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Irish music will be out of this world for first time ever

U.S. astronaut blasts off with Chieftain’s famous flute

By
JAMES O'SHEA,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer
Published Wednesday, December 15, 2010, 7:34 AM
Updated Wednesday, December 15, 2010, 7:50 AM

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Flute from Chieftains musician Matt Molloy will travel to space
Flute from Chieftains musician Matt Molloy will travel to space


Irish music will be out of this world literally today when the U.S. /Russia joint space station mission blasts off from Kazakhstan.

That is because astronaut Catherne ‘Cady’ Coleman has packed a traditional Irish concert flute given to her by Chieftains musician Matt Molloy.

Coleman is a committed Irish traditional musician and told a press conference yesterday that she intended playing Irish music in space, the first time it has been heard beyond the bounds of earth.

Matt Molloy told The Irish Times yesterday that he had met the NASA astronaut ten years ago after playing a concert in Houston.

“We had done a concert and as always we had a tune afterwards with local musicians.It transpired she played the flute and we have been friends ever since,” he told the paper.

He says Coleman told her “Your music always brings me to a special place so I thought I’d bring yours to one. I was really moved.” Molloy said.

He says the flute that she will play the Irish music on is a very special one.

“It was made in the late 1890s or early 1900s and I could not possibly put a value on it but it’s very special to me.Cady is a fine accomplished flute-player so it in in good hands” he said.

Coleman will be based on the space station for six months where she will join two Russian crew and another American.

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8 Comments

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rosarypray | Dec 18, 2010, 12:16 PM EST
cool!

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sirpeter | Dec 15, 2010, 10:31 PM EST
calcopyrite...it's music..Not Riverdance,you know you have to take your meds every day.

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calcopyrite | Dec 15, 2010, 08:54 PM EST
How does one step dance in zero -gee?

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sirpeter | Dec 15, 2010, 11:04 AM EST
If they played English traditional music out in space,the the pesky Aliens would leave their own planet.

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sirpeter | Dec 15, 2010, 10:43 AM EST
Creakinggate..you old fart..that diddle-e-eye stuff is only a very small part of Irish traditional music.You're just jealous they turned down The Wurzels, your favorite English traditional crap that gives you a 'ard on.No one wants to listen to..My Somerset Crumpet Horn and Never Mind The Bullocks, Ere's The Wurzels.

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Towngate | Dec 15, 2010, 09:59 AM EST
Yeah! Good idea, Cady! Give the pesky Aliens a blast of diddle-e-eye. That will keep them away! They would never dare invade in case the whole earth sounded like that!

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antoman | Dec 15, 2010, 09:30 AM EST
In space they can't hear your flute.

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sirpeter | Dec 15, 2010, 08:05 AM EST
Irish traditional music and Celtic music was always out of this world.Look at all the movies in the past 20 years that use Irish traditional music and Celtic music as their backdrop to the movie.Name one other country in the world whose traditional music has such international appeal.

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