It is with great remorse we mourn the passing of Liam Clancy who’s music of Ireland touched, taught, and transcended political and social boundaries. His legacy of song will surely live on to inspire all who carry on the traditions of Irish Music. He will be sorely missed. Our hearts, prayers, and condolences go out to the extended family and families of Liam Clancy.

Hearts and prayers go out to the family of Ronnie Drew a.k.a. “The King of Ireland”.  Certainly one of the mighty Oaks of Irish music has fallen.  He will be sorely missed.   

As I watched the live broadcast on CNN of the NY Philharmonic performing in North Korea I once again heard that voice inside that re-iterated, “Yes, music, the expression of human emotion,  can overcome and transcend political barriers”.  This is a tenet of Irish music and it should always be remembered each time an Irish musician sings, plays, or performs.  You CAN change the world with music.  The music you give to people CAN make a difference.  May the road rise to meet you,  R.T. Reeder 

So what makes a pub or nightclub Irish?There are a number of reasons for calling an establishment Irish. If the pub is in Ireland, this question doesn’t even come up, but outside of Ireland, what makes the place Irish?Some might say that it’s the name, the dĂ©cor, the food, the owner, the place, the neighborhood, the patrons etc. Some might argue that it’s the drink; however, you can get a Guinness, Harp, Newcastle, etc. almost anywhere now on tap or in bottles, and most establishments stock a wide variety of Irish whiskey (the primary export of Ireland). So, there are really no prerequisites or rules for proprietors on becoming an Irish pub.  I wonder, should there be?   The biggest problem I see is that many club or pub owners don’t follow through with their concept of being an Irish establishment.  Live Irish music is the main ingredient that transports each pub patron to Ireland and brings Ireland to the concept of the pub. Many people when looking for an Irish Pub expect to hear traditional Irish music.  So what makes a place Irish?  Could it be the music?  One of the goals of the IMA is to separate the real Irish Pubs from the Irish named sports/game/pick-up bars.  Please check out these site listings and you’ll find the night of live Irish Music you are looking for.    May the road rise to meet you,  R.T. Reeder

Welcome to the “Old Blog Road” and thank you for visiting. This blog was created to offer my thoughts and opinions about Irish Music. It is my hope that you will find something here of value to reflect upon and remember. My knowledge of Irish Music is based on several decades of performing it. I speak only for myself as an Irish-American musician. My opinions do not represent the many members of this organization, or the Irish people of the world.   I’ve found that Irish Music has hundreds of faces, so defining it may be like trying to nail gelatin to a tree. Each of us will probably have our own definition, however, there is a question that inevitably arises. “Is it the music of a race of people, or the music of a nation restricted to the confines the Irish border?” Personally, I think both are true. Without people we don’t have an Irish nation. Without the Country of Ireland we don’t have any Irish people. We Irish are everywhere, from Ireland, the E.U., and the United States, to the North and South Poles.  Irish Music, however, is not a generic label that can be used at will. Most Irish music is based in the Irish language, the interpretation and phrasing thereof. Technically and musically speaking, it incorporates the wide use of a five-tone scale (Pentatonic) and an ancient Greek eight-tone scale (Mixolydian), Dorian, in melodies.    I’ve much more to ponder and discuss in the entries to come, but for now I hope that this organization, members, websites, and the discerning listener, will join together to support the Irish culture and its ways of musical expression.  Failte.   May the road rise to meet you, R.T. Reeder