THE ROSE IN THE GAP: Dance Music of Oriel (From the Donnellan Collection)

The Irish American Heritage Museum is honored to host esteemed Irish (Co. Louth) fiddler and traditional Irish music historian Gerry O'Connor for this limited northeast United States lecture/informance, entitled: "THE ROSE IN THE GAP: The Dance Music of Oriel (From the Donnellan Collection)."

About "THE ROSE IN THE GAP: The Dance Music of Oriel (From the Donnellan Collection)."

Take this journey with The Man Himself, and explore how one moment in time can impact and provide the catalyst and inspiration for over forty years of music and scholarship. That one moment happened during a 1976 session at Mark's Bar, when Irish fiddler / trad master Gerry O'Connor was handed a photocopy of an article on the dance music of Oriel. You will experience a fascinating story that culminated in 2018 in Gerry's publication of the book "The Rose in the Gap: Dance Music of Oriel from the Donnellan Collection."

In this lecture, Gerry describes, details and demonstrates the Gaelic cultural revival in Ireland of the early 20th century. Gerry further describes the process of re-imagining this unique body of melodies found in the dusty archives of University College Dublin. Gerry - a true friend of the Irish American Heritage Museum - will perform during the presentation a variety of tunes from the collection.

"THE ROSE IN THE GAP: The Dance Music of Oriel (From the Donnellan Collection)" has been presented previously by Gerry at Boston College (Boston MA), UCLA (Los Angeles CA), Wesleyan College (Middletown CT), the Australian Celtic Festival (NSW, AUS),Na Píobairí Uilleann (NPU) or the Society of Uilleann Pipers (Dublin IRL), and numerous museums and arts centres through the world. Gerry will be in the northeast United States for a few days early 2026: the Irish American Heritage Museum is delighted Gerry will give this lecture here in Albany during this brief visit.

About GERRY O'CONNOR

Gerry O’Connor - a native of Dundalk, Co. Louth - grew up in a family of musicians, dancers and singers, all taught at home by his mother, Rose. His father Peter was himself a singer whose seven uncles all played music. Rose passed her skill on to hundreds of others over the next four decades, students travelling from Armagh and Dublin as well as counties Meath and Louth to learn from the doyenne of fiddle teachers.

From an early age, Gerry was involved in Irish music, winning numerous All Ireland awards in a range of duets, trios and céilí band titles. In the 1970s, playing with Michael Coleman’s contemporary John Joe Gardiner shaped Gerry’s style in the form of the fluid, lyrical fiddle-playing of the great Sligo masters. Gerry was a step-dancer too, a grounding which complements his music, imbuing it with vibrancy, a pulsating rhythm for which Gerry is noted. Gerry is considered as one of the great fiddle players of his generation.

Gerry has played and recorded with Lá Lúgh (Eithne Ní Uallacháin, Sony Music) and Skylark (Len Graham, Gary O’Briain & Máirtín O’Connor), and has recorded four CDs on the Claddagh label. Gerry has toured and recorded with members of all the legendary traditional music ensembles, including Planxty, Bothy Band, De Danann, Boys of the Lough and The Chieftains. Gerry's albums are widely recognized and acclaimed: his album with Lá Lúgh - Brighid’s Kiss - was voted Album of the Year in 1996 by readers of Irish Music magazine, and in 2004, Gerry’s solo album Journeyman was rated in the top five Albums of that year by The Irish Times. This critically acclaimed recording, co-produced with his son Dónal ("At First Light"), was heralded as a milestone in the recorded music of the Oriel region of South Ulster. Gerry's second solo album “Last Night’s Joy” was released in 2018.

Gerry is also known globally as an expert instructor of Irish arts and fiddle. Indeed, in 2025 Gerry presented to a local school district music department in Albany County.

Gerry is well known for his international work as a touring musician: for decades, Gerry has recorded with the celebrated Irish-Canadian band The Irish Rovers.

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IAHM is grateful to sponsors of this event: Metroland Now, Common Roots Brewing Company, ParkAlbany and the Flanagan family.

Show your ticket the day of the show at Common Roots Brewing Company and get the Common Roots’ special “IAHM Buy One / Get One” beverage deal!!!

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