Short notice concert!  Saturday Feb 10, 7:30 p.m.
Máirtín de Cógáin  of The Fuchsia Band

Two-time National Irish storytelling champion, stellar singer and  bodhran player, Máirtín de Cógáin describes himself thusly:
 "I was found under a stone and brought up in a tree with many others! I've been learning my trade from a little man named Larry the Leipreachán who is well learned in the ways of Éireann’s past."

Also an accomplished DANCER, Máirtín has been known to light up the stage with his footwork during performances. His energetic "Brush Dance" just has to be seen to be believed!

Máirtín is also a professional actor and appears in the new Ken Loach film The Wind That Shakes The Barley which won the TOP AWARD ( the coveted Palme d'Or ) at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. The movie is about the Irish struggle for independence circa 1922 and Mairtin plays the character Seán. It is scheduled for release in the United States on March 16, 2007.

Details:
start time: 7:30 p.m. at The Chez Coffeehouse, 100 Hitt Street, Columbia
Suggested donation: $10 adults / $5 kids 6 - 16  (cash or check accepted at the door)
There is plenty of convenient parking across the street in the Cherry Street parking garage.
There is  a PDF flyer here: http://www.moceltic.org/2007/mairtin_poster2.pdf

NOTE:  Anyone who pays CMCAA membership dues the night of the concert will be entered in a drawing to receive a free CD at half-time.  (More details below on dues)
Refreshments and a traditional Irish music session to follow. Musicians are invited to bring instruments, dancers to bring their feet! Bring a treat to share if it's convenient.

For more information about the concert, call Kate: 442-2048

Here's a review of Mairtin's solo album, "The False Start"
Two-time national Irish story-telling champion Mairtin De Cogain has produced a work of art whose only flaw is, perhaps, the title itself. This is most certainly no "False Start" for Mairtin and for any fan of Irish culture, music, song, dance and storytelling. A better title may have been "The Real Deal" because, as this CD proves, that is exactly what Mairtin is. Mairtin is a modern day seanachie and the best you would ever want to hear. A seanachie (pronounced "shan-a-key" or "shawn-a-key") is a traditional Irish story teller. These are the men that, throughout Irish history, have told the stories and sung the songs and passed on the traditions of a culture whose influence has spread worldwide. But Mairtin is not JUST a seanachie. Mairtin is a force of nature and "The False Start" is just the beginning for him. You need to buy this CD before it sells out. It is now, and will remain, a classic work from a classic artist and a MUST HAVE for anyone who loves Irish music, song, dance and the stories that can and should be told to all generations.

By the way -- this is the last chance to admire Mairtin's lovely, shaggy locks, as he's getting them all cut off as a charity fundraiser on Wednesday, Feb 14!  After the great cutting, they will be donated to Locks of Love.  It's happening in Kansas City, but you can watch it on webcam -- isn't the Internet grand?!


Irish Ceili Dance Friday, Feb 9 (tomorrow)

Music: Tim Langen and Clare Connors
Caller: Kat Difixfire

Irish social dancing for everyone!  Easy group dances with live Irish music, refreshments and fun -- what more could you ask for on a Friday evening!?

7:00 beginners' lesson,   7:30 dancing begins

All ages are welcome, no experience necessary.  Please wear clean, soft-soled shoes to protect the floor.


March Concert update

Tom Sweeney will not be able to be here in March, as he has postponed his midwest tour until October 2007.

BUT, I'm working on something else for Saturday, March 10, so SAVE THE DATE.  It's not quite confirmed, but I'll be able to make an announcement at the concert on Saturday. (I'm bursting to tell you, but I just can't yet!)
Watch the web site for news.

It's that membership dues time of year again!

February is the month when we ask Central MO Celtic Arts Members to renew their memberships, and invite non-members to join in supporting this organization.  Throughout the year CMCAA presents concerts; hosts ceilis; fasters jam sessions, book clubs, dance clubs, offers dance and music classes and for 7 years we've had artists-in-residence from Ireland to teach our summer arts program. And I always forget to mention that I spend several hours a month putting this darn newsletter together!  We are seriously LOW-BUDGET as arts organizations go, and membership dues are a huge part of how we make all this happen.

So, in about two weeks we'll be sending out snail-mail letters asking past members to renew, but you could save us the 39 cents and either renew at the concert on Saturday, or do it online at the web site.

If you've never paid CMCAA dues before, but have been attending our concerts or participating in other activities -- or reading this newsletter --  I ask you to please consider joining this year.  We will put your $12 or $20 to really good use.

And when you consider that, please also ask yourself if you have time and talents you could offer. We really need some volunteer help to develop and execute a marketing plan for the organization, and throughout the year for organizing and marketing our events.

Membership dues are reasonable:
$12 individual
$20 family membership
$8 for a student or senior
To read about membership and pay your dues online:  http://www.moceltic.org/membership.html

Kansas City Irish Museum and Cultural Center to open March 17

The Grand Opening celebration of the KC Irish Museum and Cultural center will feature a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 am, then an open house and celebration from 1-4 pm with music, sancing, storytelling, an intergenerational family history project,  and children’s crafts.

The Center is located in the west wing of the historic Union Station.

Union Station and the Irish have a strongly linked history. From the Irish immigrants who provided much of the workforce that built the railroads, to the immigrants coming through Union Station to start a new life in the Midwest, to the thousands of Irish-American soldiers who shipped out and came home through Union Station, to the Irish-American workers who dug the coal and butchered the livestock transported across the country from Union Station.The Center's partnership with Union Station continues to honor this history.

 http://www.irishmuseum.org/


St. Louis Tionol and Celtic Festival, April 20 - 22

Tenth anniversary year!
We have a great lineup this year. Mike Rafferty, famous East Galway flute player, will be here along with Willie Kelly who’s a perennial fiddle teacher at Catskills Irish Week. Patrick Ourceau, and the other members of Chulrua (Paddy O’Brien and Pat Egan) will be returning. Michael Cooney, Mickey Dunne and Tommy Martin will be keeping the pipers going. Laurence Nugent, Shannon Heaton, John Skelton, and Brian Kelso Crow will be doing flute and whistle. Barbara MacDonald Magone will be returning to teach keyboards and Eileen Gannon will be doing honors on harp.We're adding second guitar class and Jim Flanagan, ballad singer, poet, and native irish speaker will be teaching the ballads class. And of course, we’ll have Ged Foley back on guitar and Mark Stone and Chris Weddle on bodhran.
If you’ve not attended before, come and join us in April. To those returning – we’ll see you on April 20th.

Please see the web site for the full schedule, roster of artists and online registration.
http://www.tionol.org/

Calendar events

I've been updating the local and regional calendar of Celtic events. Please check it regularly for updated information, especially during March!
http://www.moceltic.org/calendar.html
 

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