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Minnesota Musicians in Mullingar

November 2, 2023

From Monday to Thursday, students gathered at tree each day after their Scoil Éigse workshops. Youth students were given a scholarship from the Frank Pasquerella Memorial Fund to attend these workshops.
From Monday to Thursday, students gathered at tree each day after their Scoil Éigse workshops. Youth students were given a scholarship from the Frank Pasquerella Memorial Fund to attend these workshops.

It’s been six years since the Coleman family was featured in the Clare Echo at the All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in Ennis, when the Center for Irish Music represented Minnesota for the first time en masse with two ceili bands, and a grúpa ceoil at the international-level level. This year, CIM parent and volunteer Kelly Scanlan, chatted up the owner of Just Books bookstore on Pierce Street, making the headlines once again, this time in the Westmeath Examiner. The story of Americans coming to a small Irish town to experience traditional Irish music at the fleadh is clearly still compelling and entertaining.

For our students, the fleadh trip is an immersive cultural experience that ignites passion and curiosity about Irish music, and creates friendships that last beyond the journey itself. The sessions, walks around town, concerts, busking, and everything in between, teaches them so many things we can’t emulate in our classrooms in St. Paul.

This August, a total of 46 CIM people–including musicians, parents, partners, siblings, and family members, our Executive Artist Director Norah Rendell, and fiddle instructor Mary Vanorny–traveled to Mullingar for an experience of a lifetime at the All Ireland Fleadh, or Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. The Fleadh is not only a festival with world-class concerts and events, but also an international-level Irish competition, one that 33 CIM students, and four groups, qualified for at the USA Midwest Regional Fleadh in St. Louis in May 2023.

Two groups represented CIM in Ireland: An Luan in the senior grúpa ceoil competition, and the u18 céilí band with members of the Advanced Youth Ensemble and Starling ensembles, directed by Norah Rendell.

Thanks to some organized folks who attended last year's Mullingar fleadh, accommodations were secured above Kerrigan’s pub and at houses within walking distance of the town center. This communal arrangement gave us plenty of time to spend together playing music, and hanging out.

We hope you enjoy these memories as much as we did making them. Congratulations to the students, and thanks to the families for their commitment to "handing down the tradition".

The Overseas Concert

Our Advanced Youth Ensemble students were asked to perform at the Comhaltas Overseas concert. They met up with Angelina Carberry, and MIM master artists Eamonn Cotter and Geraldine Cotter, all of whom were performing with the Liverpool Céilí Band at the same concert.
Our Advanced Youth Ensemble students were asked to perform at the Comhaltas Overseas concert. They met up with Angelina Carberry, and MIM master artists Eamonn Cotter and Geraldine Cotter, all of whom were performing with the Liverpool Céilí Band at the same concert.
Ginger and Nevellie posing with flute maker Eamonn Cotter (2013 MIM artist), and their flute instructor Norah Rendell, also CIM's Executive Artistic Director.
Ginger and Nevellie posing with flute maker Eamonn Cotter (2013 MIM artist), and their flute instructor Norah Rendell, also CIM's Executive Artistic Director.
Geraldine Cotter with our u18 céilí band piano player, Rana.
Geraldine Cotter with our u18 céilí band piano player, Rana.

Busking, Sessions and Hanging Out

Busking An Luan outside of Vodaphone store
We were proud of our teens who made tons of new friends at the Scoil Éigse workshops and sessions. Here they are busking with a new friend, on the accordion on far right.
We were proud of our teens who made tons of new friends at the Scoil Éigse workshops and sessions. Here they are busking with a new friend, on the accordion on far right.
Owen, Ellie and Teagan busted out some tunes at the end of the trip. The gals even put on their shoes and had a step on the street!
Owen, Ellie and Teagan busted out some tunes at the end of the trip. The gals even put on their shoes and had a step on the street!
Busking Rana
Mali dropped her phone in the river, and got it back again. It’s a long story…
Mali dropped her phone in the river, and got it back again. It’s a long story…
We had a ball playing with our friends from SLIA, Hollie and Kira, and all our CIM friends. Here's Norah and Mary yucking it up with the crew on Monday night.
We had a ball playing with our friends from SLIA, Hollie and Kira, and all our CIM friends. Here's Norah and Mary yucking it up with the crew on Monday night.
The Druid hosted many sessions with musicians from around the world. This was a session we started that turned into a big international jam by the end of the night. (below left) An outdoor session broke out at Kerrigans, and another Druid tune fest (below right).
The Druid hosted many sessions with musicians from around the world. This was a session we started that turned into a big international jam by the end of the night. (below left) An outdoor session broke out at Kerrigans, and another Druid tune fest (below right).
session Kerrigans outdoor
Session Druid teens 2
The magic of the “fleadh experience” was at the sessions, rehearsals, late-night card games, Scoil Éigse workshops, concerts, riverside walks, and copious cups of Irish tea (and coffee). This was the inaugural session of Minnesota folks at Kerrigans.
The magic of the “fleadh experience” was at the sessions, rehearsals, late-night card games, Scoil Éigse workshops, concerts, riverside walks, and copious cups of Irish tea (and coffee). This was the inaugural session of Minnesota folks at Kerrigans.
Amazing CIM Parents, like these ones, supported their kids by bringing them over to Ireland, and listening to hours and hours of tunes night after night over a pint. There were many laughs, good chats, and gorgeous tunes. CIM parents are the best!
Amazing CIM Parents, like these ones, supported their kids by bringing them over to Ireland, and listening to hours and hours of tunes night after night over a pint. There were many laughs, good chats, and gorgeous tunes. CIM parents are the best!

Competitions

Beth and Teddy's duet competition was broadcast live. (Below) Collin's banjo competition.
Beth and Teddy's duet competition was broadcast live. (Below) Collin's banjo competition.
Collin in competition
Fiddler Mary Vanorny with her student Abbey Roemer (also a wonderful CIM instructor) after Abbey's beautiful performance in the senior fiddle competition. Congratulations Abbey! Mary traveled to Mullingar with her family to support her daughter Claire, and also listened to hours and hours of fiddle competitions. CIM is extremely fortunate to have such generous, and committed instructors.
Fiddler Mary Vanorny with her student Abbey Roemer (also a wonderful CIM instructor) after Abbey's beautiful performance in the senior fiddle competition. Congratulations Abbey! Mary traveled to Mullingar with her family to support her daughter Claire, and also listened to hours and hours of fiddle competitions. CIM is extremely fortunate to have such generous, and committed instructors.
Our students supported one another by attending as many competitions as they could. However, distances too long to walk quickly meant that it was impossible to catch every CIM student's competition. Thanks to the downtown jumbotron, Morien, Jeff, and Ellie were able to catch Ginger's performance!
Our students supported one another by attending as many competitions as they could. However, distances too long to walk quickly meant that it was impossible to catch every CIM student's competition. Thanks to the downtown jumbotron, Morien, Jeff, and Ellie were able to catch Ginger's performance!
Norah found a rock-n-roll rehearsal room in the barracks equipped with two keyboards and four drum kits. It was bizarre, but it did the job.
Norah found a rock-n-roll rehearsal room in the barracks equipped with two keyboards and four drum kits. It was bizarre, but it did the job.
The u18 céilí band looking sharp after their competition performance at the Mullingar Park Hotel.
The u18 céilí band looking sharp after their competition performance at the Mullingar Park Hotel.

Student Reflections

Ben, Teagan and Owen talking with Joe Fahy of Coolola House, Aughrim (just over Latrell’s Crossing from Aughrim)
Ben, Teagan and Owen talking with Joe Fahy of Coolola House, Aughrim (just over Latrell’s Crossing from Aughrim)

From Ben Crowe, banjo student, and father of Teagan and Owen: The Crowe family visited our dear family friend Joe Fahy in Aughrim, Galway just after the fleadh. I have visited Joe periodically since the 80’s, he’s a farmer whose farm includes the Crowe family home from a long time ago. Joe has always loved visiting with me and the family and met Teagan and Owen for the first time. Joe just turned 90 and lives by himself on the farm (he’s looked after by local friends and family), and isn’t able to get out much. He loves music and talked about the aughrim slopes Ceili band that played regularly at the pub in town (now Valerie’s pub), and misses that aspect of getting out.

Joe seemed to have an amazement over some Minnesotans visiting over the years and having just been to the Fleadh with a connection to his farm and him as someone visiting Ireland in return…

We drank tea, talked about our family and the fleadh and played tunes for Joe. He whispered to me “I really loved your visit so much” and waved goodbye as we left.

Collin Fenton in banjo shop Mullingar

From CIM parent, Simon Fenton: Collin and I walk down a lane in Mullingar. Collin sees a banjo shop and says, "Let's go in."  Upon walking in, the first person who sees him says, "Hello Collin!"  What are the chances of being greeted by name in a music shop in another country?!?

It turns out his tutor from Scoil Eigse was in the shop as well.