since played regularly at local sessions, and has studied with a number of great players including Catherine McEvoy, Conal Ó Grada, and Hammy Hamilton. He joined Fir Óg in early 2010.

Philip Price

Philip Price: Singer/Songwriter. Irish ballads/traditional.

After many years in the music scene in Ireland, England, and the lower 48, Philip Price is thrilled to be a part of the vibrant Irish and folk scene in Alaska. Although an academic by day at the University of Alaska, Philip (or "the real Dr. Phil") as he is known to many of his students) has a true passion for Irish ballads. Born and reared in Dublin, Philip has performed and recorded with a variety of Dublin traditional and bluegrass bands including the Druids, the Blasket Sound, and Turlough and has opened for internationally known bands including the Dubliners.

The other member of Fir Óg, John Walsh, has more info here: About Me

FUNDRAISER FOR THE GERARD MCDONNELL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND

The Irish Club of Alaska's Holiday Ceili on November 14th at the Snow Goose Theater was a great success, both financially for the Gerard McDonnell Memorial Scholarship Fund and the recipient of this year's award, Willow Feighery, excuse me if I have not got the spelling right on the last name.

Gerard McDonnell (1971-2008) was a beloved member of the Alaska Irish Music Community. Gerard's musical abilities were well respected in the community. He encouraged young people to participate in Irish music, dance and promoting those arts in Alaska. Gerard was born in Ireland but considered Alaska his home away from home.

GERARD MCDONNELL MEMORIAL AWARD

The McDonnell Family presented the Irish Club of Alaska with the above mentioned award and the Irish Club board feels it is appropriate to present this award each year to a young individual from the nominations presented to them, so please feel free to nominate.

Nominations for the award should be a person, under 25 who participates and contributes to the Irish Music/Dance/Culture and community of Alaska.

You can download the nomination form here

Gerard McDonnell Award Nomination Form

THURSDAY SESSION NEWS

John Walsh and friends are still at McGinley's every Thursday night, starting 8.00pm

You just never know who might show up.

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.

Click here for an easy and free way to help feed those in need at The Hunger Site!

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.

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 second CD, Pulling out all the Stops, is now out and 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.

Mid West Irish Radio

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
230 Bonnie Jean Court
Anchorage AK 99515

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 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

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