The annual gathering of musicians and members of Comhaltas to honor one of their own remains one of the most significant events not alone on the CCE calendar but on the traditional music scene around New York.
The Mid-Atlantic region pioneered the concept and has carefully tended to it since the early 1990s as a way of harkening back to the past, and also to help ensure its future by acknowledging those who paved the way while inspiring their peers or the next generations.
Two fiddlers from a different time and place will be honored as they are inducted into the CCE Hall of Fame at the Mineola Irish American Center on Saturday, February 16. Since 1990 34 musicians have been enshrined, and now the late Larry Redican and Brendan Mulvihill will be added to their august ranks as the 2008 inductees.
It was in this very same Inis Fada hall on January 26, 1975 that Redican passed away with the fiddle in his hands while on stage, so it seems fitting that he will now be honored posthumously on that very same stage over 33 years later.
The Boyle, Co. Roscom-mon native emigrated from Ireland in 1928 at the age of 20, having studied classical and traditional music in Dublin with Arthur Darley. That led to an association with Leo Rowsome and the Piper Club coterie of musicians who would often play for the Gaelic League ceilithe.
After he married and settled in Brooklyn, he became a mainstay of the New York Council of Gaelic Societies weekly ceilithe with the likes of Paddy Reynolds, Andy McGann, Jack Coen, Lad O'Beirne, Felix Dolan and Jerry Wallace.
Known as a gifted composer and fiddler, whom Paddy Reynolds (who hailed from nearby Co. Longford)) regarded as a musician's musician who was never accorded the attention he should have received. The Redican home was frequented by many musicians, including icons Sean Maguire and Paddy O'Brien. Even the RTE broadcaster Ciaran MacMathuna called upon him to serve as a guide to the Irish American musicians in the 1950s.
His command and repertoire also made him a popular musical choice of area feisianna and for early television appearances by the McNiff Dancers.
With the induction of Mulvihill, it marks the third father/child duo (Jim and Brian Conway, Joe and Joanie Madden) in the 18 years of the Hall of Fame. Martin Mulvihill was posthumously inducted in 1994 for his incredible work as a music teacher here in New York in the 1970s and 1980s until his death in 1987.
Young Brendan set off on his own music career down to the Washington, D.C. area where, along with Brooklyn-born Billy McComiskey and Andy O'Brien, they formed the seminal Irish Tradition Trio resident in the Dubliner Pub.
Brendan carved out his very own style from the foundation of his dad, the Birmingham and New York music scenes and many more influences, and developed a flair for interpreting O'Carolan tunes also with one-time partner Donna Long on piano.
He has performed at all the major Irish music festivals in the country where traditional music is respected and taught at many of the music schools as well. As a teacher he has directly influenced and guided a number of outstanding young fiddlers in Ireland and the U.S. who benefited from his fierce determination to pass on the music that was handed down to him.
The annual Hall of Fame ceili takes place at the Irish American Center at 297 Willis Avenue from 7 p.m.-midnight this Saturday. Music for dancing will be provided by CCE musicians and friends.
Call chair Terry Rafferty at 201-288-4267 or see www.cce-ma.com for details.