We would like to thank these wonderful performers who made our Irish Music Fest a huge success!

    The full afternoon of Irish music opened with songs and tunes from Mary Smith and Patrick O'Flaherty. Pat sang in his native Gaelic, and Mary's version of "My Name is McShane" was memorable. They also played jigs and reels on accordion and guitar for young dancer Mary of the Blue Ridge Irish Music School (BRIMS).

    Eve Watters sat down to play her harp with a variety of tunes from over the centuries, to a very attentive crowd.

    From Waynesboro came the trio called Mother's Shillelagh, made up of Rae and Steve Kasdan and Michael Giordano. Their fine songs and tunes on fiddle, banjo, and keyboard were very tight.

   From Staunton came Savannah Olshove, and she truly stunned listeners with her award-winning drama about Irish leader Michael Collins. This teenager scholar recently took 7th place among some 600,000 peer competitors in the national history competition.

    The entrancing song,  "May Morning Dew,"  was among those done by Jude Christian in traditional unaccompanied, highly embellished singing style. She easily held the attentive ears of all the listeners.

    Kevin Donleavy read and sang verses to the Clann Mhór song, "Boys in the Gap,"  which describes Irish working life along the tracks in the 1850s.

    All in all, it was a program of music that left listeners fully satisfied. Clann Mhór would also like to thank all those who made donations to help continue our research.  We appreciate your support!

Irish Music Festival

Pollak Vineyard - June 24, 2012