A little heads up about this weekend See the Launch: SUMMER TOUR KICKOFF CONCERT June 25, 2010 Pearl River, N Y

See the Launch of the first in the series of the Midwest Summer concert Tour.

Girsa (pronounced “gershah”), which is Gaelic for “girls” is the coming together of 8 to 12 young second generation Irish American "New York" young ladies. America's most prolific Irish Musicians and Performers, between all of them:

Maeve Flanagan- fiddle, whistle, sucka m.c
Deirdre Brennan- fiddle, mandolin, vocals
Pamela Geraghty- accordion, guitar, vocals
Emily McShane- piano, guitar, vocals, bodhran
Blaithin Loughran- accordion
Bernadette Flanagan- piano, bodhran
Margaret Dudasik- fiddle, vocals
Kristen McShane- fiddle

Auxiliary Members:
Lindsay Buteux- concertina
Sarah Buteux- fiddle
Neidin Loughran- tin whistle
Their precocity and passion combine impressively on their recently
self-issued, self-titled debut recording (http://www.girsamusic.com/),
which sold out its first run of a thousand copies in less than two months.

Girsa released well in excess of 100 tunes half way around the globe and held several successful performances in their hometown and Eastern Region,USA now---- the group join forces and give you "GIRSA MIDWEST SUMMER TOUR".

Kick Off Concert in Pearl River NY on June 25th, 2010
With debut release due to follow, this is the first of several Show Tour Dates showcasing this successful partnership and group of young performers.

On Ellis Island, Girsa shot a video of "Immigrant Eyes," the album's opening track, “Immigrant Eyes,” by American country star Guy Clark; “Girsa also plays a total of 20 instruments on the recording.

This is one of the most beautiful videos, music and lyrics. It touched my heart as I'm sure it will touch all of yours.

Girsa was nurtured in the large Irish-American community of Pearl River. Band members took lessons or found musical guidance here from Maeve and Bernadette's mother, fiddler Rose Flanagan; button accordionist Patty Furlong; mandolinist Frankie McCormick; and flute and whistle player Margie Mulvihill. Girsa members also learned from teachers outside Pearl River, including fiddler Brian Conway. On their website the girls graciously acknowledge the following teachers: Rose Flanagan, Patty Furlong, Margie Mulvihill, Annmarie Acosta, Eileen Goodman, Mary Coogan, and Frankie McCormack.

I know and played music and danced with some of the girls parents from growing up in a tight nit Irish community in the Bronx, where almost everyone first generation Irish American was involved with music, dance, football handball, soccer and all the Irish Associations and County Associations. Some of the women that knew each other as school chums in the Bronx broke out of our little Irish Bubble and became World Renowned. Cherish the Ladies jump-started the careers of New York Irish fiddlers Eileen Ivers and Rose Flanagan, box player Patti Furlong, banjoist/guitarist Mary Coogan, and flute/tin whistle Joanie Madden. Riverdance and Lord Of the Dance put Irish culture, music and dance on the map and helped internationally promote everyone involved in the Arts.

Girsa is second generation, multi-talented, educated and beautiful, Young Ladies , Young Leaders of America Today. They are a credit to their parents, teachers and community. I'm sure all their ancestors are looking down from the Heavens blessing them every step of the way.

They stand proud and committed to giving of their natural talent. They are a force to be reckoned with. They will take it to the next step. So watch out...

I was privileged to have them play at our "Yanks in Ireland" Concert when they first started out and they wowed the audience back then, this past March they changed their schedule to be part of our First Big Apple Feis Gala Ball, at the Hilton in NYC and the international audience of adjudicators, Producers, Actors, Authors, Choreographers were blown away with their performance. I was at a convention in Scotland and another in England and people were still complementing the girls "Girsa" on their extraordinary performance. Hat's off to you girls... hope you still remember us little guys when you become "Super Celebrities" You guys are the best... Safe journeys
on your "MIdWest Summer Tour" Pat Geraghty (General Manager & Booking Agent) [email protected]

2nd generation All Girl Irish American Band Kicks Off on MidWest tour

What: Girsa's Summer Midwest Tour Kick Off Concert
When: June 25, 2010, 7:30 pm
Where: Pearl River High School, 275 E. Central Avenue, Pearl River, NY 10965
Tickets: $20.00 $10.00 students and children
Call: 845-735-7901
Website: http://www.girsamusic.com/
Calendar: www.girsamusic.com/calendar.html

Biography

We have all known each other since we were very young, growing up participating in Irish music and dance in our community of Pearl River, NY. Most of us come from musical families, with our parents having learned Irish traditional music from such greats as Martin Mulvihill, Maureen Glynn Connelly, and Pete Kelly. Some of our parents and their lifelong friends carry on this great tradition by teaching music in the community. We loved playing together so much that we started our own band just over 5 years ago and called it Girsa, which means “young girls” in Gaelic. We’ve been having tons of fun ever since.