Catskills Irish Arts Week - Preview by Alice Farrell

As summer approaches and many of us are looking at what to do to take ourselves out of the normal humdrum, here's a week that will give you an idyllic setting and fabulous music to soothe the soul and help you recharge your batteries.

Set in the glorious Catskill Mountains in Upstate New York State , the Catskills Irish Arts Week is celebrating its 10 th Year, with a most auspicious lineup of instructors. Taking place at the Michael J. Quill Irish Cultural and Sports Center in East Durham, New York from the 11 th to the 17 th of July, 2004.

The week is comprised of classes, nightly sessions organized in local pubs and a culminating concert on the weekend, featuring many of the teachers. It is very similar in plan and philosophy to the Willie Clancy Summer School, held annually in Milltown Malbay, and offers the same immersion in the tradition, surrounded by a bucolic setting and in with the camaraderie of many talented enthusiasts with a thirst for the best in Irish traditional music.

Taken from the cream of the current crop of professional musicians out there, it features the 9 th consecutive year for whistle player Mary Bergin, and the first major American appearance for the Donegal fiddle great Dermot McLaughlin . Other teachers include Jerry O'Sullivan on the Uillean Pipes, Patrick Ourceau, Dana Lynn , Matt Cranitch and Brendan Mulvihill on Fiddle, Patty Furlong, Jackie Daly and Billy McComiskey on Button Accordion, Father Charlie Cohen on Concertina, Don Meade on Banjo and Harmonica, Felix Dolan on piano, and set dancing, song workshops, children's classes and classes in celtic arts. A bit of something for everyone, and definitely a chance to hone your skills, learn some new tunes and make new friends.

In talking with the Artistic Director of the week, Paul Keating , he expressed that “What we want the students to bring to the week is a real sense of the history that's in the traditional music. When you realize who are some of the people that have played the music over the years in the Catskills, to see it come alive again, is something that truly needs to be experienced.”

Classes are held in small to medium groups, giving the students a lot of hands on attention from the teachers, and the level of proficiency of the students is increasing every year. Again Paul remarks, that “I was quite impressed last year, and the students are well able to keep up, even some of the younger ones. It's become quite a good week for playing and being exposed to different musicians and types of music.”

Many of the teachers come with pre-prepared materials in either printed form or on CD that that students can take away with them to reinforce the learning done during the week, and the celtic arts sessions also allow them to take home a finished piece of art that they can proudly display in their homes.

The Irish community in the Catskills area has seen a resurgence in recent years, given the high cost of going to festivals or simply just vacationing back in Ireland, and has drawn many ex-pat Irish folks as well as Americans from all walks of life to the treelined vistas. It's easily reachable by car, about 2 ½ hours north of New York City , and by Amtrak. The festival office can help you in finding accommodations and more detailed information on the program, the class schedule, directions and the like can be found on their website at:

http://www.east-durham.org/irishartsweek/index.htm

So if you're yearning to sit among the cool leaves, learn a few new tunes, and gather with friendly folks for a great session in the evening, then head to the Catskills where you're sure to come away with a greater appreciation for the tradition, the music, and a load of new friends!