Setting the Musical Mood for St. Patrick's Day

Morning rain gave way to hints of sunshine, just like an Irish morning. So, I thought I'd take a chance and head out to the Irish Arts Center's Open House in Manhattan on Sunday, March 14. By the time I got into the city from Brooklyn, lashing rain, even more like Ireland, was pouring down as I walked briskly along West 51st Street to #553 in Clinton (Hell's Kitchen).
I found one of the few remaining seats in the first-floor auditorium and settled in to enjoy performances of Irish music by the IAC Ceili Band. Adult members of fiddle, tin whistle and step-dancing classes joined them. Three fiddlers played traditional music including the lovely Four Green Fields. It took me back to the Cork Folk Music Festival performances at An Spailpin in Cork City a few years ago.
The Ceili Band featured fiddles, tin whistle, banjo, and guitar. An elderly Irish woman played the keyboard with such intensity in her face. I wondered if she might have been playing all her life. She had too be at least 80. It was all about the music, a collection of musicians playing beautiful music with great joy and sharing that with the audience.
What a great way to get in the mood for St. Patrick's Day on Wednesday. I'll be sure to go back to the IAC soon.