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Category Archives: Uncategorized
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
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
An tEarrach Thiar
Gentle lapping of oars
As a currach full of fish
Comes towards the shore
On a calm and golden sea
At eventide
In the Western Spring
Gigs coming up
Feb 3-10 Caribbean – Joanie Madden’s Folk ‘n’ Irish Cruise – all sorts of carry on!
Feb 17 CA, La Jolla – Passport to Worlds of Music Series – with The Máirtín de Cógáin Project
Feb 19 CA, San Diego – SDSU’s World Music Series – with the Gallowglass Collective
Feb 24 MN, St. Paul – Éigse CIM – Máirtín as MC
Mar 4-5 TX, Dallas NTIF – Gailfean – Máirtín also calling the céilí
Mar 16 TX, Horseshoe Bay – House Concert – with The Máirtín de Cógáin Project
Mar 17 TX, Austin – St. Patrick’s Day Festival – with The Máirtín de Cógáin Project
Mar 23 MS, Pass Christian – House Concert – with The Máirtín de Cógáin Project
Mar 24 MS, Jackson – CelticFest Mississippi – with The Máirtín de Cógáin Project
May 12-21 Bus Tour of Ireland – SOLD OUT
May 14 IRE, Mayo, Westport Matt Molloy’s Yard Bar – Máirtín and Don Penzien
May 19 NL, Belfast Sunflower Public House – Máirtín and Don Penzien
July 8-14 NC, Swannanoa – Celtic Week
Aug 19-26 Alaska – Joanie Madden’s Alaskan Adventure – all sorts of carry on!
Oct 19 – 21 TX, Midlothian – O’Flaherty Retreat – teaching set dancing
More or less info on all dates click here
Máirtín teaching weekly classes in San Diego
It’s real folks, I will be TEACHING in San Diego Thursday nights
Comhaltas Barry Cogan has set the ball rolling for classes to begin in San Diego in many Irish instruments. I will teaching Bodhrán & Ballad singing. Classes start for all levels on Feb 15th in Claremont and you can enroll on the night. You don’t need anything only the will to learn.
If you want more info or express interest email comhaltas.sandiego@
If you want more info or express interest email comhaltas.sandiego@
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann has branches all over the world and is very proud to welcome San Diego’s “Comhaltas Barry Cogan” branch to its community!
Comhaltas Barry Cogan is excited to share Irish culture with San Diego families by offering lessons in traditional Irish music, song, sean-nós dance, storytelling, and language. We have a excellent instructors including Máirtín de Cógáin, Pete Polansky, Judy Carlstrom, and Michael Prine Jr, offering beginning lessons for all ages in:
• Bodhrán (Irish drum)
• Fiddle
• Concertina
• Irish Songs & Ballads
• Sean nós (“old style”) dance
• MORE to come as our branch grows!
Comhaltas Barry Cogan is excited to share Irish culture with San Diego families by offering lessons in traditional Irish music, song, sean-nós dance, storytelling, and language. We have a excellent instructors including Máirtín de Cógáin, Pete Polansky, Judy Carlstrom, and Michael Prine Jr, offering beginning lessons for all ages in:
• Bodhrán (Irish drum)
• Fiddle
• Concertina
• Irish Songs & Ballads
• Sean nós (“old style”) dance
• MORE to come as our branch grows!
If you would like classes that are not currently being offered please reach out to us as we have teachers standing by.
Classes are 30-minutes long and will run in 10-week sessions. Our first session begins February 15th, and will be held Thursday evenings from 5:30-8:00pm.
For more information, please find us online at:
Email: comhaltas.sandiego@gmail.com
Facebook: @comhaltas.sandiego
Twitter: @comhaltasSD
I’m working on songs for the bus tour
Here is a link to a YouTube channel I have set up with songs related to the bus tour of Ireland this May. We are going to Athlone, Roscommon, Mayo, Westport, Achill, Silgo, Donegal, Belfast, Meath, Malahide among other places, like. It’s a work in progress so check back often to see what’s new and if you have any suggestions please send me on a link to a youtube video to add to it. Click here to check it out.
From Cork with Love – the Limited edition reissue!
Just off the presses in time for the Joanie Madden Folk ‘n’ Irish Cruise we have issued a limited edition of the From Cork with Love CD & DVD in one beautiful package ‘The Double Take’. Check it out now and order your copy today by clicking here
I did a really cool gig with SDCOE
The San Diego County Office of Education Visual and Performing Arts Dept. They are putting together an online professional development module to help teachers up and down all of California (and to be made available to the entire planet!) using world music to help teach empathy in the classroom. Would you believe it, a great friend of mine, Jonathan Parker, who is Schools Programs Director with the Center for World Music put me right in the middle of it! I am pretty stoked (I live in California now) about it. Here is a photo of me with a group of 3rd graders near Poway, California filming our part of the project.
That’s all I can think of for now. I hope you are well and staying warm! Talk to you again soon.
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