The Musical Priest

In what was my first totally free Friday night in a very long time, I seized an opportunity to do something I haven't done in many years: I went to an Irish music session. A seisiun , or session, is a gathering of Irish musicians who gather to play music together. I learned of this session from a great little website called SessioNite.com , a site run by a great whistle player named Gary Farmer. So after a day of blogging and recording, I packed up my tin whistles, jumped into the car, and headed off to the Ancient Order of Hibernians Hall in Detroit. The irony of me being nervous to go to a session is not lost on me. My YouTube videos have been watched nearly 2.5 million times and I, daily, receive emails asking for help in learning to play Irish music. Just yesterday I read a note from somebody who thanked me for helping her to learn enough tunes to allow her to play in a local beginners' session in her hometown. Rather than being glad for her, I felt horribly discouraged!...

Drew Marquard, SJ, was kind enough to edit this video so that I could get it posted on the internet. This is one clip of the show Matt Malone, SJ, Justin Stoney, and I performed this past Saturday night. If you are interested in purchasing a DVD of the entire show (for only $10.00!), the end of the clip contains ordering information.

I just wanted to take a moment to plug the new website for Brian Holleran's (my soon-to-be brother-in-law) music school Ciunas.org Located in Cleveland, Ohio this music school promises to be a great asset to Irish culture in the area. With instruction available on tin whistle, flute, and uilleann pipes and, starting in 2008, on the fiddle, banjo, and concertina this school of traditional Irish music will help to promote Irish music and culture in Cleveland. If you are interested in learning more, follow the link above or visit the Ciunas myspace page . As any reader of my blog knows, Irish music has been an integral part of my life's journey and I'm proud to know that a member of my family will be sharing his deep love of his culture with another generation of musicians who will, I pray, benefit as much as I have in being a part of traditional Irish music.