One for the Foxes on their way to Spanish Peaks!

(Celtic Fest Sept 20-23, www.CelticMusicFest.com )

Tadhg Ó Meachair (piano accordion, piano)

Dave Curley (vocals, guitar)

Joanna Hyde (fiddle, vocals)

The roots of One for the Foxes go back to when Tadhg Ó Meachair (Dublin) and I began to work on a recording project together after meeting at the University of Limerick and playing together for a while. Tadhg suggested the idea that his friend Dave Curley (Galway) would be great to include in the project somehow, both as a talented singer and multi-instrumentalist. Tadhg and Dave had also met while studying at the University of Limerick, and had worked together on a few occasions. Fast forward, following our collaboration with Dave on a couple of album tracks, the three of us thought it would be great to continue working as a trio in a broader capacity. We began touring in the spring of 2017, and have been working to build that up over the last while.

The name itself One for the Foxes first came about when Tadhg and I were writing a tune at his family home in Dublin; during one of our many tea breaks we looked out the window to the back garden and saw a couple of foxes fully stretched out, lazily sunning themselves right in the middle of the day. We have a fondness for foxes, and thought, “Why don’t we name the tune for the them?!…‘One for the Foxes!’” One thing led to another, and we decided to use “One for the Foxes” as the name for an album track, and, in turn, our entire album. After putting the trio together, we were struggling to come up with a band name that we all liked, and eventually came back around to this one – or as Tadhg likes to joke, we were on such a roll with that name, how could we not use it?!

The three of us share quite a variety of musical interests, very much based in Irish and American folk music, but venturing (at least listening-wise) into anything from bluegrass and oldtime to old swing music, jazz, pop…We still write, arrange and play very much in an acoustic vein, and I would say equally focused on songs as well as instrumental pieces, all the while staying open to any ideas and influences that might come along. Tadhg and Dave obviously grew up with strong backgrounds in Irish traditional music, and through their various musical experiences, collaborations, and travels, have interacted with a wide array of musical styles over time (Tadhg admittedly loves many punk rock bands, dating back to his teenage “skater days”). Being from Colorado myself, I would’ve had a background in more American styles (bluegrass, Texas swing, oldtime). These American folk musics have roots in Irish music, and in the spirit of that connection I eventually found myself going to Irish music camps and workshops and Irish dance classes to take in any Irish culture I could in the Rocky Mountain region. I had no idea I would one day marry an Irishman (Tadhg), and actually have a very transatlantic lifestyle!

In addition to our fondness for a variety of musical styles, I might add that we also share a passion for finding the best coffee shops we can in any given area, to the point that we often do whatever we can to plan our journeys around a good cup of coffee and/or tea. These are the little things that add to the fun and bonding as a trio (and that help me cope with the endless amount of puns these two lads are known to generate).

We are really excited to be a part of the Spanish Peaks International Celtic Music Festival this September. On that note, we want to make a special mention of all those affected by the Spring Creek Fire in that region. Tadhg, my brother Iain, and I had the pleasure of teaching and performing at this Festival last year, and had such a lovely time getting to know all the people there, as well as the region as a whole. Our hearts go out to everyone who has had to endure such devastation and hardship this last while. Tadhg and I are so looking forward to returning, this time with Dave, and alongside so many amazing artists; as part of that, we hope to share an expression of our gratitude to all the folks there for sharing their beautiful community with all of us – it is such a unique musical, cultural, and personal experience.

We highly encourage anyone with any sort of interest in traditional/folk music to come out to the Spanish Peaks region and take in the wonderful people, places, music, discussions, and general festivities – we cannot wait for all of the craic agus ceol over the week. Hup!

More info: https://www.facebook.com/oneforthefoxes/

Spanish Peaks International Celtic Music Festival 

La Veta Colorado September 20-23, 2018

FREE August 25 -Second Annual Clancy’s Celtic Festival Expands

This year Clancy’s Irish Pub’s second annual Celtic Festival will be bigger and better according to owner Jeff Hurlburt of the popular Wheat Ridge restaurant and gathering spot.  “This year we had modified our liquor license to entail park of the parking lot.  The entire parking lot will be reserved for vendors and clans” said Hurlburt. Also, additional space will be available from neighboring parking lots.   There will be 3 stages with entertainment starting in the morning and going into the night: Outside Main Stage, Angus Mohr 7:30pm-10pm, Michael Collins vs Queen City Pipe Band 7pm-7:30pm, Wild Mountain 4:30pm-7pmWick School of Irish Dance 4pm-4:30pm, Big Paddy 2pm-4pm, Juice O The Barley 11:30am-1:30pm; Inside Main Dining Hall Stage, The Privateers 11am-1pm, Rosin The Bow 1pm-3pm, Mulligan Stew 3:30pm-5:30pm, Lougheed 6pm-8pm, Evening Celtic/Irish Session 8pm-10:30pm, and the Front Dining Room Stage,The Wicked Sheehoques (time tba),Solo perfomance by Ox Hill (time tba). Admission is Free! Clancy’s Irish Pub 7000 W 38th Ave, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033.  720-456-7320

August 2018 Ceolta Notes

By Rodger Hara

The Grateful Dogs have been invited by the Alchemy Pub, 2625 W Colorado Ave in Colorado Springs, to do their business in the Pub’s back yard on the 11th at 8 PM. (Try to unsee that image…) On the 18^th they’ll be doing their business at the Paradox Beer Company, 10 Buffalo Ct. in Divide.

Wild Mountain begins August on the 3^rd at Wrigley’s Chicago Sports Bar and Grill in Golden at 6 PM, plays from 4:30- 6:30 PM on the 4^th at the Gnarly Brewfest in the Larimer County Fair, the Carnation Festival in Wheat Ridge from 4-6 PM on the 10^th, on the Saloon Stage at the Jefferson County Fair from 4:30 – 7 PM on the 11^th, at Kline’s Beer Hall in Arvada from 8-11 PM on the 23^rd and from 4-6 PM at Clancy’s Irish Pub Second Annual Celtic Festival in Wheat Ridge on the 25^th.

Catch Keep Britain Irish at the Little Bear in Evergreen on the 5^th from 4 – 8 PM

Chancers Hooley plays at the Bootstrap Brewing Company in Niwot on the 11th from 6-9 PM.

Juice O’the Barley is at Jack Quinn’s on the 18^th from 8 PM-12 AM, at Clancy’s Irish Pub Second Annual Celtic Festival in Wheat Ridge from 11:30 AM -1:30 PM on the 25^th then perform at the Boulder Beer Company Pub on Wilderness, 2880 Wilderness Pl, from 5:30-8:30 PM.

The Pine Creek Tippers are on the wonderful patio (weather permitting) at The Margarita in Colorado Springs on the 17th from 6:30-9:00 PM followed by a movie.

Jessie Burns, Beth Gadbaw and friends are on the Sandstone Concert series stage in Lyons on the 23^rd at 6:30 PM  www.bethgadbaw.com
On the 30^th, you can see/hear the Beth Gadbaw Trio featuring Jessie Burns and Sean McGowan in the Old Gallery in Allenspark at 7 PM.Roisin the Bow performs at Clancy’s Irish Pub Second Annual Celtic Festival in Wheat Ridge on the 25th from 1- 3 PM.CaraTrom plays at Blue Spruce Brewing in Littleton from 6 – 8 PM on the 9^th and 7:30-9:30 PM on the 11^th, for the patrons of the Cherry Creek Farmers Market from 8 AM-1 PM on the 11^th and at the Grossen Bart Brewery in Boulder on the 25th from 7- 10 PM.

Mulligan Stew and The Privateers rock out at Clancy’s Irish Pub Second Annual Celtic Festival on the 25^th. Times TBA

Avourneen opens a busy month on the 10^th with an 8 PM (lesson at 7:15), Friday gig for the Denver Contra Dance at the Denver Masonic Hall, 3550 Federal Blvd. tix $8; a 7:30 PM (lesson at 6:30) show on the 18^th for the Fort Collins Contra at the Fort Collins Masonic Center, 225 W Oak St, tix $8.  The band kicks off the Clancy’s Irish Pub Second Annual Celtic Festival in Wheat Ridge at 7 PM on the 24^th, performs at Ned Kelly’s Irish Pub in Littleton at 9 PM on the 25^th then closes out the month at Jack Quinn’s Irish Alehouse and Pub in Colorado Springs at 8:30 PM on the 31^st.  Guitartist/lead singer Adam Goldstein is at the Clocktower Cabaret late nights on the 4^th and 11^th.

Brian Clancy in on the Jack Quinn Irish Alehouse and Pub stage in Downtown Colorado Springs at 7:30 PM on the 2^nd, 9^th, 16^th, 23^rd and 30^th.

Angus Mohr headlines the Colorado Scottish Festival on the 4^th from 7-9 PM, Citizens Park, Edgewater and returns to the Clancy’s Irish Pub stage for the Second Annual Celtic Festival there.

The Here and Now, a talented trad group from Texas, performs at Mulligan’s Pub in Ft. Collins on the 10^th and for a house concert at Pete Strickler’s home, 3570 Parfet in Wheat Ridge on the 11^th.  They’re releasing a new album titled “The Winding Stair” on this visit to Colorado.

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August Festivals

55^th Colorado Scottish Festival, August 4-6 at Citizens Park, Edgewater, CO.  Featuring Angus Mohr, Eric Olsen, Skean Dubh, Down the Back Lane Session Players, Dirk Mewes Uillean Pipes, Kevin Rumery, Lorretta Thompson and Friends, Jessie Burns, Beth Gadbaw and Friends, Bennett School of Irish Dance, Queen City Pipe Band, Rocky Mountain Highland Dancers, Renaissance Scots.  Also  Highland dancing, Amateur Scottish Athletics, Clan village, Morris Dancing, Cars and Dogs of the British Isles, Pipe band competition, whisky tasting, Kirkin’ O’the Tartan, hot piping contest, genealogy, fun, food and merchandise

Adults – $10, Children 12-17, Seniors and Military w/ID – $5, Children under 12 and Edgewater residents with ID free. http://www.scottishgames.org/

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Rocky Mountain Irish Gathering, August 3-5, Downtown Fort Collins, CO.  Featuring The Young Dubliners, Mile Highlanders, Lynn Stewart and Les Barlow, The Prodigals, the commoners, Eric Rigler/Dirk Freymuth, They Byrne Brothers, House of Hamill, Cleghorn, Dublin Harpers, Adam Agee and Jon Sousa, Singing Pilgrims, McTeggart Irish Dance, Celtic Steps

Friday:  $5/person, 5-7 PM; $8 7-10:30 PM.  Sat. and Sun. $12 Children 10 and under free.

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Clancy’s Irish Pub Second Annual Celtic Festival, August 25, 7000 W. 38^th Ave, Wheat Ridge, CO.  Featuring Angus Mohr, Wild Mountain, Avourneen, Big Paddy, Queen City Pipe Band, Michael Collins Pipes and Drums, Lougheed, Wick School of Irish Dance, Roisin the Bow, Juice O’the Barley, Mulligan Stew, Wicked Sheehogues, Irish Network Colorado. Irish sessions, vendors, Scottish clan tents, merchandise. FREE   https://iloveclancys.com/

A Wee Bit of Scotland Comes to Town:

Colorado Scottish Fest in Edgewater August 4 & 5

By Heather Miller

This year the Colorado Scottish Festival and Rocky Mountain Highland Games is returning to the Denver Metro area! Taking place August 4 & 5, 2018 in Edgewater, Colorado, the Festival is produced by the St Andrew Society of Colorado where “the Scots are a Mile High” with 2018 celebrating our 55th annual Games! It is the Society’s premier annual event and is the longest-running Scottish Highland games in Colorado.

What began in 1964 as a society picnic, grew and evolved by 1973 to become officially sanctioned Scottish Highland games with traditional Scottish Heavy Athletics (tossing that not-so-little caber, putting the stone, tossing the sheaf of hay and more!), Piping and Drumming, Scottish Highland Dancing and demonstrations and entertainment by Scottish country dancers as well as other lively and fascinating Celtic cultural activities.

All our Colorado friends and neighbors are welcome to join us to enjoy a weekend of Celtic music and entertainment, massed bands (at noon both days), Dogs of the British Isles, Celtic food and merchandise, historical re-enactment with the Renaissance Scots, research your Scottish genealogy and find your Clan! On Saturday, don’t miss the Bonnie Knees contest, Hot Piping and Hot Drumming contests and… evening concert with local Celtic rock group ‘Angus Mohr’. For the very best Festival VIP experience, join our Thistle Club! In additional to the competitions and entertainment, special events on Sunday include a Scottish “Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan” in the morning (‘Kirk’ is Scottish Gaelic for ‘church’ and in this usage means ‘blessing’) and our very popular British Car Show.

Lastly, be sure to try a bit of authentic Scottish baked goods provided by the Rocky Mountain Highland Dancers as a fundraiser for Denver hosting the National Highland Dance Championships in 2020, haggis by Celtic Chef Eric McBride, and exceptional whisky tasting with an expert! Enjoy a day of Scotland right in your own backyard! Saturday, August 4, 9 am – 10 pm Sunday, August 5, 9 am – 5 pm

www.scottishgames.org

The Colorado Irish Festival

July 13-15

The Colorado Irish Festival will be commemorating its 24th Anniversary July 13-15 at Clement Park in Littleton.  The eclectic gathering is known for its outrageous display of kilts and bagpipes, Gaelic sports Irish step dancing, and the best Irish rock and classic music this side of the Emerald Isle.

The Elders, founded in 1998 by six individuals with a passion for music rooted in Americana and Celtic folk rock, will perform all three days at the Fest. After 20 years, the popular band is making their final tour in 2018 and perhaps, their last performances in Colorado at the Colorado Irish Festival.

The Creaming Orphans will perform July 14 & 15. The Screaming Orphans are four sisters with the good fortune to have been raised in the magic of Bundoran, in County Donegal, Ireland.  Their early home life reflected the great tradition of music to be found in Irish homes, especially in the Gaeltacht or Irish-speaking areas. From a young age, they were singing and playing traditional Irish music. Entering their teenage years, though, they knew it was time to form their own band, one with a more contemporary sound.  While never forgetting their roots in traditional Irish music, the Screaming Orphans draw on a diverse set of influences ranging from Simon and Garfunkel to The Bangles and The McNulty Family, with a strong focus on melody-driven songs with pop and rock strains.

The Go Set is new to the festival.  With founding members having been brought up on everything from traditional Celtic and folk music, to early seventies punk rock, The Go Set embarked on a unique musical journey.  Combining the folk elements of the bagpipes, accordion, and mandolin, with distorted punk guitars and a rock n roll ethos, The Go Set has created a sound and direction all its own. They will play Saturday and Sunday.

Performing Friday through Sunday, Cassie and Maggie MacDonald are a dynamic duo who have emerged onto the Celtic music scene as the ones to watch. Born in Halifax, with strong roots in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, the girls have been wowing audiences across the world with their unique blend of original and traditional Celtic music

Jigjam will also perform all three days days and bring their “Celtgrass” – a combination of Celtic and Americana music. This great combination of sounds is infectious, mixing tradition with originality with great vocal harmonies, guitar, banjo, mandolin and double bass.

July 2018 Ceolta Notes

By Rodger Hara

Brian Clancy, as usual, will be found at the nationally recognized Jack Quinn’s Irish Alehouse and Pub in downtown Colorado Springs on th 5^th, 12^th, 19^th and 26^th at 7:30 PM.

Cassie and Maggie grace the Clontarf Stage at the Colorado Irish Festival at 5:15 PM on the 13^th, 1:30 PM on the 14^th and 2 PM on the 15^th.

The Commoners are on the Clontarf Stage at 5:30 PM on the 15^th.

The Go Set takes to the Main Stage of the Colorado Irish Festival at 6:30 PM on the 13^th and 3:30 PM on the 15^th.

Jigjam is on the Main Stage at the Colorado Irish Festival at 6:30 PM on the 13^th, 4 PM on the 14^th and 1:30 PM on the 15^th.

Chancer’s Hooley can be seen and heard at 10:30 AM on the Colorado Irish Festival Main Stage on the 14^th, and the Clontarf Stage at 6:45 PM on the 14^th and 3:45 PM on the 15^th.

The McDeviants perform at the Colorado Irish festival at 10:15 AM on the Clontarf Stage on the 14^th and at the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival in Sloans Lake Park on the 28^th and 29^th.

Bonnie Carol Ad

A dulcimer made by Bonnie Carol was part of a temporary luthier’s exhibit at the Colorado Music Hall of Fame in 2017 and another of her creations is now owned by the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1819371 Her band, Prairie Dog Picnic plays for free concerts on the 24^th at 7:30 PM as part of the YMCA of the Rockies Summerfest in the Hemphill Auditorium in Estes Park and on the 26^th from 12-1 PM in the lobby of Porter Hospital in south Denver then provides the music for the Denver Contra Dance in the Highlands Masonic Center from 8-11 on the 27^th – tix $8-10.

The Screaming Orphans return to the Colorado Irish Festival Main Stage for shows at 2 PM on the 14^th and 11:30 AM on the 15^th.

Keep Britain Irish plays in the cozy confines of the Sheabeen Irish Pub in Aurora at 8 PM on the 14^th for those who don’t want to make the trek west to Littleton.

Wild Mountain begins a busy July on the 6^th in the Bittersweet Cafe, in Louisville at 7 PM, is on the Mardi Gras Casino stage in Blackhawk from 8 PM-12 AM, then plays in Violets Venue in Lakewood on the 13^th from 8-11 PM.  On the 14^th they’re on the Main Stage of the Colorado Irish Festival at noon on the 14^th then the Clontarf Stage at noon on the 15^th.  On the 21^st they play at 3:15 PM for the Elizabeth Celtic Festival, the 21^st for the Aspen Grove Food Festival in Littleton from 2-4 PM, the 26^th at the Edgewater Market and Music Festival from 6-8 PM then close out the month with a gig at their home pub Clancy’s in Wheat Ridge and a benefit for Easter Seals from 6-8 PM in Georgetown on the 30^th.

Paddy Houligan’s kicks off the music for the Elizabeth Celtic Festival at 11:15 AM on the 21^st.

Indigent Row is on the Clontarf Stage at the Colorado Irish Festival at 7 PM on the 13^th, at 8:30 PM on the 14^th and the Elizabeth Celtic Festival stage at 2:15 PM on the 22^nd.

Skean Dubh plays at 1:15 PM on the 21^st at the Elizabeth Celtic Festival

There will be three chances to see the Elders as they continue their farewell tour with shows at the Colorado Irish Festival at 8:30 PM on the 13^th and 14^th and 5:30 PM on the 15^th.

CaraTrom provides the happy hour music at 105 West Brewing in Castle Rock on the 20th from 6 to 8 pm and plays for the patrons at the Cherry Creek Farmers Market on the 21^st from 8 AM – 1 PM.

The Juice O’the Barley performs at Jack Quinn’s Irish Alehouse and Pub on the 16^th and 21^st at the Colorado Irish Festival on the 14^th and 15^th at 3:15 PM and 10:30 AM respectively on the Clontarf Stage. The Juice has also just finished recording a new EP that should be available at the Irish Festival.

The Pine Creek Tippers can be found at The Margarita in Colorado Springs on the 20^th playing from 6:30-9 PM on the patio, weather permitting.  A movie outside follows their performance.

Potcheen rocks out the Rock Springs International Day festival in Rock Springs, WY then provides the entertainment for the Aurora Rhythms Concert on the lawn at the Aurora Municipal Center on the 19^th from 6:30-8:30 PM.

 The Grateful Dogs are on the Clontarf Whiskey Stage at the Colorado Irish Festival Saturday, on the 14^th at 5 PM.

Avourneen brings their sound to the Clontarf Stage at the Colorado Irish Festival at 8:45 PM on the 13^th and 11;45 AM on the 14^th.  They head south on the 21^st to play for the Pikes Peak Traditional Dance Contra, All About Dance in Colorado Springs at 7:30 PM. Admission starts at $9.  On the 22^nd they play at 12:15 PM on the Elizabeth Celtic Festival stage then end their month with a show at the Jack Quinn’s Irish Alehouse and Pub in Colorado Springs on the 28^th at 8:30 PM.  Lead singer and guitarist Adam Goldstein performs his solo act in the Clocktower Cabaret on the 16^th St. Mall at 11 PM on the 7^th and 14^th.

 July Festivals

 WHAT:  Colorado Irish Festival

 WHEN:  July 13-15

WHERE:  Clement Park, Littleton, CO

WHO:  The Elders, Cassie and Maggie, Screaming Orphans, Jigjam, The Commoners, The Go Set, Juice O’the Barley, Avourneen, Wild Mountain, The McDeviants, Grateful Dogs, Indigent Row, Chancer’s Hooley.

WHAT ELSE:  Denver Gaels GAA Gaelic Football and Hurling, Irish dance competition (Feis), Pipe Band competition, Cultural Village with Irish history, food, fun, Sunday morning Catholic mass, Irish breakfast after the mass, sheep herding, merchandise.

HOW MUCH:  Friday:  $7/person.  Sat. and Sun.: $14 at the Gate, $11 for seniors, students and military w/ID.  Discount tickets online for $11/Sat. & Sun., $9 seniors, students and military                         w/ID.  Children under 10 free.

MORE:  www.coloradoirishfestival.org    

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WHAT:  Payson Scottish Festival

 WHEN:  July 13-14

WHERE:  Memorial Park, Payson, UT

WHO:  An Dragan Ceilteach, Heather Broch Dancers, The Fire!, Storyteller, Celtic Country Dancers

WHAT ELSE:  Friday night céilidh, Highland dancing, Scottish Athletics, clans, Pipe band, solo

piper and drum solo competitions, fun, food and merchandise

 HOW MUCH:  Free

MORE:  www.paysonscottishfestival.org

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WHAT:  Elizabeth Celtic Festival

 WHEN:  July 21-22

WHERE:  Casey Jones Park, Elizabeth, CO

WHO: Skean Dubh, El Jebel Pipes and Drums, Paddy Houligan’s, Wild Mountain, Avourneen,      Indigent Row, Ren Scots, Colorado Welsh Dancers, Castle Wall Productions

 WHAT ELSE:  Irish and Highland dancing, Scottish Athletics, rugby, clans, living history, Celtic       Nations and Tartans, Animals of the British Isles, Solo Piper competition, whisky tasting, fun, food and merchandise

 HOW MUCH:  At the gate: Under 12 free, Teens and Seniors 65+ $5, Adults 18-64 $10; Military, Law enforcement and First Responders w/ID – $5; parking – cars, $3, motorcycles – $1.

MORE:  www.elizabethcelticfestival.org

Uilleann Piper Dirk Mewes, Making Irish Traditional Pipes in the Rocky Mountains

Dirk Mewes has been playing the Irish uilleann pipes for 18 years.  In 2006, he began building a workshop at his home, and learning to make the instruments from some of the top uilleann pipe makers in the world.  In 2010, he began to sell uilleann pipes of his own making, and this March he decided to go full-time making and performing on the uilleann pipes.   He teaches piping lessons from his workshop, and teaches pipe players in the art of reed-making at various music festivals throughout the year.  He lives in Berthoud Colorado, and he can be reached through his website at dirkmewes.com, Instagram, or Facebook.  Dirk recently answered some questions from the Celtic Connection in Denver.

CC:  What/who inspired you to play the pipes – musical heroes? Instructors?

DM: The music background is important to me, and I have many heroes. It takes a village! I grew up playing clarinet in school, and my parents exposed me to a huge world of music, which included classical, Jazz, Irish traditional, bluegrass, and lots of popular music of several time periods and genres.  I spent a lot of time listening to Irish pipers, especially the Chieftains, with uilleann pipe player Paddy Moloney,  and I also loved the traditional Irish and Scottish music from the band, Silly Wizard.   When in college, the uilleann pipes were being used in popular music, and I was really drawn-in by Liam O’Flynn’s beautiful piping on Kate Bush’s album, “The Hounds of Love.” He was featured in a song called “Jig of Life,” which has a lot of the traditional sound in it.

Also in college, I started really getting into jazz, and I later learned to play the baritone and tenor saxophones, with the Colorado Jazz Workshop, and playing gigs with a quartet or quintet in coffee shops and wine bars around Boulder and Denver. I love the music of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, and Branford and Wynton Marsalis.  My saxophone teacher Fred Hess taught me a lot.

When I started playing pipes, there were many new heroes and instructors, from pipemaker Kirk Lynch, who made my first set, to all the pipers who came through the Boulder area and taught workshops.  Many of the visiting pipers were hosted for house concerts and workshops by Anne-Marie and James Kennedy.  I was a huge fan of the Irish band Siucra, with Matt and Shannon Heaton, and Beth Gadbaw. When they were on stage, Shannon would invite people from the audience to their Irish tune-learning. Later, when learning to make pipes, I would visit with pipemaker Tim Britton for a week at a time, and took classes in Ireland from the master pipemakers David Quinn, and Bill Haneman. I would visit  Cillian O’Briain in his workshop in Dingle, Ireland to learn reed making.  There would be music festivals around the country, where I could get instruction from great pipers, like Cillian Vallely from “Lunasa,”  Mick O’Brien, Jerry O’Sullivan, Paddy Keenan of the “Bothy Band,” and many others.

CC:  Recently you were the guest soloist to perform the Brendan Voyage ,Shaun Davey’s major orchestral suite, composed for uilleann pipes. Tell our reader just a little about the suite and your general experience?

DM:  The Brendan Voyage was perhaps the first suite to feature the uilleann pipes in concert with a full symphony orchestra, and it is still a very popular piece both in Ireland and around the world. Mr. Davey wrote the suite to commemorate the incredible death-defying journey that Tim Severin and his crew of adventurers took sailing across the North Atlantic ocean from Ireland to America in ancient kind of sailboat with merely a leather-skin hull.   They did it to prove that it is feasible that the ancient Irish monk St. Brendan could have made the same journey in his leather boat, nine-hundred years before Columbus.

Shaun Davey is a living composer, so he still enjoys conducting performances in Ireland. Remember Liam O’Flynn, who played uilleann pipes on Kate Bush’s album?  Well, he turned out to be a real musical hero to me.   He was the solo piper who first performed with Shaun Davey’s orchestra, even performing the Brendan Voyage for the president of Ireland, and being nationally broadcast.

I was honored to perform with the Denver Philharmonic as the uilleann pipes soloist for the performance of “Brendan Voyage” this March.  It was a daunting task for me to learn this music,  but I was fortunate to have had seven months to prepare for it.  I love this piece, and I’m a great admirer of Liam O’Flynn, so I accepted the task.  Maybe Liam might have done it, but he had been ill for some time. Conductor Lawrence Golan had originally invited several other uilleann pipers from Ireland and the US to be their guest soloist, but none of them would accept.  You see, when you have a set of these pipes that is not acclimated to Colorado, the instrument can behave badly in this thin, dry air.  The instrument might even require repair upon returning to its home.  When the piece is as technically difficult as this one, the climate difference becomes a non-starter, a show-stopper.  Since I make my pipes here in Colorado, they work well here, so Lawrence found me, and I was thrilled to do it.  Our performance went very well in Denver on March 2.  It was a dream come true for me.  Sadly, our hero Liam O’Flynn passed-away in Ireland only a week or so after our performance.  Mr. O’Flynn’s death was a devastating loss to all of us uilleann piping fans in Ireland and the world over.

CC:  What do folks say when you tell them that you live in Colorado and are a full time uilleann pipe maker?

DM:  Hah!  There are all kinds of responses! Many people are curious about what kinds of tools I use to make them.  It requires a lot of wood boring, turning on the lathe, carving cane reeds, metal work for the keys, and leather work for bags and bellows.  I once told a man from the Irish County Clare that I played uilleann pipes at the depot at the Cheyenne Celtic Festival.  He said with a very mystified looking face, “So were you really out there at the depot, playing Irish music on the pipes, for a crowd of cowboys and Indians?”  I also get a lot of very encouraging responses.  The best response is from people who always wanted to learn this instrument, but couldn’t see a way to get into it, but now I can help them!  There were good people who helped me get started, and now it’s time to hand it on.

CC:  Are there a lot of people who play the pipes in Colorado or in our Rocky Mountain Region?

DM: I wouldn’t say there are a lot of people who even are aware of this very rare instrument, still.  There are maybe only a handful of people living in Colorado who play the instrument in public, and maybe a dozen or two people who are students learning to play the instrument.  However, I am always encountering more people in Colorado and other nearby Western states who have an interest in learning to play them.  When we have workshops and gatherings of uilleann pipers in Colorado, we typically have as many as ten in attendance.

CC:  Where do you get your clients?

DM:  So far, most of my clients have been people from Colorado and New Mexico who want help getting started playing uilleann pipes.  Many of them want help with reeds that are made to play well here.  While working my full time job before as an engineer, the local business kept me more than busy, and I worked lots of late hours in the shop trying to keep up on those orders. Now, I’m full-time making uilleann pipes, so suddenly I find myself marketing to a larger world, using the web and social media.  Still, most of the people who buy my pipes are people who talk to me at performances, or music festivals around the country, or who come recommended by word of mouth.  It’s a real niche profession.

CC:  What are the challenges of playing and making pipes in our high altitude and arid climate?

DM:  The main problem with this instrument in Colorado is that the reeds made in other climates often don’t travel here very well.  The dry air can cause the cane reeds to dry-out and close-up, rendering them much more difficult, or even impossible to play.  The opposite problem can occur when the pipes to return to their home environment.  The remedy is for the player to learn how to make reeds.  What I found is that the reeds for the pipes can be made using the same technique anywhere, and they can be made to play well here.  After a few years, it became apparent that some styles of reeds will travel better than others.  Cillian O’Briain in particular made a cane reed in his shop in Dingle Ireland that would play pretty well, even in Vail Colorado.  So, I ended-up learning his method of reed-making.  Many pipemakers these days are using woods like spruce, which tend to be more environmentally stable than cane, and I have been working with that, too.  Now I can make reeds that play well here, and they travel pretty well to places like New Orleans, too.

The other problem is that Colorado is a piping outpost, and we didn’t have many players with much uilleann piping experience here when I started. Fortunately, we had visiting pipers who had good instruments, and who were able to demonstrate how the instrument and good reeds should sound. The reeds would generally last a couple of days before starting to develop problems.  These days, it seems there are more pipers travelling through Colorado, and generally doing better with their reeds than the pipers who used to come here twenty years ago.

To learn pipemaking, that was another story.  The only thing for me to do was to travel to remote places and spend time with master pipemakers in their shops.  Though the internet is a great resource, much of the quality of the material published was suspect.  Even so, the ability to consult quickly with experts over the internet has been a great benefit.  These days, the general availability of quality information on the internet about the uilleann pipes is improving.

CC:  Have you/or what advice would you give pipers coming to our area to teach/perform?

DM:  First of all, we absolutely love to have visiting pipers. Many of the aspiring pipers out here don’t have the resources to travel to remote festivals to hear the pipes, and it’s very good for a student to get as much exposure to a variety of master players as possible.  Don’t be too much of a perfectionist, and don’t worry excessively about your pipes and reeds. They won’t be perfect, but we are hungry listeners, and don’t mind a few squeaks and such.

Colorado has developed a terrible reputation among travelling pipers for our climate being harsh on the uilleann pipes.  Some people who have come here have been so despondent that they have vowed never to return. However, we have seen many visiting pipers in recent years. Several uilleann pipers travel a lot, and they seem to have far fewer problems playing in Colorado than some others have reported. It seems that those who know how to make reeds generally do best.

That being said, if you want to avoid any heartache as a piper performing in Colorado, then do your homework.  Learn to make reeds, and learn everything you can about how to efficiently tune and maintain your instrument.  Professional oboe players are expected to know how to make reeds, and it’s now getting to the point where the modern uilleann piper is too.

CC:  You will teach and perform at the Piping Retreat at Spanish Peaks International Celtic Music Fest in Colorado September 20-23. Tell us a little about the event.

DM:  Yes, I’ll teach another reed-making workshop there this year, and enjoy some playing, as well! This festival is becoming one of my favorite events every year.  The community in La Veta is extremely supportive, and they love getting some of the top musicians out to ranch country to share with music concerts and workshops for aspiring musicians.  They bring in some of the best talent from these Celtic genres, with Irish bands like Altan, the amazing Carlos Nunez, and legends like Paddy Keenan and Kevin Burke.

In recent years, the festival has invited a guest uilleann piper to teach at the piper’s retreat.  This year, the retreat is hosting Joey Abarta,  a very accomplished American uilleann piper and teacher.  As many know the uilleann pipes are a special kind of bagpipe, which allows the player to play accompaniment to the melody using the drones and the keyed-regulators.  The regulators can be used like the left hand of a piano.  In addition to his virtuosso chanter playing, Joey happens to be a real master of regulator playing, and I look forward to all of us learning a great many things from him!

CC: Why it is so important to support the folk traditions?

DM: I’m thinking of the quote that was attributed by some to Winston Churchill when asked whether funding to the arts should be cut during the World War II, and he supposedly said, “Then, what are we fighting for?”   Unfortunately, in this age of fake news, it turns out that this quote was totally bogus.  Maybe he said nothing of the sort during war time.   Did Britain continue funding for the arts during that poor time? Nevertheless, it’s something that I wish to be true.   Folk traditions are the backbone of all our traditions of dance and music.  We have been living with music since prehistoric times, from before the time of the Egyptians.  All of the original instruments emerged from this same fog, and all of the dance moves had to be learned from somebody.  Classical music and modern popular music rely on the folk traditions.

Music is part of life, and many of us are willing to value that kind of life over having material wealth.  I suppose that without more public support, the traditions will live on, because it comes from the heart, and is a basic part of our humanity.  However, when you support this kind of life, there ends up being less of a struggle for the artists.  If you support it, there’s a lot more of the good music, and it gives back to you in spades, and you will find that every aspect of life will be the better for it.

(editor’s note: See Dirk and other great traditional performers/teachers at Spanish Peaks Celtic Fest September 20-23 www.celticmusicfest.com.  To learn more about Dirk and uilleann pipes go to www dirkmewes.com)

The Hydes feat. Tadhg Ó Meachair and Dave Curley Friday, June 22

8:00 PMDoors Open at 7:00 PM Daniels Hall

71 E. Yale Ave., Denver, CO 80210

$18.00   $2.00

“The Hydes imbue their musical diversity with such confidence and glove-like comfort that their cross pollination sounds natural and fresh at each turn. Green & Blue is one of those deliciously varied and rounded collections that defies its debut stance and establishes an exciting new force in contemporary roots music.” -The Living Tradition

“The tunes are bright and engaging, played with spirit and conviction and a high degree of skill…[Green & Blue is] an impressive first recording…” -Folkworld

“Iain and Joanna are big talents. Big… Joanna’s fiddle work can be blazing, but is always beautifully controlled and tasteful. She is a fiddle star already…[Iain’s] guitar is VERY current, hip, fab chords and runs—but all very tasteful and intuitively grasping how to support the fireworks being brought by the fiddle…Find this album!” -Chicago Irish American News

THE HYDES

Sister-brother duo Joanna and Iain Hyde weave creatively and decisively through an eclectic musical landscape of Americana, Irish, bluegrass, and beyond. They merge these folk styles to create textured instrumentals and rich vocal harmonies, as displayed on their debut album, Green and Blue, in a way that speaks unmistakably of roots in Colorado and Ireland, as well as visits to places in between.

From gigs in Nashville to Ireland, sold-out shows at home in Colorado and the Western USA, and throughout Europe, The Hydes continue to expand their collective, exploratory musical scope. Joanna (fiddle, vocals) and Iain (guitar, mandolin, vocals) grew up in a musical family, traveling the USA to share their music at festivals, house concerts, workshops, and various concert venues from their primary school days onward. Brimming with curiosity and a sense of adventure for an array of styles, The Hydes have forged a path of musical experience that includes classical, Irish, Cape Breton, Texas swing, bluegrass, swing, blues, and classic American folk idioms.

Joanna graduated magna cum laude from Colorado College with a BA in Music in 2009, and was recognized with the Music Department’s top performance and academic awards. In 2011, Joanna was selected as one of 10 scholars from across the United States by a panel of distinguished arts professors and professionals to receive the Jack Kent Cook Foundation’s Graduate Arts Award. With this generous scholarship, she moved to Ireland to pursue three years of studying Irish traditional music as well as teaching at the University of Limerick’s Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. Joanna graduated with an MA in Irish Traditional Music Performance in 2014, and has since toured Europe and the US with other renowned musicians, most especially Ireland’s Tadhg Ó Meachair and Dave Curley.

Alongside a career in public policy and disaster recovery, Iain has composed, performed, and taught music throughout Colorado, the Midwest, and in Nashville, Tennessee. He is highly accomplished on violin/fiddle, having studied classical and various folk styles for a number of years, winning many contests along the way including a place in the top of five of his age division at the National Old-time Fiddler’s Contest. In playing music with Joanna, Iain began to explore a variety of other instruments as well, first finding a love for guitar and later mandolin. Paired with his spark for boundless musical endeavoring, Iain’s versatility as a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist imaginatively expands the range of possibilities for this duo.

Through their many years as performers, teachers, and students across the USA and Europe, Joanna and Iain combine breadth of experience and passion for creative exploration in a constant search for new and innovative acoustic music. Their 2016 release of Green & Blue garnered rave reviews throughout the folk music world, include Liveireland’s 2017 “New Group of the Year” award, displaying their freewheeling yet grounded approach to original compositions and traditional pieces alike.

Special guests Tadhg Ó Meachair (piano, piano accordion) and Dave Curley (vocals, guitar, mandolin, banjo) will be joining The Hydes at Swallow Hill. Tadhg, from Dublin, tours with the award-winning Irish band “Goitse,” and is an All-Ireland piano champion who has toured across Europe, North America, Africa and Asia. He features prominently throughout “Green and Blue” and has collaborated with The Hydes over the last several years.

Dave Curley is one of Ireland’s leading multi-instrumentalists, vocalists and a champion step dancer. Hailing from Co. Galway on the west coast of Ireland, Curley has performed throughout Europe and the US, performed at the prestigious Ryman auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, recorded with Grammy award winners Ron Block, Jeff Taylor and Buddy Greene, and toured with Grammy award winners Moya Brennan of Clannad and Ross Holmes of Mumford and Sons. For 10 years, Curley has worked with the award winning traditional super group, Slide.

Pikes Peak Celtic Festival June 15-17

Celebrate Celtic Heritage with great food, drink, entertainment, activities, and more June 15-17 at Memorial Park in Colorado Springs. Top Celtic Rock bands Seven Nations and the Young Dubliners will be musical headliners along with The McDeviants, Avourneen, and Adam Agee and Jon Sousa.  There will be plenty sounds of bagpipes with the Western United States Pipe Band Association sanctioned bagpipe competition.  Irish dancing is always a hit and there will be fantastic Irish dance performances provided by Celtic Steps.  Check out the strong men and women of Highland Athletics toss heavy things for distance, form, and glory.  Ren Scots and others will exhibit living history. If you feel like running  wild in a Celtic bliss, sign-up for the Braveheart 5k Kilted Run – blue face paint included! Also, check the Schedule for a fireworks spectacle planned for Saturday .

When it’s time to fuel up you can feast on  the best in Irish and Scottish cuisine and wash it down with drinks of all shapes and sizes.  Don’t forget to check-out the Celtic Caterer (Eric McBride) and get some free samples.

www.pikespeakcelticfestival.com

6/15/2018 -Friday ,4:00 PM -10:00 PM.  6/16/2018 -Saturday -10:00 AM -10:00 PM.

6/17/2018-Sunday 10:00 AM -4:00 PM.

Live eTown Radio Show Taping with Loreena McKennitt & Greg Laswell June 11 at eTown in Boulder.

June 11, 2018 Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm at eTOWN HALL, 1535 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302 Purchase tickets at: $25 Plus Applicable Service Fees at http://bit.ly/Loreena_Laswell

Loreena McKennitt is well known as a composer and singer. In a recording career spanning more than two decades, Ms. McKennitt’s ‘eclectic Celtic’ music has received critical acclaim world-wide, and gold, platinum and multi-platinum sales awards in 15 countries across four continents. To date, she has sold over 14 million albums with a catalogue that includes seven studio recordings, three seasonal recordings, a live in-concert DVD and two DVD documentaries. She’s won two Junos, Canada’s premiere music award, garnered two GRAMMY® nominations and has performed for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Live eTown Radio Show Taping with Loreena McKennitt & Greg LaswellMore than just a regular concert, eTown is a unique live experience! Audience members will watch the eTown Broadcast recorded before their eyes, complete with performances and interviews with both of our visiting artists, as well as the eChievement Award segment, eTown’s opportunity to honor everyday heroes who are doing their part to make the world a better place. You won’t want to miss it!

June 11, 2018 Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm at eTOWN HALL, 1535 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302

$25 Plus Applicable Service Fees at http://bit.ly/Loreena_Laswell

June 2018 Ceolta Notes By Rodger Hara

 Loreena McKennitt makes a special appearance on the 11th at ETown, Boulder, 7PM.

 The Hydes featuring Tadhg Ó Meachair and Dave Curley are in Daniels Hall at Swallow Hill in south Denver on the 22^nd at 8 PM. Tix $18 in Advance.

Adam Agee and Jon Sousa are at the Pikes Peak Celtic Festival in the Pub Tent on the 15^th at 4:30 and 6:30 PM, on the Jameson Stage on the 16^th at 10 AM, 2:30 and 6:30 PM and back on the Pub Tent stage at 2:40 PM on the 17^th.

The Young Dubliners play on the Depot Plaza in Cheyenne on the 8^th, 5:30-8 PM, in the Celtic Rock Tent at the Pikes Peak Celtic Festival on the 15^th at 8:30 PM and the 16^th at 4:30 PM and 8:30 PM.

Avourneen has a busy month beginning at 8 PM on the 1^st when they play for the Boulder Contra Dance in the Avalon Ballroom, 6185 Arapahoe Road in Boulder. Admission starts at $10.  They’re on the Celtic Rock Stage at the Pikes Peak Celtic Festival on the 15^th at 5:30 PM then at 8:30 PM go downtown to the Jack Quinn stage.  They’re back on the Celtic Rock Stage at 11 AM on the 16^th and 17^th then close out the month with a show at Ned Kelly’s Pub in Littleton at 9 PM on the 30^th.  Adam Goldstein does his solo act at the Clocktower Cabaret at 11 PM on the 2^nd, 9^th, 16^th and 23^rd.

Leslie Ann Harrison is closing her studio and she and Fred Poule are leaving Colorado and moving across the country. She sent this farewell note: “I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you, for coming to Folk Ragoût and New Time Ensemble concerts, for taking lessons at my studio, and for attending classes and workshops at Swallow Hill. Thank you for supporting independent musicians like myself and thank you for making Colorado feel like home. I’m sad to be leaving all of you, but I know we’ll meet again. Music is a beautifully small world in that way!

Be happy, be musical, ~Leslie” www.leslieanneharrison.comc. 207.730.1630

Take Down the Door presents a free concert to the community in the Broomfield Amphitheater on the 13^th at 7 PM

The Rocky Bards take to the Jameson Stage at the Pikes Peak Celtic Festival at 1 PM on the 16^th then take over the Pub Tent stage at 2:30 PM on the 17^th.

Seven Nations returns to Colorado to play at the Pikes Peak Celtic Festival in the Celtic Rock Tent at 7 PM on the 15^th, 1 PM and 6:30 PM on the 16^th and close the Festival with a show on that stage at 1 PM on the 17^th.

Chancers Hooley is at the Blue Spruce Brewing Company in Centennial on the 16th at 7:30 PM.

The McDeviants play for their fans at the Pikes Peak Celtic Festival at 4 PM in the Celtic Rock Tent on the 15th and at 2:30 PM on the 16^th

Rosin the Bow MC’s and plays for the Cuddletime Concert at the Broomfield Auditiorium with members of the Broomfield Symphony Orchestra on the 9^th at 9:30 AM. Infants up to 24 months of age get a taste of how instruments sound and feel.  Then the band plays for adults at Clancy’s Pub in Wheat Ridge on the 23^rd from 6-9 PM.

CaraTrom is at the Dickens Opera House Patio Tavern in Longmont on the 1^st 5:30- 8:30 PM, the Public House in Colorado Springs on the 2^nd from 8 to 11 PM, the Louisville Farmers Market on the 16^th from 11 AM-1 PM and at 105 West in Castle Rock from 6-8 PM, the S. Pearl St. Farmers Market in Denver on the 17^th from 9 AM-1 PM, the Blue Spruce Brewing Company in Centennial on the 23^rd from 7:30-9:30 PM then closes the month at the Stapleton Farmers Market in Denver on the 24^th from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

Wild Mountain opens their month with a performance on the 9^th at the Summer Arts Market in Denver from 1-2:30 PM, continues with the Criterium Bike Fest in Wheat Ridge on the 10^th at 6 PM, then play for the Chocolate Fest in Winter Park on the 16^th from 10 AM-4PM.  They travel to Salt Lake City on the 22^nd where they appear in the Piper Down Pub stage from 9 PM -12:30 AM, head to Evanston for the Bluegrass Festival on the 23^rd at 4:45 PM then return home to end their month at Clancy’s Pub in Wheat Ridge on the 30^th from 7:30-10:30 PM.

Skean Dubh appears at the Colorado Medieval Festival in Loveland on the 2^nd from 1-2 PM, on the Jameson Stage at the Pikes Peak Celtic festival from 4-4:45 PM on the 16^th and at Mad Jack’s in Evergreen on the 23^rd from 4-6 PM.

Pine Creek Tippers have their monthly gig at The Margarita in Colorado Springs on the 15th, from 6:30-9 PM on the patio, weather permitting.

Cheyenne Celtic Festival and Celtic Bison Classic.  June 8 -10.  Friday on the Plaza – The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band and Young Dubliners 8:30-10:30 PM.
Saturday, June 9 & Sunday, June 10: 8 AM-5 PM The 2018 Cheyenne Celtic Bison Classic Lions Park Softball Field; Highland games, Highlander strongman-woman, & the Kilted mile. Celtic food & beverages, parade, bagpipes & drums, Irish Step dancers, vendors and kid activities.

Pikes Peak Celtic Festival, June 15-17, Memorial Park, Colorado Springs.  Avourneen, Adam Agee and Jon Sousa, The McDeviants, Young Dubliners, Seven Nations, Celtic Steps, Rocky Bard, Skean Dubh, Ren Scots, Celtic Caterer, Shopping, Jameson Pub Tent, Highland Athletic Games, Piping and Drumming Competitions, Scottish Clans.  Day passes $5 children 6-17 years, adults $15, weekend passes $10 children, $25 adults.  Info at http://pikespeakcelticfestival.com/festival-info/schedule/#1493154676454-dd945652-94bc

The Colorado Medieval Festival, 1^st 3-8 PM, 2^nd & 3^rd 10 AM- 6:30 PM, 1750 Savage Road, Loveland. Highland games for the Rocky Mountain Scottish Athletes, Ironside Medieval Combat with live steel fighting, Wendy Woo, the Stubby Shillelaghs, Skean Dubh and others TBA, food, beer and vendors. Regular admission $13 per person, $8 for 6 to 12, children 5 and under are free.  For more information call 970-667-3002 or email [email protected].

Digging Up Irish Roots on the Western Front

(June 2918 Celtic Connection, Denver)

By Brendan O’Neill

Irish Dig-Brendan ONeill-starting-on-the-Cellar-Web.jpg

Wait, did I hear that right? An excavation of a World War One battlefield? I backed up the podcast and listened again. It was true! And even better, it was a place I knew from history as a battlefield where Irishmen of all backgrounds fought together to take a key position in what would come to be called the Battle of Messines Ridge.

I looked up DigHill80.com for details. This proposed archaeological dig would be the first crowdfunded excavation in history and if successful, might pave the way for future digs. With the support of my wife, I proceeded to join the dig team as a backer and volunteer digger.

On June 7, 1917 in what was the prelude to the Third Battle of Ypres (nicknamed ‘Wipers’ by the British) two divisions were assigned the objective of taking the village of Wijtschate on the northern end of the Messines Ridge. As it occupied the highest point on the ridge, the taking of this German stronghold was paramount to the offensive’s success. To this end, General Sir Hubert Plumer specifically requested that the 16^th (Irish) Division and the 36^th (Ulster) Division be placed under his command (British 2^nd Army) and assigned them this key objective.

Plumer had two very concrete reasons for choosing them. First, both units had solid combat records from their fighting on the Somme the prior year. His second was more forward looking. As the 16^th was primarily composed of Catholic Nationalists and the 36^th of Protestant Unionists, he was already looking towards post-war Ireland and the coming fight over what status it would hold. Free State? A republic? Whole or divided? Plumer made no apologies about his calculations that working together now as comrades-in-arms would serve to ease the process when the question was ultimately decided. History would bear out much of what he predicted as the two units, fighting side by side overran the village after two hours of fierce fighting.

My goal in going to Wijtschate was to fulfill a lifelong dream of participating in an archaeological dig and to further my love of history, particularly of the Irish. However, my experience was far from simply a Celtic one. A quick headcount of my fellow participants revealed archaeologists, forensic anthropologists, and volunteers from Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Canada, Israel, the Netherlands, U.K., Sweden, and Spain. It was a cultural exchange on steroids.

I was slated to dig the week of May 14. Monday morning, I arrived early, checked in and went through the security briefing. With administrative tasks completed, we were assigned to an archaeologist who would be our team leader. I was placed with ‘Jasper’, a Belgian with a Ph.D. from the University of Ghent. He was responsible for excavating the cellars of homes that had been reduced to rubble in the battle. There was no time for tedium. Within minutes of digging we found an unexploded British 18-pounder shell. We planted a red flag next to it and summoned the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician as we stepped back the requisite twenty meters. He examined it, declared it safe (the firing pin was broken) then removed it for pick up by the Belgian army.

The remainder of the day yielded many more treasures. Bayonets, a mess tin, shrapnel, fuses, bullets, shell casings, personal hygiene items sent from home, and broken plates and bottles were all pulled from the earth. Our digging was halted in the afternoon for thirty minutes after we unearthed a cache of Mills bombs, a type of British hand grenade. Our EOD tech told us to place a little extra distance between us and the cellar as hand grenades had the greatest likelihood of exploding due to corrosion after decades in damp soil. To this day, people are killed each year from picking them up while walking battlefields.

The next morning, I was afforded the chance to assist a team of forensic anthropologists who were exhuming the bodies of German soldiers on the far end of the site. At the time the body count had reached 68, a figure that was expected to rise dramatically. In a war where millions were killed, this was not unusual.

With spade in hand, I gently removed the soil one inch at a time. The knot of nerves in my stomach grew the more I dug, born of fear that I might damage a bone or inadvertently step backwards onto one of the adjacent bodies, all of which were treated with the utmost care and respect. After a few inches of digging I unearthed the top of a skull. More experts then joined us as we carefully removed the surrounding soil. That task completed, they switched to long toothpick-like tools to create a pedestal of earth under the skeleton. This process could take days for each body.

Each day ended promptly at 4:30 leaving me plenty of time and daylight to explore Ireland’s footprint on the area. My first night I walked to the Wijtschate Commonwealth Cemetery on the far side of the village. At its entrance stands a Celtic cross engraved with the words ‘16^th Irish Division’. It was here where 56-year-old Major William Redmond of the 6^th Royal Irish Regiment, Member of Parliament and advocate of Irish freedom was wounded on the morning of June 7^th. He enlisted in the belief that Irish participation in the war would bring it a step closer to self-government.

Private John Meeke of the 36^th Ulster Division found Redmond with a bullet wound in his leg and carried him towards the rear until he, too, was wounded. They were eventually taken to a dressing station where Redmond succumbed to his wounds. The Last Rites were administered by a Protestant chaplain, an occurrence which would have been unheard of back in Ireland. But war has a way of changing one’s perspective and interfaith exchanges like this were commonplace on a battlefield where casualties climbed into the thousands. With the prospect of meeting one’s maker looming large, the question as to whether your chaplain was Anglican or Catholic shrank to insignificance.

The second night found me at the Menin Gate for the Last Post ceremony. Except during World War II, this ceremony has been held every night at 8:00 p.m.  since July 1, 1928. A pleasant surprise awaited me as I discovered they were honoring the Irish contribution to the war. After the buglers played ‘Last Post’ a lone bagpiper played ‘It’s a Long Way to Tipperary’. This was followed by a marching band striking up ‘Danny Boy’ before marching from under the memorial arch into the town square. I couldn’t have asked for a better addition to my Irish adventure. Or so I thought.

A quiet beer and some time to write in my journal was the plan when I entered the Old Bill Pub, famous for its selection of Belgian beers. After finishing my second pint, I paid my bill and began gathering my things, whereupon a group of seven Irishmen walked in and ordered a round. I struck up a conversation and discovered that these Wexford men were there to visit the grave of their great-uncle, who had been killed at the Battle of Messines Ridge. My night continued for a few more hours as we discussed Irish military history over beers they insisted on buying for ‘the Yank’. Suffice it to say, an already deep connection was made deeper.

My final day on the dig was bittersweet. I felt a sense of loss at saying goodbye to this piece of history but was also contented with my contribution to the dig. Jasper must have sensed this, as he suggested I take a picture next to my ‘baby’-the cellar I’d spent so many hours exploring.  I said my goodbyes and expressed my thanks for having this dream realized.

No trip to this area would be complete without a visit to the Island of Ireland Peace Park, just fifteen minutes south of Wijtschate in the village of Messines. I paused among the marble slabs, each containing a poem or message from members of the three Irish divisions that fought in the war (10^th, 16^th, and 36^th) before entering the round tower, called ‘Cloigtheach’ in Irish. Residing inside are volumes of books containing the names and biographical data of the over 35,000 Irishman killed in the Great War.

With a plan to leave early the next morning I made a late-night visit to an Irish memorial that was a but a mere 100 yards from my B&B. It’s hard to find but well worth the effort. It rests in a small courtyard off St. Martin’s Cathedral, replete with the Irish tricolor and Celtic cross.

If you make it to West Flanders take the time to explore all that the Irish did in the area during the Great War. It brought me closer to my heritage and deepened my understanding of what it means to be Irish. I believe it will for you too.