"Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!"

We hope you will be able to shovel out in time to join us at St. Stephen's Green tomorrow evening (6:00-9:00pm) for some Christmas "standards" along with your favorite Irish "requests." In any event, we wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

"Here Comes the Sun" for Paddy

Sadly, my cousin Paddy passed away quite suddenly last Sunday. I wrote a little about him in my very first post here on this blog a few years back. Though he's gone from us in the flesh he will always be with us in spirit. We will carry him in our hearts as long as we live.

I was honored to be asked to sing his favorite Beatles song, "Here Comes the Sun," just before the funeral Mass started, as his casket was being closed. It was a very sad, though joy-filled experience for me. The last of so many musical memories I have of Father Pat.* His Carmelite Community, his parishioners, his family and friends had gathered from all over the country to say farewell.

I have no doubt where Paddy is now. Every day I will pray for his intercession as he stands before the Throne of our Heavenly Father. Whenever I sing the song "Hail, Glorious St. Patrick" I will think of Paddy: "St. Patrick of Carmel, pray for us."

Listen to Paddy here:


* For instance: Whenever we'd play at family gatherings and the like, we'd spend some time -- maybe too much time, I guess -- tuning our guitars together. His mom would always say, "Pat, why do you have to DO THAT?! You never see them do that on TV! Just play, will you?"

October 6 @ St. Stephen's Green

Join Liz and me at St. Stephen's Green on Sunday (6:00-9:00).
If you were there last Sunday, you were there for Bob Higgins' terrific harmonica playing when he got up on stage during our last set of the evening. Bob and his wife, Lyn, are members of the "Irish Session" on Tuesday nights at The Green. It was a lot of fun! Come on out this Sunday. Maybe lightning will strike twice!

News Flash!

September 22 (Sunday) | St. Stephen's Green Publick House | Spring Lake Heights, NJ (6:00-9:00 pm)

Bring your requests -- and your friends.

Hope to see you there!

CANCELLED: Sunday @ St. Stephen's Green

Due to a scheduling mix-up, Liz and I will not be at the Green this Sunday. Next gig: October 6. Hope you can make it! We'll be unveiling some new ones (for us) & old ones by Tommy Sands and his Family -- as well as lots of others.
Below: One of Liz's oil paintings of Ireland. Ask her about them!

Special Guest Sunday, August 18!

Special guest, Rich Brautigam, will be joining us this Sunday (6:00-9:00pm). Rich is the tenor banjo player for Tuesday night's "Irish Session" at St. Stephen's Green. He's going to regale us with a number of jigs and reels. You won't want to miss this rare solo performance! [N.B. Something has come up and Rich will not be able to join us tomorrow. Watch this space for updates. :-) ]

Our Youngest Fan!

Come join us at St. Stephen's Green on "Father's Day," Sunday, June 16 (6:00-9:00pm).
Bring your requests.

Sunday at the Green!

We hope you can join us this Sunday at St. Stephen's Green (6:00-9:00pm). Bring your requests!
Original Oil Painting by Liz:  "Connemara Thatched Cottage"

Click on the image to try this puzzle. More on the way!

12 Greg & Liz

Renaissance Club, Manchester, NJ

We're booked to perform at the "Irish-American Club" (at the Renaissance residence in Manchester, NJ) for their November 10 meeting. They know their music and it's always a lot of fun!

Bad News Alert!

Due to some health issues, Liz and I have had to cancel Sunday's gig at St. Stephen's Green. Bummer!!! We'll keep you posted.

Sunday at The Green

Join us this Sunday (April 28) at St. Stephen's Green in Spring Lake Heights (6:00-9:00pm). Lots of new songs -- and the old standbys. Come with your requests. We'll be happy to do them!

"Paint Me a Picture of Ireland"

I made this video of a great new song by Johnny Broderick. I came across it online just yesterday, done so beautifully be the great Sean Keane. I wanted to post my own version as an "homage" to my wife, Liz (my talented drummer) who you may know is a painter and has done dozens of paintings of Ireland. (Samples are seen in the video.) I've written to both Sean and Johnny for permission to post this video. I hope they will get back to me -- in the affirmative. I've got my fingers crossed. :-)

I made the video -- as a surprise -- while Liz was out to lunch with a friend today.

Hope to see you soon.

Busy Week!

Join us tomorrow night at D'Arcy's Tavern, Main Street in Bradley Beach, NJ. We'll be performing during the David Project's fund-raiser for St. Rose Grammar School. The Tavern owners will donate a portion of every check between the hours of 5:00 and 9:30 for those who mention St. Rose. Come have a good time and support a very good cause. (We'll be playing between 6 and 8:00.) On Saturday, we'll be at the Laurita Winery (New Egypt, NJ) from 5:00-8:00. 'Tis the season to be Irish!

'Tis the Season to be Irish!

We'll be at St. Stephen's Green (Spring Lake heights, NJ) on Sunday, February 24 (6:00-9:00 pm). On March 13, we'll be performing (6:00-8:00 pm) at D'Arcy's Tavern in Bradley Beach, NJ for a benefit for St. Rose Grammar School's "David Project." We'll also be at the Laurita Winery's St. Patrick's Day Festival in New Egypt, NJ, Saturday, March 16 (5:00-8:00 pm). Hope to see you at one or the other -- or all three!

New Video!

Here's a video of "Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore" that I posted the other day to showcase the Irish bouzouki I recently obtained from Dave Ackley, a very fine craftsman of beautiful stringed instruments. You can learn about Dave and his work at www.dastringedinstruments.com. BTW: That's one of Liz's paintings of Ireland over my shoulder. Information here.