with Phil Edmonds, Mary King & Hughie Purcell

Celebrating Ireland in Story & Song is an all Irish program which embraces Irish history and culture in story and song.

Dublin bred Hughie Purcell has been playing music since he was 17. He traveled throughout Europe and Ireland and landed in Boston in 1995. He plays acoustic guitar, fiddle, banjo and sings Irish songs with great emotion and merriment. He's played sessions in Ireland with such greats as Maura O'Connell, Mary Black and Christy Moore, along with other world renowned players and singers. His songs speak of Irish history, romanticism and humor; and with the occasional recitation, Hughie brings Ireland back to us all through his charisma and music.

Also performing is Phil Edmonds, a native of Killaloe, Country Clare, Ireland, who learned to play the tin whistle in a place where he says: "The backyard was the fields." When he was 14 years old, his family emigrated to America and settled in South Providence where he still lives. Along with his tin whistle, Phil plays button accordion with great warmth and spirit. In 2008, he wrote his first book, "Reconnecting with the Soul of Ireland' about his family, memories of growing up in Killaloe, roaming the fields and hills, and finding the new Ireland alongside the old.

Both of Mary King's parents are from Ireland and she was raised in that culture, taking Irish step dance lessons by age 4 and listening to her mother sing the songs of Donegal where she was born. She often visits her two aunts in Ireland, Bridget-Mary and Madge (now 94), who told her the stories of their youth — from "doing battle with the hay" to the monthly fairs that travelled the countryside bringing everything one might need, from pots and pans to the "dentist" who pulled out the tooth that was ailing you with pliers. They often spoke of the hard work of living solely off the land, where everyone worked on their small farm, including the children — all with great humor. Mary keeps the tradition of Irish music alive with the Celtic harp and her fiddle.

The Celtic soul is alive and well in the stories and songs you will hear, and your ears and eyes will smile.

I cannot thank you enough for a wonderful musical and cultural experience today
at Holy Family Holy Name. Your genuine love of music and your heritage is most evident.
Your two buddies were delightful and very talented. I am most grateful that we had this
opportunity and that, through the generosity of the Edwards, you found your way to HFHN.
May you continue to be blest as you share your God-given talent with those around you!

— Cecilia M. Felix

For additional information or booking, please call Mary King at 401-949-2533.