Irish band in Maine for three performances

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Girsa, an eight piece all ladies Irish band in Maine for three performances.

CARTHAGE – New England Celtic Arts will present Girsa, pronounced Gir-sha,on their first tour in Maine. Performances will be held at Lakeside Theater in Rangeley, Maine on Tuesday June 14, at Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center in South Carthage, Maine on Wednesday June 15, and at Unity College Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday June 16. Curtain is at 7:00 pm at Lakeside and Skye and 7:30 pm in Unity. There is a pre-show jam session 45 minutes prior to curtain at Skye and Unity. Audience members are encouraged to bring their instruments and jam with the artists for a few minutes.

Girsa is NY’s exciting new all female Irish group. In their short existence they have taken the area by storm at pubs, festivals, concerts, benefits and most recently at Ellis Island, with 4,000 in attendance. These talented young ladies have been playing traditional Irish music, dancing and singing together for most of their young lives and hold numerous titles including 1st place at a busking competition at the Festival in Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick in May 2005.

Comprised of eight young women from the Pearl River, NY area, Girsa means “young girls” in Gaelic. Steeped in the Irish music and cultural tradition, they have studied their instruments and dance with gifted teachers who pass on the time-honored tunes and songs. Many are the daughters of musicians and Irish immigrants. All have had the distinction of representing the United States at the All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann and several girls hold titles in various instruments.

They have all known each other since we were very young, growing up participating in Irish music and dance in Pearl River. Most of them come from musical families, with parents having learned Irish traditional music from such greats as Martin Mulvihill, Maureen Glynn Connelly, and Pete Kelly. “ We loved playing together so much that we started our own band just over 4 years ago and called it Girsa, which means “young girls” in Gaelic. We’ve been having tons of fun ever since.”

Because of the band’s rising profile, preparation for all eight members of Girsa has become more focused. “Now that I’m home from college, I play music almost every day,” singer, fiddler and mandolinist Deirdre Brennan, who is a nursing major at the State University of New York at Binghamton, said.. “I think you can have a normal career outside of music and still have music at the center of your life,” she added.

“The combined talents of these girls is frightening… they are a force to be reckoned with!” – Joanie Madden, of Cherish the Ladies

Lakeside Theater is on Main Street in Rangeley. Skye Theater is located 3 miles West of East Dixfield village at 2 Highland Drive off Winter Hill Rd and US RT. 2 in South Carthage. UCCPA is at 42 Depot Street in Unity. Ticket price is $15.00 at the door*. For reservations at the theater you wish to attend call: Lakeside Theater at 864-5000 or Skye Theatre at (207) 562-4445 or Unity Center for the Performing Arts at (207) 948-7469.

*(Lakeside Theater is $15.00 in advance and $20.00 at the door. Advance tickets may be purchased for Lakeside at the theater or on the website, http://www.rangeleymovies.com

More information is available at: http://www.necelticarts.com

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