From the first time the Horse, Liz Carroll, and myself met you in TJ Daly’s on 63rd Street back in 1976 you were a constant source of joy, joviality, jigs played in that jaunting juggernaut west Kerry style – followed…

This year marks the 60th anniversary of my arrival in Chicago from Ireland along with the Kerrywoman where we were reunited with the Horse for a new start and new beginning in this great Windy City. 

It was also sixty…

(Maryann Keifer & Me with picture by Grace Madden behind the desk)

Hi Folks!! 

Sorry to let you know that I won't be able to fulfill Maryann McTeague Keifer’s wishes for me to assume the mantle of her “Ireland Tonight”…

I dunno what to say. I dropped Mick off at his Bleecker Street flat at noon on Monday after twelve brilliant days of music, song, long chats, laughs, and just plain ol’ hanging – just as we had done countless…

The funeral mass for Dennis Cahill will take place next Friday, July 8th at 11AM at his parish church: 

St. Priscilla's Church 

6949 W Addison St 

Chicago, IL 60634 

I will post an update if a viewing link is available…

Another sad day in the Irish music and dance community with the sudden passing of Tony McLaughlin at 72 years. I was just with Tony a couple of weeks back on a Sunday night post Lanigans session -- he was…

Sorry to learn of the passing of one mighty man of music who I knew on and off since meeting Tony MacMahon when I was a kid in the 1960's in Chicago and various other places throughout the years where…

Eileen Carroll (1929-2021) 

And just like the tune Liz wrote for her mom which she named Mrs. Carroll’s Strathspey — Ma Carroll — which is what I always called Mrs. Carroll in my mind — was the embodiment of those…

Sister Mary Elizabeth, a devoted follower of Mother Mary, passed away and made her way up to Heaven where she was met at the pearly gates by St. Peter. 

He welcomed her in and asked if she had any questions…

Talk of a surreal day on Saturday. I've been working on a 192 track audio project for nearly a year and am now about one-fifth the way through on the first draft of the liner notes. I ended my writing…

Yogi Berra Explains Irish Traditional Music (Trad): 

Interviewer: Can you explain Trad? 

Yogi: I can't, but I will. 90% of all Trad is half improvisation. The other half is the part people play while others are playing something they never…

My fellow Americans, the people of this nation have spoken. 

They have delivered us a clear victory. A convincing victory. A victory for “We the People.” 

We have won with the most votes ever cast for…

I was on my first solo trip to Ireland to compete in the 1977 Fleadh Cheoil in Ennis - after a successful Fleadh, I had a notion to head over to London for a long weekend before going…

Years back in the corner confessional of the 6511 Club I was with Kevin Henry, his wife Pauline, the late Brendan & Theresa Williams — and behind the counter bartending, bantering, and holding court, was the late Jack Finan…

Pre-ramble: Musician Seán Montgomery and Irish Trad music radio presenter Maryann Keifer nominated me for a post-for-ten-days yokeybob album thingy.

I decided to expand it a wee bit as many of my friends don't know much about traditional Irish…

I’ve been doing paid gigs since high school — the first sorta regular gig was with Liz Carroll at Ireland’s 32 here in Chicago on a Friday night — on the small stage right next to the pool table…

Sorry to learn of the passing of Brian Dennehy. He was a brilliant actor and very lovely man who was as comfortable with a beer in hand as he was with a script. 

Back in 1984 (not the…

Just learned the sad news that Edward J. Ward passed away earlier this morning. 

Two weeks ago Ed and Catherine Ward opened their home and hearts to Mick Moloney, Liz Carroll, and myself to be with Ed as…

Tradfest shows what music can be 
Irish Echo 
February 6, 2019 
By Colleen Taylor

"What also makes Temple Bar TradFest remarkable in its use of Dublin’s most historical and austere spaces, from City Hall to St. Patrick’s…

Tradfest: Liz Carroll & Jimmy Keane 

Irish Music Magazine 

Live Review by Mark Lysaght 

City Hall, Dublin, January 25, 2019 

Dublin’s TradFest has evolved over the years to become a major 

event in the…

Came across this treasure from the past earlier this week. It is the program booklet for the 1974 Fleadh Cheoil in Ireland listing all the competitors who qualified to compete. I've highlighted all the competitors from the USA who…

Artist Spotlight: Piano Accordionist Jimmy Keane 

CELTIC MKE·TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2017 

You grew up around music & your parents encouraged you to play, but what drew you to the piano accordion? 

J: It is a bit odd…

Accordionist Jimmy Keane: 
Irish Fest and the Ward Irish Music Archives

Hi Folks! Jimmy Keane here typing out a few words about my upcoming performance with Mick Moloney at the CelticMKE Center on Saturday, October 21. 

It…

Trad Music Survey May 27-29, 2017 

Surveyor/Pollster: Jimmy Keane 

100 Participants 

This was a non-scientific survey posted on social media and by direct outreach to some of my musician friends. 

Aside from cleaning up some text…