A Decade of Solas: We Have a Review

The new live Solas reunion CD/DVD is being released today nationwide.

We have a review, along with our earlier Seamus Egan interview, plus a preview of "Pastures of Plenty," the lead track on the CD.

• The Review (with access to to "Pastures of Plenty")
• The Seamus Egan Interview

We also have a review of a great Joanie Madden-Mary Coogan concert Saturday night at the Coatesville Cultural Society, sponsored by the Coatesville Traditional Irish Music Series. And a bonus: a dozen pics!

• The Review (with access to the pictures)

This is in addition to our earlier interview with Joanie.

Also new this week:

Easter Rising 90th Anniversary
We attended the Sunday service at Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon. We have a story, with access to a massive photo essay. Also: A close-up look at Philadelphian Joseph McGarrity, who financed many of the exploits of the Irish Volunteers and the IRA.

• The Easter Rising Ceremony
• The McGarrity Timeline

Jeff

Joanie Madden's Whistles

Just got in from a superb concert at the Coatesville Cultural Society, sponsored by the Coatesville Traditional Irish Music Series, run by Frank Dalton.

I'll have more to say about it on www.irishphiladelphia.com in a day (two, at most), but in the meantime, I built a page for all my fellow whistle addicts. (I have lots of whistles. Sure wish I could play one of them worth a damn.)

As the show began, Joanie unveiled her whistle collection. I kneeled down in front of the stage to snap a picture. She saw me and I yelled "Hey, work with me, babe," and she burst out laughing.

I also went on stage during intermission to shoot a close-up pic of the collection.

Both pics are here:
http://www.irishphiladelphia.com/joanieswhistles.html

There'll be maybe 18-20 pics more in a day or so. But for now, a sneak preview, eh?

Jeff