Irish Music and Set Dance Classes Begin
We are happy to announce the start up of our Irish Music and Set Dance classes this week at the Flanagan-O'Hare Irish Dance Studio, 2217 Cole Street in Birmingham (see location). Our classes are going to "look" a little different this year due to student, teacher, and space availability (and bedtimes). Mike Gavin will be teaching fiddle on Tuesdays from 5:00-8:00. The Perkins family will be teaching on Wednesdays also beginning at 5:00. Alison is teaching whistle and fiddle, Asher will be teaching whistle, and Jim/Cheryl will be teaching singing and a little bodhran. On Thursdays, Allison and Asher are back again teaching whistle, fiddle and concertina. My Set Dancing class will be 8-9:30. Frank (concertina), Terence (pipes) and Síobhan (harp) are finalizing their schedules. We still have openings for students. Please contact me if you would like to take lessons. We'd love to have you! - Carolyn Brazzil, Detroit IMA

2010 Midwest Fleadh Cheoil
in Forest Park, Illinois, June 25-27, 2010
The Fleadh moves to Chicago after two great years here in Detroit. Hosted by the Murphy-Roche Branch it promises to be quite unlike past events in that it will not be held in a hotel facility, but spread across Forest Park. More info on www.MidwestFleadh.com

2009 Midwest Fleadh Cheoil
See lots of candid photos as well as the band photos from the 2009 Midwest Fleadh Cheoil all thanks to Marty Lutz. Congratulations to Jamie Lutz on winning the harp competition!

Pictures from Echoes of Erin Concert
We had a great time hosting the Echoes of Erin Concert on Thursday, October 16, 2008. 17 brilliant musicians and dancers from all provinces of Ireland. It was a colourful and exciting show of Irish Traditional Music, Song and Dance.

2009 Midwest Fleadh A Great Success

Record numbers of competitors and bands competed. Lots of Photos here... The hotel size and layout seemed well suited to the competitions and we had a great Friday night concert with Bohola, and a special reunion appearance by Pat's People.

Detroit IMA last played host to Midwest Fleadh in 1999-2002. With overwhelming support in the local Irish community, a small army ofvolunteers coordinated by Charlene Snow, enabled the event to run smoothly. Thanks to the judges, Fleadh Committee and of course the competitors.

All events ran on time for the most part and despite a large number of bands on Saturday night the competitions finished by 12:15. allowing for a long night and morning of sessions. The Senior Ceilí Band competition was again won by the Broken Pledge, with St. Louis Irish Arts 2nd. For the first time ever, Detroit fielded two bands, The "D Town C Band" and the "Great Lakes Ceili Band", which tied for 3rd. What a great night!

We look forward to a successful event in Chicago in 2010!

View Concet at Kennedy Center; Sean Keane with the Perkins'
Detroit Ceilí band drummer, Jim Perkins along with daughter Alison (winner of U18 Fiddle at Midwest Fleadh) hitched up with Sean Keane and toured throughout the U.S. One of the gigs was at the Kennedy Center in Wash DC. Asher Perkins joined in for atune or two. You can watch the entire performance here. Well done Jim, Alison and Asher.

Archive
(work in very slow progress)...

Midwest Hall of Fame

Uilleann piper Al Purcell was the major influence on traditional music in Detroit. A tribute ...

Hall of Fame Dinner & Ceilí
The Detroit IMA hosted the Comhaltas Midwest Regional Hall of Fame celebration on November 4, 2006. Breege Kelly and Frank Edgley of our Branch were the honorees this year from Detroit.