The 1999 Feis had its most successful event for its third year. The Commonwealth Convention Center facility served the function well and over four hundred and fifty dancers competed. Plans are already underway to make the Y2K Louisville Feis even greater. In the meantime, be looking out for the upcoming ceilihs of the Greater Louisville Irish Cultural Society. These are really fun and they give the Feis the added financial support it needs to be successful. Congratulations to Cathy de Rosario and Heather McClanahan and the many others who worked so hard to make this a great Louisville event.
Kitty O'Shea's Irish Pub on Limestone St. across from the U of K campus holds a regular session every Tuesday night at 8 p.m. It draws players from all over the region, including the likes of John Skelton (House Band), Susan Cross (Silver Arm), Dan Cummins (Liam's Fancy) and many others.
Every Sunday at 4 p.m., you can listen or participate in a regular Irish music session at Molly Malone's. Members of local groups The Rashers, Ten Penny Bit, Cloigheann, Galloglas, Drowsy Maggie, etc. all send representatives to jam with several very talented free agents.
Ten Penny Bit is quite busy this July, so I'll give you their itinerary: July 2, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Belvedere World Cafe; July 3 at the Corydon, Ind. 4th of July Celebration in Capitol Square, from 2-4 p.m.; July 17 at R. P. McMurphy's in Cincinnati and July 23 and 24 at Molly Malone's. TPB will provide the music for two Civil War Balls, the first on July 10 in Scottsburg, Ind. and on July 31 in Bardstown. Wear blue or gray! For more details, call Robin at 447-0581 or check out the Ten Penny Bit web page at www.tenpennybit.com
Drowsy Maggie will play at Molly Malone's on Saturday July 17. Bring your clapping hands!
Galloglas will return for another performance as part of the "Owensboro After Five" Music Series on Friday, July 23 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Admission is free.
The Columbus, Ind. Scottish Highland Games continues its celebration of fun and tradition on Friday and Saturday, July 16 and 17. Call the Celtic Center at 897-9050 for details.
The Rashers will be at Molly Malone's on July 9 and 10. On the 11th, they will be at Bryant Park in Bloomington, Indiana for the City Park Concert Series, 6-7:30 p.m. They will be joined by Larry McCullough, who plays tin whistle and uillean pipes. McCullough has added incidental music to Ken Burns' "Civil War" special, among others.