Library Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with Irish Music & Myths

Jackson, WY – Bringing a bit of the Irish to Jackson Hole on St. Patrick’s Day, Teton County Library presents a combination of Celtic music and Irish lore during two live performances Saturday, March 17.

Singer Judith Weikle, accompanied by music ensemble Strings Attached, kicks off the Irish cultural celebration with a half-hour concert for kids and families from 5 to 5:30 p.m. Next up, the group performs pub songs, ballads, reels and jigs in a second concert for adults from 6 to 7 p.m. Both concerts are free and open to the public and will be held in the library’s Ordway Auditorium. Friends of the Teton County Library will provide Irish nibbles to round out the evening, and the events are sponsored by Teton County Library Foundation.

“This Celtic concert has been such a hit with people of all ages that it has become a seasonal library celebration,” says Oona Doherty, Adult Program Coordinator. “This year we’re including a performance just for kids, since so many families have attended the concert in the past.”

The musicians in Strings Attached have been performing in Jackson Hole for many years in various musical genres. This lively group includes Shelley Rubrecht on fiddle, Deb Carpenter on classical guitar and fiddle, Liz McCorquodale on acoustic guitar and Karen O’Connor on flute.

Group leader, Weikle recorded her debut CD, “Pirates, Poets and Patriots,” of her most beloved Irish and Scottish songs and ballads, in 2006. Her haunting vocals, accompanied by violin, dulcimer and acoustic guitar, weave together tales of the Celtic past. Weikle will perform some songs from her new CD, which is part of the library’s music collection, during Saturday’s performance. Featured songs will include “Quiet Land of Erin,” a tale of longing for the Irish homeland.

Weikle and Strings Attached will also perform Loreena McKennitt’s “The Mummers Dance” and explain the ancient tradition of “mumming” during the kids’ concert, which will feature a combination of storytelling and songs. The group will repeat songs from the shorter children’s performance for the adult show in addition to playing more music.

A selection of Irish books and music CDs from the library’s collection will be featured at the concert and available for check out after performances. For more information, contact Adult Program Coordinator Oona Doherty at 733-2164 ext. 135