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Milo Singing His heart out!
Here it is folks, Milo joined Gabriel Donohue and his dad Máirtín de Cógáin on the big stage of the Norwegian Pearl to sing his heart out with ‘I Tell Me Ma‘ on Joanie Madden’s Folk ‘n’ Irish Cruise Alaskan Adventure. He learnt the song over the summer when he tagged along with me (his dad, like) to the San Diego Children’s Choir Summer Camp, which was a brilliant week. This is one of the songs I thought the group.
Video by Dean & Jackie Wipperman
What a Summer! Here is what is going to Fall into line for Máirtín
Gigs
2018
Oct 5 LA, West Monroe – NELACelticFest
Oct 16-18 NV, Las Vegas – IMEX America
Oct 18-21 TX, Midlothian – O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat
Oct 25 CA, San Diego – Songs of Irish Heroes
Nov 3-4 TX, Austin – Austin Celtic Festival
2019
May 12 – 19 NYC to Bermuda Joanie Madden’s Folk ‘n’ Irish Cruise
More or less info on all dates click here
This summer saw me for the first time teaching and lecturing at The Swannanoa Gathering during their Celtic Week. Every morning at 9am a class of about 40 would come to learn ‘What is in a tale: The Mask & Playfulness of the Storyteller’ then at 10.45 another 40 or so would listen and discuss ‘The Myths & Legends of Ireland’. It was one of the best teaching weeks I have had. The students were brilliant but I ended up learning quite a lot myself in the research for it and in the classes themselves.
For the Myths & Legends Class I split it up into the four major cycles:
- The Mythical Cycle
- The Ulster Cycle
- The Fenian Cycle
- The Historical Cycle
And for the 5th day I focused on the Corkman Thomas Crofton Croker and his Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland book from 1826.
During the Storytelling class we dissected the elements of an interaction between the storyteller and the listener as well as what makes and good story and why we need stories to validate who we are. This was a class that became much more than I had anticipated.
We are in discussion to see if this kind of class could be repeated next year. Le cúnamh Dé they will have me back. Would you sign up for those classes?
Joanie Madden’s Folk ‘n’ Irish Cruise off to Bermuda
We had a ball on the majestic cruise up to Alaska with Joanie Madden and her cast of characters. It was wonderful to collaborate with great musicians and pop up sessions about the boat made it ever exciting.
Next May we go to Bermuda. Joanie told me I was going and I can tell you I went round the garden here doing continuous cartwheels. If you have ever been to the Fleadh Cheoil or a big Irish Festival, it is something like those only it’s on a boat and someone makes your bed, dinner & tea!
Click here to secure your cabin and make sure you tell them Máirtín sent you and it the only reason you are going! A white lie here and there won’t kill you.
Look at the line up!! Jeepers, I am going myself to see all of that gang. It’s massive! Some fellas like Johnny McEvoy are going twice…
Sharon Shannon, Lúnasa, Johnny McEvoy, Johnny McEvoy, Makem & Clancy, Dermot Henry, Daoirí Farrell, Don Stiffe, The Ennis Sisters, Tommy Sands, Padraig Allen and the McLean Avenue Band, Susan McCann, Gerry Timlin, Patrick and Conor O’Sullivan, Arty McGlynn and Nollaig Casey, Gabriel Donohue, Máirtín de Cógáin, Kate Purcell, Billy McComiskey, Dylan Foley and Josh Dukes, Pride of Moyvane Ceili Band, The Great Craic Band, The Sailor’s on the Rock, Sean Fleming Band, Daoiri Farrell, Ronan O’Flaherty, Donie Carroll, Seanie Moloney, Kevin Crawford, Cillian Vallely, Colin Farrell, Trevor Hutchinson, Ed Boyd, John Nolan, Donnchadh Gough, Mary Rafferty Clancy, Rory Makem, Donal Clancy, Hughie Boyle, Brendan O’Shea, Eddi Reader, Phil Cunningham, Pat Shortt, Cormac DeBarra, Joe Biancorusso, Jake James, Kevin McHugh, Tony Corbett, Bruce Foley, Pauline Conneely and Ger Carey, Pat Kane and Terry Kane, Hughie Boyle, Monsignor John Griffin, Patrick & Conor O’Sullivan, Mark Murphy, Irish Step Dancing with Donny Golden, Cara Butler, Jon Pilatzke, David Geaney, Anne Marie Keaney, Declan McHale, Michael Boyle, Michael Holland, Tom Lavin, Set Dance Masters Padraig and Roisin McEneany, Ceili Dance with Paul Keating and Marianne MacDonald Plus Norwegian Cruise Line’s amazing entertainment with fantastic music and Broadway Shows will be there for your enjoyment too!!
Well let me tell you, we had a ball on Joanie’s Alaskan Adventure this August. Milo got up and joined me a number of times and sung his heart out. See the video of it here
The Boy Patrick
A lovely project spearheaded by Patsy O’Brien I gave my drumming to, The Boy Patrick, is now out and in the world for all to have. There is currently a SALE ON – check it out and get your copy now online here
“Patsy O’Brien is a very accomplished musician and a masterful storyteller. In The Boy Patrick he merges both skills to bring alive the story of St. Patrick. Not only does he bring this iconic and often misunderstood iconic figure to life but you emerge from the experience with an understanding and appreciation of Irish instruments and how they function in an ensemble. Think an Irish Prokofiev’s Peter and The Wolf. I look forward to the day when Patsy brings this project to the stage – where it belongs. In the meantime, listen read, and revel in The Boy Patrick as it pushes the envelope on the Irish tradition.”
Larry Kirwan
Summer is here and the flowers are blooming.
Inniskeen Road: July Evening
The bicycles go by in twos and threes –
There’s a dance in Billy Brennan’s barn to-night,
And there’s the half-talk code of mysteries
And the wink-and-elbow language of delight.
Half-past eight and there is not a spot
Upon a mile of road, no shadow thrown
That might turn out a man or woman, not
A footfall tapping secrecies of stone.
I have what every poet hates in spite
Of all the solemn talk of contemplation.
Oh, Alexander Selkirk knew the plight
Of being king and government and nation.
A road, a mile of kingdom, I am king
Of banks and stones and every blooming thing.
Gigs coming up, like
June 2 CA, Poway – House Concert
June 24-29 CA, San Diego – A World of Music Summer Camp (ages 6 to 12)
July 8-14 NC, Swannanoa – Celtic Week
Aug 19-26 Alaska – Joanie Madden’s Alaskan Adventure
Sept 20-23 CO, La Veta – Celtic Music Fest
Oct 5 LA, West Monroe – NELACelticFest
Oct 16-18 NV, Las Vegas – IMEX America
Oct 18 – 21 TX, Midlothian – O’Flaherty Retreat
2019
May 12 – 19 NYC to Bermuda Joanie Madden’s Folk ‘n’ Irish Cruise
More or less info on all dates click here
Two exciting events by Máirtín in San Diego
This Saturday, Jun 2nd I will be playing a house concert in Poway with some of the best musicians of the Irish Tradition in California. It’s a fundraiser for the Comhaltas Branch here in town, where I teach Bodhrán on Thursday nights.
Date: June 2nd (Saturday)
Place: 13609 Ring Rd, Poway, CA 92064
Time: 6pm potluck – Music at 7pm
Cost: $20 suggested donation per person
2. Does your child love to Sing & Perform?
If you haven’t all your summer camps set in place I will be teaching Irish Singing & dancing at the
San Diego Children’s Choir A World of Music Summer Camp: Ireland
Ages: 6-12 (as of September 1, 2018)
Location: UCSD campus, La Jolla
Dates: June 25-29
Time: 9am-3pm daily
Free performance for family and friends: June 29
Rate: $345
(Space is limited. Registration closes on June 13.) Rate includes daily lunch, t-shirt, materials, and a free performance at the end of the week. $25 deduction for each additional sibling.
Jeepers! Bus Tour 2018
As you know I brought a bus around Ireland for 8 days and it was fierce craic altogether. The photo above is the group of us in Gleann Cholm Cille with a monument behind us showing a map of the island using a stone from each county in Ireland. We had a most wonderful time, jeepers, the weather was smashing. I even had a 99.
I’m working on our next adventure already. Sometime in 2019 we will be singing our way around the island…will you be there singing along with us? Where would your dream be to visit in Ireland? Get in touch with me here today
Here is a great podcast I have been listening to
Be careful with this one you might get lost in it for a month, there is so much in it. Fin Dwyer is a great historian and I find his way of presenting Medieval Ireland fascinating. Let me know what you think. Check it all out by clicking here
He also leads walking tours around Dublin. I think I might take one myself the next time I’m up in the big schmoke.
Joanie gave me ‘The Call‘ again!
Well folks, I have been telling you that August will see me in Alaska with Joanie Madden and her Folk’n’Irish gang but she was onto me again say ‘I’ll see you in Bermuda’. Who am I to question things so wonderful? So here are the details and be sure to book your cabin today if you haven’t yet! www.JoanieMaddenCruise.com
The NCL with Escape you from NYC on May 12 and bring us all to Bermuda and back again by May 19. There will be no time for sleeping as the craic is givin’ out by the kilo! Last February was like a Floatin’ Fleadh, for a fortnight and we were only there for a week.
Call Kevin today and book your cabin! Make sure you tell him Máirtín sent you and to put my name at he top of your list! PHONE: 1-855-IRISH-CR (855-474-7427) • BOOKING INQUIRIES: BOOK@JOANIEMADDENCRUISE.COM • GENERAL INFORMATION: INFO@JOANIEMADDENCRUISE.COM
I’m doing a lot of teaching!
Just to give you the run down on what I am at with all the week long gigs, like.
June 24-29 CA, San Diego – A World of Music Summer Camp (ages 6 to 12)
As I was saying above this is a great week of singing and performance in San Diego with the San Diego Children’s Choir. I will be teaching Irish songs in English and as Gaeilge, dancing and some crafts!
July 8-14 NC, Swannanoa – Celtic Week
This will be my first venture into NC for the Swannanoa Gathering and I’ll be teaching Storytelling.
Aug 19-26 Alaska – Joanie Madden’s Alaskan Adventure
Craic gan stad!
Sept 20-23 CO, La Veta – Celtic Music Fest
La Veta is a lovely town in the Coloradan Spanish Peaks. They have me doing all sorts of things from Wed to Sun.
Oct 16-18 NV, Las Vegas – IMEX America
For the last few years Tourism Ireland has myself and a craic team working on selling Ireland. I’ll post a video come October. This is not open to the general public. Are you an IMEXer?
Oct 18 – 21 TX, Midlothian – O’Flaherty Retreat
It’s been a while but I am really looking forward to seeing what might come out of Texas this time! Ken has me teaching Set Dancing and I’m going to try and squeeze in a few céilí dances.
That’s enough for now. I get less time to work on emails and the website with Milo & Finn taking me on adventures and setting banana peels out for me to slip on all day and all night!! Hup! It IS a wonderful life, though.
See you all of a sudden, somewhere
le grá
Máirtín