Mattie and Deirdre Connolly
School bells are ringing all around us and that means another busy fall season at New York University’s Glucksman Ireland House, with many cultural offerings at its Mews House in Greenwich Village in the shadow of the Washington Square Arch.
Chief among them for music fans is the resumption of the Blarney Star Concert Series after a summer hiatus, and the first act is well worth touting. One of the attributes of the Irish roots-oriented concert series run by long-time producer Don Meade is that local talent shared the spotlight with touring artists coming through New York City and had the opportunity to perform before people who knew their music.
The first show of the season features two outstanding musicians in the father and daughter pairing of Mattie and Deirdre Connolly, pegged to the release of their first solo CD, "The Kylemore Pass," coming out this month.
Over 20 years ago they were part of the Mick Moloney-inspired concerts highlighting young women in Irish music influenced by their Irish parents, first in Cherish the Ladies and then Fathers and Daughters.
Undeservedly, Mattie and Deirdre have performed under the radar for far too long in trad circles, even though their talents were still recognized through the house party circuit and local festivals.
After listening to an advance copy of the new CD I think things will be changing for them, and this focal point at the Glucksman Ireland House will help generate more attention to their music together and the family tradition that spawned it.
Mattie is a native of Co. Monaghan who emigrated here back in the sixties, managing to combine a series of hard laboring jobs with a musical career in Irish dance halls playing pop, country and Irish favorites.
Raising a fine family with his wife Bridget (from Galway), he kept in tune with all the older traditional musicians who enjoyed not only his prowess on the uilleann pipes, but his deep booming voice that ranged from Irish airs, ballads and popular country songs that livened up the chune sessions.
Displaying great versatility over the years in the music scene, he was recognized in his election to both the AIMS and CCE Hall of Fame.
His daughter Deirdre soaked up the music from her dad and her grandparents at home, but also fell under the musical sway of the very talented Maureen Glynn from Brooklyn who instilled a love and command of traditional music in the whistle and flute playing young lady.
When Joanie Madden was looking to replace Aoife Clancy, the lead singer in Cherish the Ladies, she asked Deirdre to come join CTL on the road where she did a fine job for a few years until she wanted to focus on a nursing career.
While with them, she released an excellent solo CD "A Song in Turn," which reviewers felt showcased her wonderful sensitive singing voice even more. Deirdre has recently been teaching at the Woodlawn School of Music as well.
As you might expect, the new CD reflects many of the influences in their family over the years and shows a good bit of variety in the mix of songs and tunes that certify a well-deserved place among the best musicians in the New York area.
Audience members will be pleasantly surprised by range of material in their program on Friday night, September 18 at 9 p.m. Call Ireland House at 212-998-3950 or visit www.nyu.edu/pages/irelandhouse.