Absolutely Irish

Monday, March 17, 2008
7 pm

Premiering on St. Patrick’s Day, the latest film from Charlottesville filmmakers Paul and Ellen Casey Wagner and their non-profit organization American Focus, Inc. documens a once-in-a-lifetime concert performed by the top stars of Irish traditional music.

Performers include fiddlers Eileen Ivers, Athena Tergis, and Liz Carroll; flute players Joanie Madden and Seamus Egan; guitarist John Doyle, and vocalists Karan Casey, Susan McKeown and Robbie O’Connell. Mick Moloney, top banjo player and Irish music’s leading producer, was musical director.

Also featured are dancers Niall O’Leary and Darrah Carr, master uilleann piper Jerry O’Sullivan, accordionist Billy McComiskey, pianist Brendan Dolan, and concertina player Tim Collins. Two legends of the Irish “trad” genre, flute master Mike Rafferty and dancer Jo McNamara, appear in show-stopping cameos.

The performance was staged in the intimate Irish Arts Center in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City. Paul Wagner directed the filming with directors of photography JoJo Pennebaker and Nick Doob (Down from the Mountain). Wagner completed the film in Charlottesville with editor Neil Means and in Richmond with Thoughtstream Media.

As part of the Paramount event, the Blue Ridge Irish Music School will perform. There will be a St. Patrick’s Day celebration at South Street Brewery following the premiere.

www.paulwagnerfilms.com/absolutelyirish

Free Tickets Available at:
New Dominion Bookshop (Downtown Mall)
Greenberry's (Barracks Road)