Girsa.

When we talk about the living tradition of Irish music, nowhere is it more robust in the U.S. than the town of Pearl River in Rockland County.

Thanks to the Pearl River School of Music’s year-round activity and music lessons, hundreds of children have embraced traditional music and the friendship it engenders among its fanatical following.

That dedication has achieved some fantastic results in the latest Golden Age around New York.   Emblematic of that would be the Pearl River under-12 ceili band which garnered a first place win at the 2012 Cavan Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann and a third place win at this year’s historic fleadh in Derry last August.

The teachers and parents have organized another fundraising concert to support the ongoing efforts of the Pearl River School in town this coming Friday night that will showcase the talent of the prize winners from North America and the All-Ireland along with some other fabulous entertainment.

Leading the bill as the Mna a Ti is the hostess with the mostest Joanie Madden for the second year in a row.  They are just back from Ireland after another sensational tour with Cherish the Ladies who won an Emmy for their PBS production of a live concert at Bucknell University in September.

The Pride of Pearl River Girsa will also share the spotlight, that delightful and multi-talented sextet of young women who formed the vanguard of the current wave of awesome musicians emanating from the burgh along with the veteran Pearl River resident Martin Mulhaire, who came over to America with the All-Ireland champion Tulla Ceili Band in 1958.

The sensational stepdancer Jonathan Srour will grace the stage also along with some lively local set dancers.

It all takes place at the Pearl River High School (275 E. Central Avenue behind Shoprite) on Friday, October 25 at 7:30 p.m.  Call Rose Flanagan (845-735-1743), Margie Mulvihill (845-735-1204) or Patty Furlong (845-735-3282).