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Magic Nights Under the Blarney Star If Carolan were alive and living in New York City, he'd be giving house concerts to patrons of the Irish arts on Fifth Avenue. Rightly, Carolan's musical heirs--Irish traditional musicians--already have a home in the shadow of Washington Square arch at the venerable home of Ireland House, NYU's center for Irish studies and culture Joe Burke flown to NY to be honored with Charlie Coen and Mike Brady at Comhaltas The Irish button accordion is an accoustic instrument that can fill a dance hall with a melodic heart beat few hands but those of a true box master can finger. Joe Burke is an Olympian in the pantheon of Irish traditional musicians that will forever be beloved in the memory of this magical tradition. Around NYC: the Irish traditional music seisiún and céilí events The Irish live in a much wider area than just Manhattan in the lár (urban center). Traditional Irish music events such as the seisiún and the céilí pop up all over the region at various times. This is an incomplete list, but a good place to get started. Blarney Star winding down -- pics from Kevin Crawford & Cillian Vallely concert The Blarney Star concerts are the longest running presentation of Irish traditional music in Manhattan. Don Meade has showcased world-class trad talent in downtown New York in various now-epic venues for decades, but has found a true home for his concert series on Fifth Avenue at NYU. Vanessa Williams comes to the Blarney Star to hear Cormac Breatnach, Mike Considine & Ivan Goff In a display of excellent taste, Vanessa Williams, was at Ireland House last Friday night to enjoy as we all did, the music of Cormac Breatnach, Mike Considine and special-guest Ivan Goff in the second concert of five in the Blarney Star series happening this year. Don Meade's Blarney Star productions are landmark dates on the calendar of Irish New York, offering an intimate setting for connoisseurs of ceol in the heart of Greenwich Village and the shadow of Washington Square Park, on Fifth Avenue.