Pearl River School of Irish Music Hosting Concert of Champions

The Pearl River School of Irish Music will be celebrating its students and promoting Irish music at a Concert of Champions 7:30 p.m. Friday at Pearl River High School.

Teachers Rose Flanagan, Patty Furlong, Margie Mulvihill and Brendan Dolan organized the concert as a fundraiser for students looking to compete at the World Level in Ireland. The school has been sending students for years, most recently bringing home the first-place trophy in the under-12 ceili band competition, the first time an American group had won that competition in over 30 years.

“We’ve decided to hold this concert in celebration of that big win and others,” Flanagan said. “These students beat other competitors from all over the world, who had to go through a series of competitions to get to the final one in Cavan, Ireland.”

Many of the school's students will be playing in the concert, including Sarah Bateux, an All-Ireland champion in the under-18 fiddle. 

Other participants in the concert include:

• Ceoil Milis - a band made of current and former Pearl River School of Irish Music Students
• Dancers from nearby schools
• Former Martin Mulvihill school of music students
• GIRSA
• MC Joanie Madden, leader of the group Cherish the Ladies

“The icing on the cake is our wonderful MC, Joanie Madden, who will be the host of the show,” Flanagan said. “Joanie is very well known as the leader of the group Cherish the Ladies, who are one of the forerunners of Irish Music today. Cherish has traveled extensively all over the world and Joanie herself is a grammy award winning artist. Her style and wonderful sense of humor will make for a fantastic evening of entertainment.”

Tickets cost $15 in advance and $20 at the door. To purchase online, email pearlrivermusic@gmail.com. For further information, call Margie Mulvihill at (845) 735-1204 or Rose Flanagan at (845) 548-1775.