By: Jeff Meade

Rosie and Gerry

I believe I am on record as saying that I would eat bees for Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, the golden-throated lead singer of DANÚ.

Alas, I have become what my daughter calls a fanboy. But I am of a another generation, and so I prefer to think of myself as "hopelessly devoted." Sounds less cyberstalker-ish, too, don't you think?

Unfortunately, of late, Muireann's voice sounds like she has been eating bees. Muireann has been afflicted with laryngitis, and she is under doctor's orders to rest her voice. Consequently, she won't be appearing in Coatesville this weekend.

However, her two hugely talented accompanists, Rosie Shipley and Gerry O'Beirne will be appearing at the Coatesville Cultural Society Saturday at 8 p.m. (Details here.) 

Muireann or not, you're in for a night of dazzling music, served up by two world-renowned masters.

From this point on, we'll let Frank Dalton, El Jefe Supremo of the Coatesville Traditional Irish Music Series, tell the rest of the story:

Rosie Shipley grew up in Baltimore surrounded by traditional Irish music and dance, and in rural Nova Scotia, home of the Cape Breton-style of traditional fiddling. She had her first violin lesson at three and when she was eight began to learn traditional tunes from fiddler Brendan Mulvihill. Along with her brothers, Rosie spent a portion of her teenage summers in Cape Breton at the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts, where she studied fiddle and piano. Rosie has toured with the Willow Band (with Gerry O'Beirne) and as a guest with Cherish the Ladies. 

Her Web site is at:  shipwhistle.com.

Gerry O'Beirne, renowned singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, was reared in County Clare and in Ghana.  Gerry has been a member of Patrick Street, the Sharon Shannon Band, the Waterboys and has toured with Irish fiddle legend Kevin Burke, Andy Irvine, the great Clare fiddler Martin Hayes, and many others. He has opened for the Grateful Dead, appeared on Prairie Home Companion, and even performed at the White House.  Gerry is also sought after as an arranger and producer. 

To learn more about Gerry, visit gerryobeirne.com.

Tickets, $10; Children under 12 admitted free.

Call (610) 486-2220 or (610) 925-6235.