November Nuacht

A chairde Gael,

It’s been all go but here is the news or as much as I can remember…

Gigs coming up

Dec 10 CA, San Diego – Christmas house concert
Feb 3-10 Caribbean – Joanie Madden’s Folk ‘n’ Irish Cruise – Solo
Feb 24 MN, St. Paul – Éigse CIM – Máirtín as MC
Mar 3-5 TX, Dallas NTIF with Gailfean
Mar 23 MS, Pass Christian – House Concert- The Máirtín de Cógáin Project & Haley Richardson
Mar 24 MS, Jackson – CelticFest Mississippi – The Máirtín de Cógáin Project
May 12-21 Bus Tour of Ireland – SOLD OUT
May 14 IRE, Mayo, Westport Matt Molloy’s Yard Bar – The Máirtín de Cógáin Project
May 19 NL, Belfast Sunflower Public House – The Máirtín de Cógáin Project
July 8-14 NC, Swannanoa – Celtic Week – teaching
August 19-26 Alaska – Joanie Madden’s Alaskan Adventure Solo

 

BUS TOUR SOLD OUT

How are excited are we hear to tell you that the whole bus filled up within only a few weeks! It’s all systems go here. So quick did the seats get taken we haven’t been able to work on much else. There is a waiting list for this tour if you would like to be on it. Would you come if we had a bus going in 2019? Do let us know if you wish to be put on the ‘First to know’ list for the next tour of Ireland with Máirtín. Where in Ireland would like Máírtín to take you in 2019?

 

Things to be Thankful for…

2017 has been a great year and I can’t be thankful enough. A blessing of a second son, Finn, sharing the stage with The Chieftains, attaining American Citizenship, traveling around playing music renewing old friendships while making new ones, starting a Comhaltas Branch in San Diego and then finding the members here want to name it in honor of my Dad, Barry Cogan, getting to stay home alot with my other son Milo, living near the beach selling out a Bus Tour, having you as a reader and a fan of my music & storytelling. There is no end to the reasons that I might be thankful. How about you?

Lead benefits of Instagram

Well, I started on Instagram, you can follow me at @irishstoryteller
With the rapid rise in my Instagram followers a local Company here in San Diego MotifCables Contacted me and sponsored my headphone #cable. It nearly blew my head off with the quality sound. It can be a necklace too! They also fixed my Beats headphones which was supercool.
So, they have offered a discount to all my readers until the end of the year on www.motifcables.com use coupon code cork  (all lower case) for 15% off entire order.
#influencer #socialinfluencer

Ireland 8 nights with Máirtín this May 2018

It’s been a long time in the making and I am so excited to tell you that I’m bringing a bus around Ireland again. I would love to have you with me if the time and travel suits you. The last few tours went to the very south, now we are headed to the very north, taking in Westmeath, Roscommon, Mayo, Sligo, Donegal, Derry, Antrim, Meath and Dublin. It’s going to be jam packed with singsongs and stories. A wonderful Balladeer and Banjo player, Danny McCarty from Dublin, will be driving for us this year. The tour will be 8 nights from May 13 to the 21 of 2018. Do have a look at the details on the website here – Travel with Máirtín

There are only 24 spaces for guests!

Hope you are keeping well and to talk to you about it soon.


Last time we had a few folks call just too late and it’s an awful feeling to disappoint people so much. Don’t be on the waiting list. Get in there first!! It will be a brilliant trip with you on the bus. 

The Boy Patrick – The Celtic Collective

Here is an exciting project I am delighted to be a part of. It is the brain child of fellow Corkoian Patsy O’Brien, living in exile himself these past years in St. Paul, Minnesota. This has the potential to be something more that just a book and a CD. This could be a unending adventure into education the youth of tomorrow about the patron saint of Ireland – The Boy Patrick. 

There is a Kickstarter campaign going with only a few days left. Check it out here


Here is a bit more about it. 

This project balances out the typical St Patrick’s Day shenanigans (plastic green hats and partying, fun as it all is) with an educational project that will educate, entertain, and represent authentic Irish culture responsibly, through a spoken narrative with musical accompaniment recounting the factual tales and adventurous exploits of the young Patrick, from his capture and enslavement as a young man, through his daring escape, and beyond, into his later return to Ireland as a missionary, where he expressed his full love of the Irish people. Little did we know, until we started researching the actual facts, that young Patrick’s life was a breathtaking adventure full of derring-do and a story ripe for the telling! 

The finished project will consist of a professionally recorded CD of spoken narrative and musical accompaniment, plus an illustrated text. The musicians on board include some of the industry’s top names from the global hit shows Riverdance and Celtic Woman, as well as some of the cream of the Irish America’s music community. Our goal with this project is to provide readers a solid introduction to: 

a) the authentic roots of an exclusively Irish yet globally recognizable cultural icon 

b) The traditional musical instruments of Ireland. We believe this project will provide so many who have an interest in their Irish heritage with a solid foundation on which to explore further. 

We have writer Therese Kunz, a seasoned playwright with over twenty years experience, working with us on the project’s narrative.
This publication, as well as being a perfect gift, is perfect for the classroom and we are excited about it being an integral part of how Irish culture will be understood and perceived by generations to come.

We have calculated a Kickstarter goal of $5000 to supplement additional funding from outside sources. This figure will ensure that we can both produce a high quality, professionally recorded book and CD package and also compensate all the participating artists appropriately. We will release the Book and CD on St Patrick’s Day 2018. By lending your support, you will be making the authentic roots of Irish culture a more integral part of a deepening of Irish-American heritage. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this – we really appreciate your support.

Be a patron of the arts, and as a thank you from us, have the arts delivered to your door. click here – kck.st/2lJyfPS – to watch the video and show your support

Songs from Ireland by Máirtín de Cógáin & Gabriel Donohue

A great friend of mine, Gabriel Donohue, is coming to the Southwest ​soon ​and we are lined up for 4 concerts together. ​Gabriel, from the lonely fields of Athenry in County Galway, has toured with the Chieftains for many years as well as sharing the stage with many other big names like Joanie Madden, Donie Carroll and Tom Waits. Not only that but he has also produced albums for scores of artists and played at the Clinton White House, Carnegie Hall (5 times) & the Royal Albert Hall. He’s a talented singer, songwriter, composer and multi instrumentalist. Don’t miss your chance to catch him. ​3 of these concerts will be in Southern California. The other one is in Tucson, AZ.

There is limited seating for each concert so reserve your seat while they are there. ​Tell your friends if they live near any of the shows or snow birding close by. ​Here are the details. ​

Marina Del Rey, CA
Date:​Thursday Jan 1​2t​h
Time: ​7:30pm
Venue:​ 13999 Marquesas Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292
​Contact: (310)-963-3145 Laurie Szucs
Tickets: $20 donation

​Santa Barbara, CA
​Date: Friday Jan 13th
Time: 8pm
Venue: La Arcada Bistro​, ​1112 State St, Santa Barbara​, CA​
Contact: (805) 965-5742 and ask for Trini
Tickets: $20 donation

San Diego, CA – Hot Dish Concert Series
Date: Saturday Jan 14th
Time: ​7​pm​ doors open at 6pm​ – pot luck, bring a dish to share.
Venue: ​House in North Claremont, San Diego, CA
​Contact: Máirtín, that’s me, like, (310) 447-4839 call, text or email mairtinmusic at gmail.com
​Tickets: ​$20 donation

Tucson, AZ
Date: Sunday Jan 15th
Time: ​7​:30pm​ doors open at 7pm​
Venue: ​House in Tucson
​Contact: Melissa Tatum, (520) 275-3811 or melissatatumarizona at gmail.com
​Tickets: ​$20 donation

Come out, it would be great to see you there!