In case anyone was interested, last week’s Irish Arts Week in East Durham was another great susscess. It appears to grow every year. In 2005, it was reported that there were about 600 students taking classes. I think it was larger this year, and many attendees don’t even take classes. Jerry O’Sullivan, Michael Cooney and Benedict Koehler taught classes and all performed at the nightly concerts and in sessions and listening room sesions. I now need another week off to rest!
The highlight for me was the session at Furlongs on the last Saturday night, which included Michael and Benedict and also Cillian Vallely showed up saturday. At 3:30 am, there was practically smoke coming from the instruments! I can’t ever recall a jam session that rocked like the one inside that night. I can’t recall the name of the box player fella or the fiddle players. I think that Matt Molloy’s son was on the flute, and Cillian on the pipes and a dozen or more all around. But in any event it was really crazy.
I can’t wait til next year!
Neil