Back To School

I spoke to Fuchsia Man Máirtín de Cógáin this morning. He's in Cork, packing his bags, slathering on the sunscreen and working on his redneck accent in advance of the Fuchsia band heading over for another hot American summer. From their humble beginnings in the U.S., right here in Kansas City and environs, the Fuchsia Band have become bigger than Bono over here and we're as proud as we can be. They will, as usual be all over The Kansas City Irish Fest, playing great music and spreading their own brand of...well, we'll go with knowledge. You're going to want to plan now to sit in on one or more of these informative Fuchsia School workshops on our Heritage Stage. Máirtín kindly sent a syllabus:

Irish Language Workshop- Máirtín de Cógáin
Come and take a few words of the Ancient language of Éireann! You may not be fluent by the end of it but Máirtín de Cógáin of The Fuchsia Band assures us you will have enough phases to entertain your friend’s for life! He hopes too that this will be the start of a Gaelic Speaking City in the Midwest!

Irish Banjo Workshop – Brian McGillicuddy
Brian “Flash” McGillicuddy of The Fuchsia Band is the fastest picker in the West (of Inniscarra) and has been teaching the Banjo for 10 years. He will try to show you what he is doing, but his hands are so fast you may need to bring your camera along with you to view it again when you get home!

Accordion Workshop – Eoin Verling
Come watch the Box player from the Fuchsia Band with his mixture of Cavan and West Cork playing of the Button Accordion. All-Ireland Champion Eoin Verling will show you how he magically rolls his triples and how he manages to keep a straight face through it all. Bring yours along if you have it!

Céilí Saturday Night – The Fuchsia Band
“If you can walk you can Dance!” we have The Fuchsia Band back once more for the fastest growing part of the Kansas City Irish Fest. There is no need of a partner or a clue of what you need to do. The County Cork lads will sort everything out for you! They will find you a dance partner and teach and call the dances, while entertaining you with stories and songs. All ages welcome, especially those along for the Craic!

Céilí Sunday Night – The Fuchsia Band
“If you can walk you can Dance!” we have The Fuchsia Band back once more for the fastest growing part of the Kansas City Irish Fest. There is no need of a partner or a clue of what you need to do. The County Cork lads will sort everything out for you! They will find you a dance partner and teach and call the dances, while entertaining you with stories and songs. All ages welcome, especially those along for the Craic!

Learn an Irish tune - Mick Heffernan
If you have a trumpet or a Kazoo bring it along as Mick Heffernan of The Fuchsia Band is daring to start the New Kansas City Irish Fest Seated Marching Band! Flutes, Tin Whistles, Bodhráns it is open to everyone and anything. By the end of the hour he will have everyone ready to go on the Boulevard Stage with the Band on Sunday to play the one tune, together!

Man, I am totally breaking out the ol' glockenspiel for that last one. As always, all these workshops are free with your admission to Irish Fest. As always, space may be limited. As always, the Fuchsia Lads will have us all laughing and learning all weekend long.