irish music & dance association an bhealtaine

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www.irishmusicanddanceassociation.orgwww.irishmusicanddanceassociation.orgwww.irishmusicanddanceassociation.orgwww.irishmusicanddanceassociation.org

Irish Music & Dance Association

28th Year, Issue No . 5

May 2010

An Bhealtaine

The mission of the Irish Music and Dance Association is to support, coordinate, encourage and promote high quality activities and programs in Irish music, dance and other cultural traditions within the community.

Inside this issue:

The Great Northern Irish Pipers’ Club (GNIPC) will be hosting its ninth annual Tionól May 14th and 16th, 2010. Tionól (pronounced “chuh-nole) is Irish for “gathering” -- in this case, a gathering of uilleann pipers. A full two days of workshops are planned ,with this year’s guest pipers/instructors being Ivan Goff and Skip Cleavinger. Ivan and Skip will be part of a public concert, along with Dublin piper Pat D’Arcy, pipes-and-fiddle duet from Chicago Pat Cannady and Karen Cook Cannady, our Dáithí Sproule, Anna Lethert and Danielle Enblom, members of the Great Northern Irish Pipers’ Club, and surprise guests. The concert is Saturday, May 15, in the new Titanic Lounge at the new Kieran’s Pub in Block E in downtown Minneapolis. Concert tickets ($10.00) are available in advance from GNIPC (available on the gnipc website: www.gnipc.org), and at the door Saturday night. The concert gets underway at 7:30 pm. The weekend workshops will consist of two days of piping instruction. The workshops will be aboard the beautiful Covington Inn bed and breakfast, moored at Harriet Island in downtown St. Paul. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, and the day’s workshops will run until 5:00 p.m.. Sunday’s workshops will be from 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.. Workshops will be divided into those for beginning players and intermediate/advanced players. An exciting new feature this year will be the discussion/lecture given by multiple-pipes player Skip Cleavinger, entitled “Uilleann Piping for Highland Pipers”. This talk will cast a light on the difference between these two bagpipe cousins and the challenges that arise when one tries to transfer technique from one idiom to the other. The lecture will also help illustrate the symbiotic relationship between Irish traditional music and Scottish traditional. This workshop can be purchased à la carte for only $10.00 at the venue or through the GNIPC website. Everyone is welcome....even if you have never touched a set of pipes in your life and have no instrument! This is a tremendous opportunity to rub elbows (if you will) with some of the world’s greatest pipers, and meet members of our burgeoning uilleann-pipe community! Tickets, registration and information on all the weekend’s events may be found at the GNIPC website: www.gnipc.org For additional information, contact Tom Klein, The Great Northern Irish Pipers’ Club [email protected] (651) 227-3367

Tune of the Month 2

Gaelic Corner 3

Events! 6

Smidirini 7

May Calendar 8-9

Cú Ceoil 11

Ceili Corner 14

Summer Irish Fests 15

Ninth Great Northern Irish Pipers Club TionolNinth Great Northern Irish Pipers Club TionolNinth Great Northern Irish Pipers Club TionolNinth Great Northern Irish Pipers Club Tionol

May 14th through 16thMay 14th through 16thMay 14th through 16thMay 14th through 16th

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Here’s a good piping tune in recognition of the upcoming Great Northern Irish Pipers Club Tionól, May 14th-16th. (Don’t miss the Saturday night concert on at the new Kieran’s Pub Titanic Lounge.) My source for this tune is Billy McCormick, uilleann piper, who lives in Kilnaboy, Co. Clare and who came here for the 2003 Tionól. Billy played it during one of the noon hour recitals at the Community Hall in Miltown Malbay during the 2007 Willie Clancy Summer School. John McCormick, Patrick McCormick, Adam Modares, and myself, all taking classes that year, listened in rapt attention. Usual disclaimers: Any transcription errors are my own. The notation here is not meant to be a substitute for listening. It is simply an aid to learning the tune.

�une of �he on�h By Amy Shaw The IMDA Board is:

President: Lisa Conway

Treasurer: Mark Malone

Secretary: Jan Casey

Board Members: Suin Lowary Ruth McGlynn Anne Alcocer

Editor: John Burns

Advertising: Open Seat

IMDA Board Meetings are open to the membership. The Board meets regularly on the First Tuesday of each month at 6 pm at Perkins in HarMar. Members are en-couraged to verify the time and location shortly before, as meeting times and locations can change.

Contact Information Write to:

Irish Music and Dance Association 236 Norfolk Ave NW Elk River, MN 55330

Call: 612-990-3122

Newsletter Submissions We welcome our readers to submit articles of interest, news, and notices of events to be published in the news-letter. The deadline is the 20th o f the preceding month. Send to: [email protected]

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The rains have come, with the hope that those April showers are producing May flowers. When we think of rain in Ireland, rare event that it is, it is hard not to think of that funny Irish phrase, "a soft rain," or fearthainn bhog in Irish.

Bog is the Irish word for "soft," and most of the time the English and Irish words are used in quite similar ways. We can talk about a "soft heart," croí bog, or being soft in the sense of "lenient" with a person, bog le

duine. We can tell you that something is "as soft as butter," chomh bog le him.

Many other uses of "soft" in Irish are slightly different, but still easy enough to figure out. A cathaoir bhog, "soft chair," refers to one of those nicely stuffed easy chairs. And bog na cluaise, the soft part of the ear, refers to your "ear lobe." Feoil bhog is not literally "soft meat," but rather "tender." To "soften a bad tale" for someone, drochscéala a

bhogadh do dhuine, is to prepare that individual to receive some bad news. A fiacail bhog is not literally a "soft tooth," with perhaps a cavity, but a "loose" one. Also when referring to a knot, snaidhm, bog means "loose," while its opposite, crua or "hard," refers to a "tight" knot.

Bogoighear is "soft ice," meaning melting, slushy snow. And someone who is bogintinneach, "soft minded," is a bit simple in the head.

With food, bog indicates "warm" or "lukewarm," as in uisce bog, "lukewarm water." There is a well-known lullaby, Braon Bog, which is sometimes translated as "a soft drop," but it refers to a bit of soup for a child, which soup should, of course, not be too hot. (Interestingly, in that lullaby, the word seanduine, or "old person," is used to indicate an infant, who is likely to be, after all, bald and feeble.)

And to be bogmheisce is to be only "slightly drunk."

Bog is also used for "easy," in the sense of Tog go bog

é! "Take it easy!" Similarly, one can spend money easily or freely, airgead a chaitheamh go bog.

Bogán, a related noun form of "soft," can refer to "soft ground" or to a "softy," a soft-hearted, easy-going person. But it can also mean, strangely, a "shell-less egg," as used in the expression, Ní

fiú bogán spideoige é, "It is not worth the shell-less egg of a robin." In other words, it is utterly useless.

Our tenth annual Weekend in Winona will run Friday evening, July 16, through Sunday midday, July 18, on the campus of the University of Saint Mary's in Winona, MN. We always have a lot of fun, and learn lot at the same time, in a beautiful setting just a couple of hours south of the Twin Cities. All levels are taught, making this a great opportunity to try out the language for the very first time, or to polish the skills you may already have. And if you are new to learning Irish, this will get you into our regular Monday night classes.

We'll have more details about our Weekend in Winona on our web site at www.gaelminn.org. And while you're there, think about signing up for our free e-zine, The GaelMinn Gazette, as it heads into its sixth year of publication with tips (in English) for studying the language, and announcements about our activities and events.

An rud a fhaightear go bog, caitear go bog

What is easily gotten is easily spent, or "Easy come, easy go!"

Will

�he �aelic �orner By Will Kenny

Irish Fair's Legacy Fund Grant Applications are due May 14. Further info and the application form can be found on their website at

http://www.irishfair.com/about/legacy_fund.php Applications are at

http://www.irishfair.com//uploaded/files/2010_legacy_fund_grant_application.pdf

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Ivan Goff Ivan Goff, an All-Ireland champion from Dublin, based in New York, plays uilleann pipes (Irish bellows-blown pipes), whistles and Irish wooden concert flute. A traditional musician with an eclectic background that includes master degrees in both musicology and computer composition, Ivan has performed in several well-known productions including extended engagements with Riverdance (US tour and Broadway), Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance and has featured in film scores such as recently-released Cremaster 3 (Matthew Barney) exhibited in the Guggenheim museum 2003.

In addition to performing as a solo artist, Ivan has collaborated as performer and composer in the theatrical productions Peacefire and The Voice of the Sea (Mac Uibh Aille) and has performed with numerous bands and artists including NYC-based Whirligig, Cathie Ryan and Irish traditional band Lúnasa.

Skip Cleavinger

Skip Cleavinger began his journey in traditional music in 1976 with his first instrument, the Highland bagpipes. Over the course of 20+ years in the Scottish piping scene, Skip competed in many professional solo competitions and pipe band contests. Exposure to recordings by Planxty, the Bothy Band and Moving Hearts stirred an interest in uilleann piping and led Skip to finally “take the leap” and order a set of uilleann pipes. Skip met Benedict Koehler soon after getting his pipes, and Benedict has been a steady source of instruction, support and inspiration ever since.

Living near Nashville, Tennessee, Skip has been active as a studio and touring musician for the past 10 years. Skip has been fortunate to work with many great people over the years, performing and/or recording with artists such as Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Martina McBride, Josh Groban, and Alison Krauss. He has performed with many symphony orchestras across the U.S., including the Dallas Symphony, the Atlanta Symphony, and the Nashville Symphony.

Guest Pipers at the 2010 TionolGuest Pipers at the 2010 TionolGuest Pipers at the 2010 TionolGuest Pipers at the 2010 Tionol

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Established in 1932 by the International Institute of Minnesota, the Festival of Nations is designed to bring Americans of all backgrounds together – native and naturalized citizens alike – to share the ties with our past and take pride in the richness of diverse cultures in our community.

Music and dance from around the world are highlights of the Festival of Nations, held each year at RiverCentre in St. Paul, and Irish and Celtic music and dance will be well represented at this year’s Festival, April 29 thru May 2. Multi-instrumentalist and singer Laura MacKenzie returns this year with music of Ireland and Scotland. O’Shea Irish Dance will perform four times on Saturday. The evening performance will showcase the adult dancers from O’Shea

Irish Dance, together with the Mooncoin Ceili Dancers and Knocknagow Irish Dancers.

The Festival includes foods from around the world, as well as exhibits, demonstrations and a bazaar. Gaelic harper and harp builder Chad McAnally is new to the Festival – he’ll be demonstrating Irish harp building. Details are at www.festivalofnations.com.

Sessions at Kieran's are back!Sessions at Kieran's are back!Sessions at Kieran's are back!Sessions at Kieran's are back!

Jode and Kate Dowling are hosting a new session at Kieran’s every Sunday from noon until 2pm, starting May 2nd. Kieran made a special request for this timeslot, as it brings back memories from his youth and the sessions at Slattery's in Dublin. In nostalgic form, they will all be kicked out at 2pm for the commencement of "holy hour" (or to lunch, and then over to Keegan's for the session-marathoners amongst you).

The session will be in the "Poetry Room", which has a great feel, is family friendly, and will give listeners room for enjoyment. Kate and Jode are acting as hosts, but it is a non-paid, open session, just like the long-standing Wednesday night at the previous location. Please come join them for a pint and a tune this Sunday or any Sunday, in perpetuity.

Please pass it on! Questions? Feel free to call Kate or Jode Dowling at 612-

669-3013.

The Center for Irish Music presents: The 4th Annual Young Irish Musicians Weekend June 18-20 2010 The Celtic Junction 836 Prior Avenue N. Saint Paul, Minnesota 55104

The Young Irish Musicians weekend boasts an astounding line-up of internationally renowned Irish musicians who will be traveling to to Saint Paul, Minnesota to give workshops and lectures in pure-drop Irish traditional music at the Center for Irish Music.

For more information go to The Center for Irish Music

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�midirini* By Copper Shannon (*Irish for ‘Bits and Pieces’)

“…A man you don’t meet every day.” If you missed the chance to get the great t-shirt with Fitz on the front and “Ya gotta love it” on the back, you’ll get another chance. Liam at Irish on Grand has ordered more and expects them early in May. Proceeds go to a memorial fund in Fitz’s memory at the Center for

Irish Music.

It’s never too early to plan…The Cedar Cultural Center has tickets on sale for the Oct. 7 Tannahill Weavers concert. The Tannahill Weavers are one of Scotland’s premier traditional bands. Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 day of show (if they’re available!) Get them at www.thecedar.org. Great Irish music not so far from home. The Big Top Chautauqua in Bayfield, WI is offering some great Irish music this summer. Great Big Sea on Aug. 12, Tommy Sands with Different Drums of Ireland on Aug. 13 (be sure to be back in time for Irish Fair!), and Gaelic Storm on Aug. 18. Plan to arrive early to enjoy the pre-concert atmosphere and dinner on the grounds at the base of Mount Ashwabay Ski Area a few miles south of Bayfield, Wisconsin. Details and tickets at: http://www.superiortrails.com/bayfield-bigtop.html Festival News: Rumor has it that Norah Rendell’s Irish and Scottish band The Outside Track will be at the Celtic Colours International Festival in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia this October. The festival lineup won’t be announced until June. More Festival News: The Máirtín de Cógáin Project will be a part of the Oshkosh Irish Fest, June 12 and 13. And the Wild Colonial Bhoys will be at the Dakota Irish Fair, July 24 in Sioux Falls. Looking for some new tunes? Check out Matt and Shannon Heaton’s Podcast at http://tuneofthemonth.posterous.com/. Matt and Shannon, a Boston- based husband-and-wife duo who sing and play updated and traditional Irish music on flute/guitar/bouzouki/accordion, were recently here in concert at The Celtic Junction. They post a new tune each month, available for download and study. Coming Soon! Keep an eye out for a new feature on TPT2 - Twin Cities Public Television called Minnesota Originals. An upcoming program will highlight O’Shea Irish Dance, and will include Taylor Best and Meghan Golder, the two championship level dancers who competed in the Irish Dancing World

Championships in Scotland last month. Congratulations! Our own Rumgumption (Shawn McBurnie, Chad McAnally, Jason Novak and Adam Modares) got a rave review on their debut CD “Crossing the Roaring Main” from Rambles.net., the web source on the web for reviews of folk, roots & traditional music, fiction, folklore, concerts, movies and more. Rambles.net called it the Celtic in a Twist radio pick of the month for February 2010.

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IMDA Community Calendar May 2010 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

May 1 2pm First Saturday Ceili Dubliner Pub

Live Music Dubliner Pub 9:30pm Irish Brigade Kieran’s Pub

May 2

Noon! Traditional Session Kieran’s Pub 6pm Advanced Irish Music Session Keegan’s Pub 7:30 Pub Quiz Merlins Rest

May 3

6pm Learners Irish Session Keegan’s Pub

May 4

7pm Pub Quiz Keegan’s Pub Live Music Dubliner Pub

May 5

6pm Ceili Dance Class Midtown Global Market Mpls 7pm Ceili Dance Class Conway Recreation Center 7:30pm Ceili Dance 9:30 pm: Live Music Dubliner Pub 7pm Tom Dahill O’Donovan’s Irish Pub 7:30 Pub Quiz Kip’s Pub 7:30 Pub Quiz Merlins Rest

May 6

6:30pm Pub Quiz 8pm Pub Quiz Keegan’s Pub 7:00pm Set Dance Class The Ivy Building Live Music Dubliner Pub

May 7 8pm Crowley & Hartman Kip’s Kilt Night & Trad Irish Music Merlins Rest

Live Music Dubliner Pub 7:30pm Tom Dahill Kieran’s Pub 9:30pm Tim Malloys Kieran’s Pub

May 8

Live Music Dubliner Pub 9:30pm Tim Malloys Kieran’s Pub

May 9

Noon! Traditional Session Kieran’s Pub 1pm Locklin Road Woodland Hill Winery, Delano

6pm Advanced Irish Music Session Keegan’s Pub 7:30 Pub Quiz Merlins Rest

May 10


May 11


May 12


May 13

6:30pm Pub Quiz 8pm Pub Quiz Keegan’s Pub 7:00pm Set Dance Class The Ivy Building Live Music Dubliner Pub

May 14 Kilt Night & Trad Irish Music Merlins Rest 8pm Crowley & Hartman Kip’s

9:30pm Tim Malloys Kieran’s Pub Live Music Dubliner Pub

May 15

9:30pm Tim Malloys Kieran’s Pub Live Music Dubliner Pub

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May 23


May 24


May 25


May 26


May 27

6:30pm Pub Quiz 8pm Pub Quiz Keegan’s Pub 7:00pm Set Dance Class The Ivy Building

Live Music Dubliner Pub

May 28 Kilt Night & Trad Irish Music Merlins Rest 8pm Crowley & Hartman Kip’s

Live Music Dubliner Pub 9:30pm St. Dominics Trio Kieran’s Pub

May 29

Live Music Dubliner Pub 9:30pm St. Dominics Trio Kieran’s Pub

May 30


May 31


June 1


June 2 6pm Ceili Dance Class Midtown Global Market Mpls 7pm Ceili Dance Class Conway Recreation Center 7:30pm Ceili Dance 9:30 pm: Live Music Dubliner Pub

June 3 Live Music Dubliner Pub

June 4 9:30pm Sweet Colleens Kieran’s Pub


June 5 9:30pm Sweet Colleens Kieran’s Pub 4pm Locklin Road Woodland Hill Winery, Delano


May 16


May 17


May 18


May 19

6pm Ceili Dance Class Midtown Global Market Mpls 7pm Ceili Dance Class Conway Recreation Center 7:30pm Ceili Dance 9:30 pm: Live Music Dubliner Pub 7pm Tom Dahill O’Donovan’s Irish Pub 7:30 Pub Quiz Kip’s Pub 7:30 Pub Quiz Kieran’s Pub 7:30 Pub Quiz Merlins Rest

May 20

6:30pm Pub Quiz 8pm Pub Quiz Keegan’s Pub 7:00pm Set Dance Class The Ivy Building


May 21 8pm Crowley & Hartman Kip’s Kilt Night & Trad Irish Music Merlins Rest

9:30pm Reverse Cowboy Kieran’s Pub Live Music Dubliner Pub

May 22

Live Music Dubliner Pub 9:30pm Reverse Cowboy Kieran’s Pub 10pm KILT NIGHT Tom Dahill & Ginny Johnson Keegan’s Pub

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" Music to the Irish is a living delight, a mysterious key to a host of undiscovered emotions hoarded in the secrets of

the soul." Mairtin Byrnes

Each month, a local musician serves as your “cú ceoil”, or “music hound”, and recommends music that they

especially enjoy. It might be an old favorite or perhaps a new recording. Kate and Jode Dowling play together as

the HiBs, often including friends in the band. Kate and Jode are founders of and instructors at the Center for Irish

Music, Kate on Irish flute and tin whistle, and Jode on fiddle.

What Kate says ... Cork flute player Conal O'Grada's latest recording, Cnoc Bui, published by himself in 2008, is an unadulterated prism of perfect traditional Irish flute music. This recording is not for the faint of heart - it is hardcore - singularly flute oriented with the only aural addition coming from the tasteful wrists of Colm Murphy on bodhran. (The cd may be worth the price alone just to hear Colm's bodhran playing!) Conal's fluting is fierce and delightful, with his tell-tale throated rhythm (he never tongues a note) full of note-y twists and runs that are all his own. There are a few well-known session pieces on the recording, such as The Grafspey, Come West Along the Road, The Copperplates and Jackie Coleman’s, however, they are played with such a style and rhythm that it seems you have never heard them before in their right setting. More importantly, there are many lesser known tunes here, including polkas, of course, that will have you racing to grab your instruments to try them yourself, or, at the very least, whistling and tapping your toes. This is an absolute must-have recording for any true traditional enthusiast, of all ages and for all instruments. What Jode says... Conal O'Grada's first CD, The Top of Coom, released in 1990, has never been far from my CD player. I return to it over and over, and I am elated to add Conal's latest release, Cnoc Bui, into my favorite playlist. Rhythm is king in Irish traditional music, and Conal has got it in spades. The solo playing on Cnoc Bui is captivating, and the tune selection keeps it lively right through to the marches on the second last track, where he is joined by Colm Murphy, one of my favorite bodhran players. Forget that it is a "flute" CD, and buy it for its lovely rhythm, power, tunes and musicality. The CD may be available at Irish on Grand, and is available on CD Baby (where the proceeds usually go directly to the artist).

Cú Ceoil

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The Deportees by Roddy Doyle (short story collection; paperback; Penguin Books)

reviewed by Sherry Ladig Many of us remember the classic Irish comedy movie , The Commitments, about a bunch of misfit musicians who got together in Dublin to form a rhythm-and-blues band, with various successes and difficulties. Some of us may have also read and enjoyed the book on which the movie was based, a brilliant dark tragicomedy written by Roddy Doyle. He's one of Dublin's best known literary sons, having produced prize-winning literature (1993 Booker Prize for Paddy

Clarke Ha Ha Ha) on the life and times of contemporary Irish life. The sequel to

The Commitments was a book that deserves a wider audience: The Deportees. Although the book describes a world just before the "Celtic Tiger" got de-fanged (sharing the economic downturn the rest of Europe and the world has experienced), the book still accurately describes modern Dublin: a rich stew of immigrants and native-borns trying to make the most of economic opportunities in Ireland, rubbing shoulders and trying to get along in a world very unlike the world of their grandparents and even parents. In this collection of short stories, you see the diversity, the prejudices, the awkward adjustments of many cultures thrown together in the "new Ireland", trying to make sense of their world and of each other. The crowning story of The Deportees is the titular novella, about a new band put together by Jimmy Rabbitt, the band manager in The

Commitments. This time it's a not-so-United Nations of a Romanian, an African, a Russian and other musicians trying to sing and play, of all things, Woody Guthrie songs. The premise sounds preposterous, but it works, in Doyle's classic hilarious dark comedic style. Doyle manages to write engaging, complex characters you care about, warts and all. The other stories in this collection are smaller gems as well, reflecting a changing map---and complexion----of Ireland today.

A quick note: although April was National Poetry Month, it is not too late to explore the wide rich world of Irish poets. I recently discovered Theo Dorgan from Cork City, who as I write this was due to appear at University of St. Thomas as a visiting lecturer; it is hoped that the Icelandic volcano didn't prevent his flight to Saint Paul. Whether or not he was able to visit, you can find his books at the St Thomas bookstore and other places. His two best-known collections, Rosa Mundi and The Ordinary House of Love have been reprinted in a single volume issued by Daedelus Press (2008). His poetry combines the real and ordinary aspects of life with the mystical, inner awareness of the soul and its longings. Theo Dorgan's work is well worth seeking out, and I recommend it highly.

Sherry Ladig is a Saint Paul Irish and Scottish trad. musician, and a onetime literary writer for The Hungry Mind (R.I.P.) newsletter.

An Leabhragán (The Bookcase)

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The Center for Irish MusicThe Center for Irish MusicThe Center for Irish MusicThe Center for Irish Music The Center has incorporated as an independent non-profit.

Come check us out at The Celtic JunctionThe Celtic JunctionThe Celtic JunctionThe Celtic Junction

836 Prior Avenue, St Paul MN

Please check the website for information on our full range of instruction in traditional Irish music, language , culture and fun.

For class schedule and other information call or email 612612612612----669669669669----3013 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Or visit our website

www.centerforirishmusic.orgwww.centerforirishmusic.orgwww.centerforirishmusic.orgwww.centerforirishmusic.org

Dedicated to Handing Down the Tradition

�eili �orner By Bhloscaidh O’Keane

First Saturday Afternoon Céilí - Dubliner Pub, 2162 University Avenue in Saint Paul, from 2:00 to 5:00. The suggested donation is $2.00 per person. The dances are taught and called by Paul McCluskey.

Third Saturday Night Céilí - The Celtic Junction, 836 Prior Ave., No, St. Paul. Dances taught and called by Mike Whelan with Irish dance music by the Twin Cities Ceili Band. Admission $5 per person, $20 maximum per family

Irish Dance Classes:

Céilí Dancing - Wednesday Nights

Dubliner Irish Pub - 2162 University Avenue in Saint Paul. Learn Irish dancing in a genuine Irish pub with a wooden floor that has known a whole lot of dancing feet. Steps and dances are taught by Súin Lowary. Basic beginning steps are taught beginning at 7:30 (please note the time change), with advanced lessons and dancing continuing until 9:30 PM. Year-round; no children, and must be of legal drinking age to remain past 9:00 PM. Free.

Conway Recreation Center - 2090 Conway Street in Saint Paul. This class is held in a park and recreation gym, and is taught by fine dancers/instructors who will provide plenty of special attention for your particular level of experience. The class runs from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. Year-round and open to all ages. Free.

Midtown Global Market - 920 E. Lake St., Minneapolis. Look for the big green neon letters that say MIDTOWN and dance right in the heart of South Minneapolis. Come early to learn the basic steps, and learn the reels and jigs with experienced dancers plus newcomers who discover us while out for dinner or shopping. Steps and dances are taught by Paul McCluskey. The class starts at 6:00 pm. Free.

Set Dancing - Thursday Nights

The Ivy Building - 2637 - 27th Avenue South in Minneapolis, right along the Midtown Greenway. Set dances are taught and led by Tim McAndrew, usually with live music. Dancing from 7-10pm, year-round. $7 per person.

Lots more information at: Lóma mór Irish Dance Club, www.lomamor.org

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Just tear out the above form and send it with a check made out to “IMDA” to: The IMDA Membership Coordinator

236 Norfolk Ave NW Elk River, MN 55330

Name: Today’s Date:

Address:

Membership Type:

New? Gift? Renewal? Corporate? Family?

Interests:

(Mark all that apply)

Music

Dance Theatre Gaelic Volunteer

Where did you hear about the IMDA Newsletter?

IMDA Membership Want to know what’s going on in the local Irish scene? Interested in music, dance, theatre and culture? Be the first on your block to subscribe to the IMDA Newsletter. It’s a mere $20 for an annual individual membership and $25 for a family membership. Sign up yourself or sign up a friend, but whatever you do, support your local artists!

Phone Number:

E-mail:

Would you prefer to receive your monthly newsletter electronically via e-mail? _____ YES _____ NO (Faster delivery and full color photos!)

The Summer Festival Season ♣ The Second Annual Oshkosh Irish Fest has an impressive lineup :

Ian Gould, Sheamus Fitzpatrick and the McNally Boys, the Gleasons, The Elders, Larkin and Moran Brothers, Trinity Irish Dancers, Bagpipes and Drums of the Emerald Society - Chicago Police Department, Leahy’s Luck, Máirtin de Cógáin Project, Seamus Kennedy, The Rovers, Tantrum, Gaelic Storm, Rising Gael, Shamrock Club Color Guard Pipe and Drums, and Blarney. Cultural activities and a mini-regatta of Irish currachs are also planned. The Second Annual Oshkosh Irish Fest is June 11 -13, at the Leach Amphitheatre, Oshkosh. Details, schedules and tickets at www.oshkoshirishfest.com/

♣ The second annual Dakota Irish Fair will include Irish music, dance, rugby, kids activities, heritage & genealogy and a 'seisiun' tent. Entertainment includes: Dakota District Pipes and Drums, Sioux Falls Ceili Band, Mike Connor & The Shamrockers, and the Wild Colonial Bhoys. Dakota Irish Fair will be held Saturday, July 24, 2010, Phillips to the Falls, Sioux Falls, SD. Details at www.dakotairish.org/

♣ The Iowa Irish Fest has announced its lineup: the Dublin City Ramblers, The Elders, The Killdares, Pogey, Danny Burns, Scythian, Switchback, Trinity Irish Dancers, the Prodigals, the Crossing, and Gaelic Storm. Iowa

Irish Fest is Aug. 6-8 in the Lincoln Park area of downtown Waterloo. Details at www.iowairishfest.com/

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Postmaster: Time/Dated Material

236 Norfolk Ave NW Elk River, MN 55330

All are welcome, Lessons begin at 7:30 pm

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