Robbie O'Connell & Rose Clancy - A Celtic Christmas Concert

Coolbawn Road Productions is proud to present a Sunday afternoon Christmas concert to benefit Community radio station WCUW 91.3 FM. The concert will feature Robbie O’Connell (guitar and vocals) and Rose Clancy (fiddle and mandolin) in their annual celebration of the mid-winter season with music with a distinct Celtic flavor extending from the little known Kilmore carols of Wexford to the Irish-American vaudeville stage as well as both the Christian and Pagan traditions surrounding the Winter Solstice, in a mixture of songs and instrumental pieces.

Robbie O'Connell was born in Waterford, Ireland and grew up in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary. A nephew of the Clancy Brothers, he began touring with his uncles in 1977 and recorded 3 albums with them.

With the release, in 1982, of his first solo album, "Close to the Bone," Robbie emerged as an artist of major stature. Soon after, he began touring extensively with Mick Moloney and Jimmy Keane, and also with Eileen Ivers and Seamus Egan in the Green Fields of America. In 1985, the trio's first album, "There were Roses," was released. Robbie also participated in The Festival of Mountain Music and Dance on a five-nation tour of Latin America. In 1987, the trio followed up their very successful first release with the album, "Kilkelly," the title track of which was voted "Best Album Track of the Year" in Ireland. 1989 saw the release of a live concert recording of the Green Fields of America. His album of original compositions, Love of the Land, was voted the #1 acoustic album of 1989 by WUMB in Boston. "Never Learned to Dance," his 1993 album of original songs, was critically acclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic.

Born in New York into a musical family hailing from County Armagh, Ireland, Rose Clancy’s musical career began at an early age performing with her family’s group, The Clancy Tradition.  Rose learned Traditional Music from her Father, Eugene Clancy of the Irish Ramblers, in the “at my Father’s knee” tradition.

Rose has released several CD’s with The Clancy Tradition and most recently released her first solo CD with pianist Brendan Dolan featuring the music of Ireland, Cape Breton and Scotland.  Daniel Neely of the Irish Echo recently reviewed the recording and described it as “lovely, energetic music played without pretension”.

The concert will take place at the Hibernian Cultural Centre 19 Temple Street, Worcester at 2 p.m, on Sunday, December 17, 2017.  Tickets for the concert are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.  For more information and tickets check the website www.coolbawnroadconcerts.com or call Bud Sargent at (508) 868-7552 or email bud.sargent@gmail.com.