
Joe Madden by Vincent Crotty
My wife Sue and I affectionately call it “Irish Camp”, and it usually comprises our main annual vacation. This year was no exception, but the good times were exceptional. Catskills Irish Arts Week, held each year during the second full week in July, and now in its 15th year, is just the opportunity to become blissfully saturated in tunes, songs, dancing, and arts and crafts for a full week in East Durham, NY (the “Irish Alps”).
Workshops and lectures during the day, seisiúns before dinner, concerts after dinner, céilís ’til midnight, then multiple seisiúns ’til whenever will cure all sorts of ills! Sleep deprivation is a given; there’s simply too much to do virtually 24 hours a day. But, when all is said and done, withdrawal symptoms are reported by many attendees.
This year’s events were capped off by the Friday night concert which was dedicated to the memory of Joe Madden (may God be good to him), father of Joanie Madden of Cherish The Ladies, who passed away suddenly earlier this year. Joe, from East Galway, was a senior All-Ireland champion on the button accordion, and a huge inspiration to my box playing. The grand finale of the evening was a presentation to the Madden family of a painting (pictured) of Joe created by Vincent Crotty, artist and teacher for the painting workshop during the week. Most of the teaching and performing musicians then came up on stage for a few final tunes including The Galway Rambler.
The intersection of heaven and earth for box players came when box legends Martin Mulhaire, James Keane, Billy McComiskey and John Nolan were seated side by side on the stage for a once-in-a-lifetime mighty moment where they were playing tunes together at the same place at the same time. Joe was certainly right there with them in spirit, and I’m sure he loved it. Now THAT’s “box players’ heaven”!






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