News

Something for Everyone at ICCMV Cultural Building

July 2, 2009

Contrary to the opinions of the uninformed, an Irish Festival is not just about consuming copious amounts of adult beverages. More than anything, it's about the celebration of Irish cultures in all its various forms. Nowhere is this more in evidence than at the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley Building at the 2009 Great American Irish Festival, where festival attendees can enjoy language workshops, dance instruction, open musical sessions and a number of presentations on a wide variety of subjects during all three days of the festival.
The programs include instruction in the Irish language where attendees will learn phrases to sprinkle into their conversation on their trip to Ireland, Irish food demonstrations (no corned beef and cabbage, thank you) and musical instrument workshops for accomplished and not-so-accomplished players.
Those who enjoy dancing can learn an Irish ceili (social) dance, and, for those who play a traditional Irish instrument - or some not so traditional - Craobh Dugan, the Central New York branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, will host an open session at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, where musicians of all skill levels are invited to join the group and play along with familiar songs and perhaps learn a new song or two.
A special treat is in store for those visiting the ICCMV Cultural Building this year. In keeping with this year's theme "Irish-American Soldiers: Heroes of American's Conflicts," Derek Warfield, founder of the legendary Wolfetones, will be giving a presentation on Irish-Americans in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars titled "Ireland's Fight for American Liberty in Music, Song and Literature" at various times during the three-day festival. Other exhibits will include Irish Dog Breeds, a display on the planned Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley, the GAIF photo contest, and a demonstration of fretwork (decorative woodworking).
A full schedule will be posted at the festival, but the bottom line is, whenever you choose visit the ICCMV Cultural Building, something interesting will be going on.

ICCMV CULTURAL BUILDING PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS
(Schedule subject to change)

Friday July 24th
5:00 p.m. - Harrington Dance School; Dance Workshop; Irish Food (talk);
6:00 p.m. - Celtic Harper Mary Margaret
6:30 p.m. - Derek Warfield (Lecture)
7:00 p.m. - Chriost an Ri Dance School
8:00 p.m. - Irish Language Workshop

Saturday July 25th
11:00 - Claddagh Ring Dancers; Beginners Tin Whistle Workshop;
12:00 - Irish Language Workshop
1:00 - Advanced Beginners Tin Whistle Workshop
2:30 - Open Session - All Musicians Welcome!
3:00 - Irish Food Demo
4:00 - Johnson Dance School; Irish Language workshop;
6:00 - Butler Sheehan Academy of Dance
6:30 - Derek Warfield (lecture);
Sunday July 26th
12:00 - Bodhran Workshop
1:00 - Irish Food Demo; Deirdre McCarthy Storyteller
2:00 - Bodhran Workshop; Derek Warfield (lecture);
3:30 - Pat Kane Ceili Dance Workshop