Music connects communities, and St. Patrick’s Day in particular is a very musical celebration. Across the state this week you’ll find song and dance filling homes, pubs, and community centers. New Jersey is home to a strong Irish music scene, and over the years State of the Arts has sat down with many musicians who are drawn to this traditional folk style. “What is special about Irish music?” harper and fiddler Kathy DeAngelo says, smiling. “It just speaks to me.” The sentiment is shared with countless others. So, as we head towards March 17th, let’s pull up a chair, grab some Irish soda bread, and take a listen to De Dannan, the Chivalrous Crickets, and McDermott’s Handy.

 

“The spirit of the music that we play, and the feeling and emotion that’s in it—either very sad or very happy or halfway—seems to connect with almost every culture across the world.”

– Frankie Gavin, De Dannan

State of the Arts was there when traditional Irish band De Dannan performed to a packed Mayo Performing Arts Center in 2012. While nowadays Irish folk music is popular worldwide, the band’s roots are in the folk music revival of 1970s Ireland. “De Dannan were the band that pushed all the boundaries,” member Michelle Lally notes. They continue to do so, melding pop classics with traditional style in, for instance, their covers of the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun,” and Édith Piaf’s “If You Love Me,” both featured in our story above.

 

“Making music, the creation of music, writing a song—it’s essentially magic.”

– Bradley King, The Chivalrous Crickets

New Jersey’s own Chivalrous Crickets features harmonies by sisters Fiona Gillespie and Genevieve King, who grew up in a very musical family. The band combines their members’ backgrounds in Appalachian folk tunes and early European music with Irish, Scottish, and English traditions. “It’s a band of husbands and wives and sisters and best friends,” Genevieve laughs, noting that her family got involved in Irish music through her mother, who runs a violin studio. The Chivalrous Crickets are based in Princeton—keep an eye on their website for upcoming events!

 

“I’m a musician and I play traditional Irish music—that’s my reason for being, that’s the air that I breathe. It all has to do with music.”

– Kathy DeAngelo, Harper

Kathy DeAngelo has a long history of supporting the Irish music community—for years she ran a renowned harp festival, and she also teaches monthly Irish music classes, focusing on bringing tradition to young people. In fact, she received a New Jersey Heritage Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for her contribution to Irish harp music. Kathy also performs with her husband Dennis Gormley as McDermott’s Handy, named for traditional Irish fiddler Ed McDermott, who was Kathy’s mentor. This week, you can see McDermott’s Handy in a free concert at Ocean City Library on March 16.

Traditional Irish music tells stories and connects generations. Songs from the past are brought to the present, resulting in a beautiful conversation between countless voices. Head to our archives for some more music—Irish folk is also featured in our stories on Shockenaw Mountain Boys and clarinetist Andy Lamy.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!