An Irish Halloween

Did you ever notice how pitch dark in gets in Ireland? It's the perfect setting for a scary Halloween. The Celts were the first to celebrate Halloween to mark the end of the summer and the start of the winter months. Celtic Druids believed that Halloween was the one night when the living and the dead were the closest. They were the first to dress up as witches, goblins and devils to disguise themselves in the event they would encounter real witches, goblins or devils. They feared they would be taken away at the end of the night.

The tradition of carving Jack O'Lanterns can also be traced back to Ireland. Legend has it that during the eighteenth century, an Irish blacksmith, Jack O'Lantern tricked the Devil into climbing an apple tree. Once the Devil climbed the tree, Jack placed crosses around the trunk of the tree so that the Devil was unable to get down. The Devil threw a burning coal ember at Jack that he placed inside a turnip that he had gouged out. The Devil condemned Jack to wander the earth for eternity. When the Irish immigrated to America during the famine, they discovered that pumpkins were more plentiful and easier to carve, so they used pumpkins to make their Jack O'Lanterns instead of turnips.

I spent one Halloween in Ireland when I was 8. I can remember being dressed up in my little witch costume and heading over to my grandparents house in Drumlish, Longford. The house was filled with my cousins, who were bobbing for apples, eat some barnbrack cake and feasting on all the sweets we collected trick or treating.

Barnbrack cake never made it out to America, probably because it tasts...well almost as bad as Irish fruitcake! :) Barnbrack is like Irish fortune cookie cake. What makes it so special is that the cake is baked with a number of trinkets that represents different things. The trinkets include a ring, which predicts love or marriage, a coin, which predicts wealth and a piece of a rag for misfortune. The cake is sliced up and passed out and eaten very carefully! HA!

What would Halloween be like without some scary ghost stories? My Grandfather would hold court by the fire as he puffed away on his woodbine cigarettes. He was an incredible storyteller and loved to scare the be-jesus out of us! I can remember one story that he told about this fella who rode his bicycle past the graveyard on Halloween night and was never seen again. The man's bicycle was found leaning up against the graveyard fence. Then came the dare! Who would be brave enough to walk up the dark lane to the main road? "Go on...ya 'ol coward ya," my Mom would tease! No way!!!!

So Happy Halloween to you. Have fun carving those Jack O'Lanterns and beware of all the little ghosts and goblins! If you're looking for a good Halloween song to listen to while you carve your pumpkins, download Richard Shindell, "Are You Happy Now."

Cheers-Kathleen

Saints and Sinners... great work by the Young Dubliners

Very impressed by this record our colleagues from LA put out this summer... Saints and Sinners by the Young Dubliners. Always a sucker for well played, well written Ceili-pop... this is state of the art, and as colorful as the slick CD cover featuring a shifty young boy with the brightest red hair you've ever seen.

There are a lot of influences on this that I hear... DMB, Duran Duran, ELO, Madness, Modern English to name a few. Add great Uillean pipes, whistle and fiddle and you have their sound.

Not one bad track on this. Some very catchy lyric writing here... Backseat Driver & Rosie are standout tracks for me. Love these lyrics from the chorus of Rosie...

Rosie, sweet rosie

money dont grow on trees

if I thought for just one second it did

i'd be down on my bended knee...

Oh can't you hear Larry Kirwan from Black 47 singing that...

Another standout for me is (Dont Think I'll) Love Anymore, a well done duet with Dead Rock West lead singer Cindy Wasserman. There were two additional tracks on the iTunes download version... and one called Unreel... a bonus live instrumental featuring nifty edgy guitar trad work.

But my favorite track is the last track entitled Chance... with a DMB/Stefan Lessard bass line bringing in a very hip dance tune that Afro-Celt fans will love. A great piece of studio production... love love love it...

Not sure there are too many better records put out in our scene this year... I am torn between Saints and Sinners and the sure to be classic Gutter Anthems from Enter The Haggis as my favorite Celtic rock release in 2009. I play them both constantly...

Anyway, I missed the Young Dubs recent NYC show... we had a studio session unfortunately that night. I will not let them get by us here again on the east coast without catching them live...

So in the meantime, pick it up, download it, order it... totally totally worth it.

Note: Been meaning to write this for a few months now, this record has been out since February, but better late than never...

Gavin's Golden Hill House... All Kinds of Tidbits & Memories

On October 17th, we are playing at Gavin's Second Annual Guinness Festival Weekend... which will have a neat linup of great bands (including us of course), a big heated tent, pints of Guinness, and a great place for you and the family to stay right there a brief walk from the tent...

Andy Cooney, Screaming Orphans, Padraig Allen & the Whole Shabang, Dermot Henry, Kitty Kelly, Frank Jaklitsch, and Jimmy Walsh as MC .... all great friends of ours. Our spot is at 8:30 PM before Andy and his gang go on. Check out the details...

I took an opportunity to poll the rest of the band for their memories of Gavins over the years... and found all kinds of interesting tidbits for you...

• Gavins was the first place in East Durham that Celtic Cross played... way back in 1989 (before I joined the band... original lineup including Kieth Sammut, Mike Clarke, and my good buddy Kevin O'Neill)
• In 1982, Dave Barckow, our drummer, won a first place in one of Gavin's weekly Amateur Hours... playing drums to a tape of the Who song You Better You Better You Bet...
• Prior to that, member of Celtic Cross have won dozens of Amateur Hour trophys in the seventies emmceed by our uncle in the business... Frankie Curran. There are arguments whether the Dineen Brothers or the Vesey Trio won more... maybe Gavin's keeps some statistics...
• Member of Celtic Cross have played in at least 7 different bands at Gavins over the years including Tippling Way, Dennis Gallery & Celtic Flavor, Glen Curtin, Tommy Mulvihill Band, Tommy Flynn & Flash, Richie O'Shea, Michael Sheehan... and I am sure we are forgetting a few.
• Gavin's is one of the darkest bars and lowest ceilings of any room any of us have ever played in... making for pretty good acoustics & music setting... providing you ain't playing that loud.
• Me and my brother sipped hundreds of Shirley Temples with my parents and learned about Irish music watching some of the biggest names in our parent's generation... Paddy Noonan, Noel Kingston, Dermot Henry, Richie O'Shea, Al Logan, Noel Henry, and Frankie Curren & The Evergreens.

So, not sure of the point of this blog other than to get a few other memories about Gavins going in anticipation of a great music event... and maybe get a few of you to book a Fall weekend trip to East Durham to see us and our friends... the luminary list of course topped by Arthur... Arthur E. Guinness...

Comments? Any of your own Gavin's music memories?

Jammin' Reels from Tullamore to McLean Ave!!

I'm just recently back from a whirlwind trip, with my son Kevin, to the Fleadh Cheoil music competition in Tullamore! Our trip started out a bit rocky when we missed our flight and had to come into Shannon instead of Dublin. Kevin wasn't overly thrilled about the 3 hour train ride from Limerick to Dublin, but the 99 (soft vanilla ice cream w/a chocolate flake on the side) seemed to made it all better. We met up with my brother Ken, his wife Brenda, their son Kenny and my parents and we headed for Tullamore.

Its hard to describe the incredible vibe at the Fleadh Cheoil. The competitions take place during the day and in the evenings, the streets are packed with festivities. There are musicians jamming tunes at just about every street corner, bar room and hotel lobby! The international language of Irish music, never ceases to amaze me! A complete stranger can sit into a session, take out their instrument and join in on the tune that the group is belting out! It's amazing to think that so many of the traditional tunes are know world wide.

The competitions are extremely tough, and one youngster is better than the next. We were absolutely thrilled when my nephew Kenny placed 2nd in the under 12 tin whistle competition. He was one of only two American to win at the competition. Sarah Butuex, also from NY, took 2nd place in the fiddle competition. It has often been said that the judges never like to give an American an All-Ireland title, so you have to be that much better to place!

Keeping the Irish traditional music alive here in NY is what it's all about. Like Kenny, Sarah is part of a musical family and no stranger to the stage. Sarah has been performing with a wonderful group of young ladies called Girsa, which means "young girls" in Gaelic. This talented group of musicians hails from Pearl River, NY. Members of Girsa include Sarah Butuex, her sister Lindsay, Maeve and Bernadette Flanagan, Deirdre Brennan, Pamela Geraghty, Emily McShane, Blaithin Loughran, Margaret Dudasik, Kristen McShane and Neidin Loughran.

We are thrilled to be sharing the stage with them, for a very special concert at Rory Dolan's on Saturday, Sept. 26th at 8:00 pm. There will be lots of singing, dancing and Irish tunes jamming, so don't miss what promises to be a great night on McLean Avenue!

Slainte!

September... back to playin great shows

This summer just flew by as I write this on Labor Day. We all took some time to be with family and friends, and vacations. We also have spent time writing for the next Celtic Cross record... may even preview some of the new materal this fall.

Our Fall calendar features a number of great shows around the tri-state area, so mark your calendars. Here are the highlights...

This Saturday, September 12th... we are playing with our friends The Cousins Moran in New City, NY at Doyler & Dunny's Half Way To St. Patrick's Party. The outdoor show kicks off at 3PM in a great big festival tent. Bring out the family for a Sunday evening of fun. We played this show in March and it was a great afternoon...

Saturday, September 19th we head down the shore to Sea Girt, NJ for The Irish Festival at the Jersey Shore for an early day spot at 11:30 AM! Will be an early start for us for sure... but make a day of it with your parents and kids down the shore. Also appearing are Gael Force, Seanchai, The Bogside Rouges, The Bare Knuckle Boxers, Round the House, The Patty Furlong Ceili band, Teresa Kane, and Sean Hennessy(Lead vocal of Blackwater) as festival MC.

And Sunday, September 20th we are at the Great Irish Fair of New York in Coney Island. We don't get down to Brooklyn near enough to see our friends down there. Our appearance is at 2PM. Also appearing on that day are The Canny Brothers, Jameson's Revenge, and The Screaming Orphans. Check out the Saturday bill too featuring Andy Cooney, Mac Talla Mor, and Unforgettable Fire.

Perhaps the highlight of the month is a great show at Rory Dolan's in Yonkers on Saturday, September 26th with the fabulous Girsa... the best new young trad act in the US. Nothing like a Saturday night on Maclean and we can't wait to collaborate on a few numbers with the talented ladies from Girsa.

Finally, back up to East Durham NY for Gavin's Second Annual Guiness Festival on Saturday October 17th. A great lineup of our friends will appear including Frank Jaklitsch, The Kitty Kelly Band, Padrig Allen & The Whole Shabang, Dermot Henry, The Andy Cooney Band and Jimmy Walsh as MC. Make your reservations now to stay up for a great fall day and evening under Gavin's outdoor heated festival tent.

Check the calendar on our website www.celticcross.com for more details and additional shows as they are added. Make sure to follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

Looking forward to seeing you all this fall...

P

Sand and Tin Whistles!

Having these last few summer's in Montauk, Long Island, has always been something near and dear to my heart! Since I have met Montauk, I have nicknamed it, as so many other's do- "God's Country." For those who think thats a tall statement, just spend some time here, and I'm sure you will too.....come around!!

I've been a Jersey Girl all my life, but there was this spring, back in, oh, probaby 1994, that I met this fella that told me that "the Jersey Shore had nothin' on Long Island! " Skeptical, being the aqua-net hairspraying-proud Jersey girl that I was, I reluctantly headed East on the Long Island Expressway to Montauk.

Little did I know that when I got here, not only was it paradise, it was paradise with a spice of Ireland attached! WOW!!!

Every year, Montauk is fortunate to gather a few hundred "J1" college visa kids out here for a good time. They bring with them a taste of Ireland... a "how's it goin'" or "jees...where ya from" sorta, good feeling, that has always been a staple of a summer in Montauk for the past 15 years.

It doesn't get better than that!!

But shhhh, don't tell anyone...we don't want the word to get out!

So fast forward....10 years later and I am completely in love with this place.

I have spend so many nights around a Ditch Plains beach campfire. Smores, ghost stores, a full moon and a few songs, always makes for a perfect beach night. Kevin, my eldest son, often brings his tin whistle and rattles off a few jigs and reels. Tin whistles and sand don't go so well, but hey, he needs the practice and I couldn't be more proud!

So off we go, this weekend to Tullamore, Offaly, Ireland. I will be escorting Kevin to the Fleadh Cheoil. My brother Ken and sister-in-law, Brenda, will also be there, taking their son Kenny to the competition! We are so proud to pass the torch down and share the Fleadh Cheoil with the boys! It will be a special moment to have 2 first cousins represent the United States in the under 12 tin whistle competition!

Of course Nanna and Pappa couldn't miss this moment and will be along with us!

So stay tuned, as either way... I know the boys will make us all proud! We will post some pictures!

GO U.S. AND GO NARROWBACKS!!! :)

Totally Missed Rockaway

We played at a great place in Rockaway yesterday called The Bungalow Bar... on B92nd street on the bay side, literally in the shadow of the Crossbay Bridge. A great spot all you Brooklynites and Queensies should check out. They have the coolest outdoor deck overlooking the bay and great food...

It was also cool that Rockaway is the home town of Walter Ensor (our guitar player). We don't get down his neck of the woods often... so I am sure he enjoyed not having his typical 2 hour plus commute to our shows around the area. Plus, I think he knew everyone in the bar last night.

But personally, it felt so good to cross that bridge again and to drive through Rockaway... and play our new material for many folks who came out to see us. In spite of the T-storms... a great evening. We will look forward to getting back to the Bungalow Bar.

Rockaway will always be a familiar and fond place for me. It was my first beach! I have such vivid kid memories of the bridge traffic, looking for parking spots, and sitting on the hot vinyl seats of my parents car with no AC... couldn't wait to get on that boardwalk and see the ocean. Then there were many fishing adventures off the bridge. Think we even rented a boat once...

Even remember staying down there in those little bungalow shacks. My wife Kerry too... she recalls the light bulb fixtures hanging from the ceiling with a twine cord switch. I can close my eyes and remember those sunburned nights in a bed too small, prevented from sleeping by the sound of the surf and the lights and clamor from nearby Playland.

And then there was the Q53 bus... from 61st & Roosevelt in Woodside directly to B116st in Rockaway. On hot summer days, that bus was teaming with kids looking for fun, sun, loud boombox music, and showing off for members of the opposite sex...

Under the boardwalk

down by the sea

On a blanket with my baby

That's where I'll be...

or so we all hoped.

And then the Irish Circle... one of those party spots where I am sure I have played 100+ gigs over the years. Loved that place. Had the pleasure of having Micky Carton up to sing on many occasions... he'd kill me with his one-liners off the mike. Anyway, the place looks better than ever on that corner of B101st.

The Irish Festival every July was one of the best around... John Vesey actually wore a kilt there once during a Celtic Cross performance. I played there with Pat Roper, Celtic Flavor with Dennis Gallery, Tippling Way and of course Celtic Cross.

I am sure I could come up with more, but would love to hear your own Rockaway Irish stories... so please comment below.

The Script... love a Dublin accent

I am such a sucker for well played pop with great lyrics. That is why anything by Taylor Swift stops me dead to listen...

I am also a total sucker for a Dublin accent singing those lyrics... a la Bono.

Found a new one to fit this bill last week while on vacation... on Twitter of all places. Then started hearing them on Sirius... and I expect you will start hearing a lot of them.

This new band is called The Script, and they deserve a listen. The Dublin trio opened for Paul McCartney last week in Citifield... a nice feather in the cap to share a stage with a Beatle.

I specifically recommend the iTunes Live: London Festival '08 - EP but their self-titled debut album is good top to bottom as well.

Let me know what you think...

Cool Celtic Bands at Sailfest This Friday

Looking forward to our show this Friday night in New London, CT at Sailfest. This is a free outdoor show at a very cool festival venue right on the water. We headline a cool celtic music bill that day on the Custom House Pier Stage...

(5:00) Craig Edwards (Traditional Celtic & Folk)

(6:30) Shellbacks (Celtic Band)
(7:00) The 7th Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps
(8:30) New London Firefighters Pipes & Drums
(9:00) Celtic Cross (Celtic Band)

Come on out if you are along the Connecticut shore on Friday... should be sweet.

P

Need to get blogging again...

so... its been a while since our last blogpost, so I will make up with a few tidbits.

• This weekend we played three shows at Gavins in East Durham, NY. Was great to be back there for a whole weekend. It was "reunion weekend" up there, and we got to see a lot of old faces, good friends... and the kids of those good old friends. The weekend culminated with a great outdoor Sunday afternoon show... reminicent of those old Erin's Melody gigs 15 years ago... We will be back at Gavins this fall for their big Guiness Festival...

• My son Connor, played with us all weekend on acoustic guitar and fiddle. Was great to have him up with us... reminded me of when I started playing on stages in East Durham around his age. You will hear more from him as he is getting better everyday...

• New songs... are coming. We sorta debuted one at Gavins on Saturday night... one I wrote entitled 'Whirl Spin Girl'. We are working on lots of new material this summer to followup on last year's Shores of America... gotta get Kathleen to write a blogpost on a few of the other titles in process. Maybe fall in the studio??

• Twitter... got a good Celtic Cross song idea? Tweet it to us @celticcrosstunz.

• Good shows this month... we are headlining this Friday July 10th in New London, CT at Sailfest, the Rockland County Feis on Sunday July 19th (our favorite show of the year), and Hartford Irish Festival on Saturday July 25th.

• Got a new bass... I bought a new bass for myself. A Fender Jazz American Deluxe... black with a gold pickguard, maple unfinished neck... very cool active electronics. It is the four string I have been needing for a while... cuts through the thick Celtic Cross mix really well.

There is a quick catch up... hope you are all having a great summer. Comment on our blog here, visit us on Facebook, and check our website schedule for all our details.

P

Dyin to play...

We have had some good rest, great times with our families, a little travel here and there, time to attend to our jobs and such... and even some good music writing time... but now Celtic Cross is back in time for the March Paddy's Day run!

New things are coming... a few new covers of things we love, brand new Celtic Cross originals, and a revisit of some of our tried and true live favorites.   

Just posted our current 2009 calendar on CelticCross.com.   We also have launched a sites on Facebook and Twitter... so make sure you connect with us there to keep up to date.

Can't wait to play... and see you all soon...

P

Celtic Cross is on Twitter!!

If you are on Twitter... follow Celtic Cross @celticcrosstunz and get off the wall updates from Sean Ruane our manager.

Also, follow me @patrickdineen and Dave @davebarckow while you are at it...

Happy twitting...

P

Shores of America is Irish Voice Number 1 Record of 2008!!

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