Eoin McKiernan Library

11/10/2025

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the sinking of The Edmund Fitzgerald on Lake Superior. Named for a member of a prominent Irish-American shipping family with captain and crew members of heritage, the tragedy itself has many Irish connections.

The song by Canadian Gordon Lightfoot kept the story in public consciousness for past half century and also ended up connected to Ireland.

Irish singer Christy Moore used Gordon Lightfoot's melody for the poem "Back Home in Derry" written by Bobby Sands who died on hunger strike in Long Kesh prison in 1981. Sands' poem also tells of a perilous journey over the waves--this time by Irish prisoners bound for Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania).

Hear Christy Moore sing it here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1atp8KuDrs/

The very fact that Lightfoot's 6-and-a-half minute chorus-less ballad succeeded as a popular song harkens back to the broadside ballad days of the 19th century when Irish ballad makers sang story songs on street corners and drew crowds eager to purchase the lyrics.

11/07/2025

Tomorrow on The Shamrock Shore, 12pm on Jazz88: Erik Brandt interviews Norah Rendell about her upcoming show at Celtic Junction Arts Center (https://www.facebook.com/share/19GdC6w4Rx/). With music from Archie Fisher, Norah Rendell, The Outside Track, Aidan Connolly & Bryan O'Leary, The Murphy Beds, Matt Molloy, Josh Dukes, Dylan Foley & Sean McComiskey, Dermy & Tara Diamond with Dáithí Sproule, David McKindley-Ward & Letitia VanSant, Maurice Egan, Joey Abarta, Nathan Gourley & Owen Marshall and Christy Moore.

10/28/2025

It was great representing the Eoin McKiernan Library, Celtic Junction Arts Center, The Shamrock Shore and Northern Shores (my music duo with Danny Diamond) at Folk Alliance Region Midwest (FARM) conference last weekend in Lisle, Illinois! Here are a few pics.

10/17/2025

Saturday at noon

On Saturday from 12-1pm on The Shamrock Shore we'll celebrate women in Irish music and chat with members of the MNá Fiddlers group that performs at The Celtic Junction on Sunday night. We'll hear live tracks from that group plus Josephine Keegan, The Outside Track, The Casey Sisters, Theresa O'Grady, Edel Fox and lots more.

10/06/2025

I had great fun doing The Shamrock Shore live at Jazz88 studios in Minneapolis on Saturday with help from fellow Jazz88 host Larry Larson. Thanks to all those that made a pledge in support of Jazz88! You can make a gift or listen back to the show here: https://www.jazz88.fm/show/the-shamrock-shore/

This week we listened to Brid Harper, Nicolas Brown, Macdara Ó Faoláin, The Alt, Tony MacMahon & Noel Hill, The Fretless (with Norah Rendell), Planxty, Aidan Connolly, Cordeen, Ultan O'Brien, Caoimhín Ó Fearghail & Paddy Tutty and One for the Foxes.

09/29/2025

Cathy (Reeck) White did Irish dance in the 1970s under instructor Josie Vaughan in St. Paul. She recently donated her dance costume (dress, cape and brooch) to the McKiernan Library.

The same costume appears in photos (held by the Burnsville Historical Society) of Josie Vaughan's Tír na nÓg dancers dancing at "Night with the Irish" events in Burnsville. We're excited to have this piece of early St. Paul Irish dance school history in the McKiernan Library collection!

09/25/2025

RIP Josephine Keegan (1935-2025). An incredible musician on fiddle and piano and a prolific composer of great tunes. A few pics of her during a visit to Minnesota in 1992.

Also pictured are Paddy O'Brien (box), Charlie Heymann (on guitar!), Sean O'Driscoll (banjo) and two dearly departed friends of the Twin Cities Irish music community: Jamie Gans (fiddle) and Sarah Bowman.

09/13/2025

Irish tunes from head to toe today 9/13 on The Shamrock Shore. We'll do tunes and songs named for articles of clothing this week. Above the belt for the first half, below for the second! Music from Téada, Kathleen Conneely, The Clancy Brothers and lots more. Hold on to your breeches!

88.5fm in the Twin Cities or online at Jazz88.fm

09/05/2025

Tomorrow on The Shamrock Shore: Andrew Caden & Conor McDonagh, Michelle Mulcahy, James Kelly & Dáithí Sproule, Róisín Elsafty, Dan Isaacson, Kelly Smit, Danny Noveck & Aaron Olwell, Ferdia & Fiachna Ó Mongáin, Vincent Doherty, John Carty & Brian McGrath, Karan Casey, Lamond Gillespie & John Blake, Dolores Keane & John Faulkner, Joey Abarta, Nathan Gourley & Owen Marshall, Tim Britton, Mark Simos & Michael Copeland and The Johnstons.

Saturdays 12-1 on Jazz88

09/02/2025

The McKiernan Library Reading Room reopens for regular evening hours (4:30-7:30, Mon-Thu) today! Come in and check out Kate Daly's amazing exhibit: “Irish Women’s Shawls: 1850–1950” in the hallway outside the reading room.

Kate’s interest in shawls began while attending Irish language programs in An Cheathrú Rua and admiring the iconic Galway shawl. Her research uncovered a rich variety of shawl styles worn across Ireland over a century. This exhibit offers just a glimpse into the story woven through these garments—symbols of warmth, identity, and enduring tradition.

08/29/2025

Tomorrow on The Shamrock Shore (12pm Central on Jazz88) we explore Irish dance tunes that share their melodies with songs (the ones with words). Music from Andrew Caden & Conor McDonagh, Seán Ó Sé & Martin Donohue, Nathan Gourley & Laura Feddersen, Seán Tyrell, Gerry Cullen, Patrick Branigan & Kevin Branigan, Niamh Parsons, Paul Kelly, Josephine Marsh and Siobhán Peoples, Planxty, The Victoria Cafe Orchestra, De Dannan, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, MacMurrough, Pólca 4, Bridget Fitzgerald & Máirtín de Cogain, Harry Bradley & Emmett Gill.

You can listen online today or anytime in the next 2 weeks via https://www.jazz88.fm/show/the-shamrock-shore/