It's been a good year for Irish pop music. There hasn't been one big ticket album in 1999--the new U2 effort isn't expected until early 2000--but if you scratch the surface, you'll find some exciting music nonetheless. TOM DUNPHY recommends a few favorites you may want to investigate...VAN MORRISON, BACK ON TOP Van Morrison's Back on Top couldn't be more aptly named. Van the … [Read more...] about Musical Merry-Go-Round
Eileen Ivers
Beyond the Bog Road
The first new album in 10 years from fiddle virtuoso Eileen Ivers traces traditional Irish music to Canada’s Nova Scotia, and through the Scots/Irish root of Bluegrass and Old-Time music of Appalachia, and on to the Cajun sounds of the South. “The bog roads of Ireland were paths into ancient sod fields, laboriously farmed to provide an essential source of fuel and … [Read more...] about Beyond the Bog Road
Kansas City Celebrates Its Heritage
The Celtic heritage of Kansas City runs deep, as immigrants from Ireland were first brought to the new city in the late 1850s to dig streets through the river bluffs and to work on the railroads and in the stockyards and packing houses. Indeed, Kansas City to this day boasts one of the largest St. Patrick's Day parades in the country. To celebrate its heritage Kansas City … [Read more...] about Kansas City Celebrates Its Heritage
Puddle Jumping
The English Catholic martyr, St. Edmund Campion, lived in Dublin for a while in 1569 and here is what he wrote about the Irish: "The people are thus inclined: religious, franke, amorous, irefull, sufferable of paines infinite, very glorious, many sorcerers, excellent horsemen, delighted with warres, great almes-givers, passing in hospitalitie: the lewder sort both clarkes and … [Read more...] about Puddle Jumping
Celtic Fire
By Tom Dunphy
June / July 1999
Her trademark blue fiddle makes her stand out on stage, but it is when Eileen Ivers starts to draw her bow across those strings that she gets her biggest response. Her latest album draws from all her musical experiences, from Riverdance to a distinct South African influence. A huge cheer of recognition goes up from the large crowd gathered to hear Eileen Ivers and her band at … [Read more...] about Celtic Fire