Maui Celtic.com

THE RETURN OF JACK LEE.......

JACK LEE WILL PLAY A RECITAL AT THE MAKAWAO UNION CHURCH (Baldwin Ave, Makawao, Upcountry Maui) in MARCH 2008.

The next big piping event on Maui is a visit by World Champion Bagpiper Jack Lee, of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band. He comes to the island in March to teach a four day Pipe School to local Maui bagpipers.

The Isle of Maui Pipeband, supported by Maui Celtic, present a recital by Jack Lee, as a fundraiser for our island's non-profit pipe band.

Thanks for supporting the event. It will be A GREAT SHOW !! Opening by the "Isle of Maui Pipeband", followed by a stunning performance by Jack, and Highland dancing. All proceeds fund our local non-profit pipe band. Mahalo!

Maui Celtic is proud to sponsor this event.

Jack Lee has been regarded as one of the world's leading bagpipers for 25 years. His accomplishments as a Solo Piper, Band Leader and Teacher cause him to be much sought after as a performer, lecturer and teacher throughout the world. He is the Pipe Sergeant and co-founder of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, 4 time winner of the World Pipe Band Championships in Scotland. As a solo piper, Jack has won nearly all the top awards available, including the Gold Medal at Inverness and Oban(Scotland), the Gold Clasp at Inverness(the premier award in the piping world, open only to former winners of the Gold Medal), The Senior Piobaireachd at Oban, The Silver Star at Inverness (twice), and the Glenfiddich Piobaireachd (pibroc) at Blair Athol, Scotland (twice). He is also 15 time winner of the BC Pipers Association Annual Gathering! Jack has a solo CD in the "World's Greatest Pipers" series available. On a personal level, Jack and his brother Terry, were both awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by the Governor General of Canada in 1999 for outstanding service to the country.

The biggest Scottish event in the Hawaiian Islands, is 'The Hawaiian Scottish Association's' yearly 'Scottish Festival' held by the bandstand in Kapiolani Park, Waikiki, Oahu on the 1st weekend of April, from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. Maui Celtic is over there in the trade tent all weekend, nearby the Clan tent, where you can find out more about your family history. There are also Pipe Bands, traditional music, dancing and Highland Games. A fun weekend, well worth a trip from the neighbor islands.

Hamish Burgess of Maui Celtic now has a Celtic Music Radio Show, on Sunday mornings from 8-10am on Mana'o Radio (91.5 fm on Maui), 2 hours of great Celtic music. It is available online too (with fast connection) at www.manaoradio.com !
Hamish often does themed shows, where he talks about the traditions of the people and the music. These have included themes on the Celtic festivals of Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh, the Summer Solstice and the Winter Solstice. Also modern themes of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, St.Patrick's Day, Valentines Day, and Canada Day and Independence Day. Other subjects have included Robert Burns, Sea Shanties, Celtic Emigration, and Irish Rebel Songs, and a musical tour of the Celtic Lands. He has even done a Celtic Rock Show with another DJ on a Saturday night slot.

PAST EVENTS

Please see the NEWS ARCHIVE page for past Celtic music events.

Emigrant Celts from the various lands took their songs and music with them. Celtic music on Maui exists in the form of occasional concerts, bagpipers, and the lively traditional music scene at our local Irish Pubs, 'Mulligan's on the Blue', in Wailea, and 'Mulligan's at the Wharf', in Lahaina.

In the last few years there have been several concerts at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center in Kahului, including Gaelic Storm, Natalie Mc.Master, and the 'Spirit of the Dance' show, Lunasa, and more recently Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas (presented by Maui Celtic).

Strangely enough, there are bagpipers in the Hawaiian Islands, with several on Maui. For the last 3 years the duo of Jim Douglas Burgess and Michael Riedel were regularly seen practising on the beach parks on the West side of Maui, playing by the Lahaina Sea Wall, and playing functions around the island.

Now on Maui there is a pipe band, The Isle of Maui Pipeband, formerly called "The Maui Celtic Pipes and Drums" with 13 pipers and 5 drummers. The band is a non-profit organization volunteering our services to play events for the Maui Fire Department and the County of Maui. Our 1st fuction was for the September 11th Memorial (2002), and the next was leading the Parade opening the Maui County Fair on October 3rd. The band is available for major community events and can be hired for corporate and private functions. All donations and contributions aid in outfitting the band with instruments and uniforms. The Isle of Maui Pipeband can be contacted through this website, and are always interested in new players.

Solo pipers are available for public and private functions, weddings, New Year's Eve (Hogmanay), Robert Burns Day, and St.Patricks Day . Fees vary - please contact us for details.

On Maui there is a Scots community scattered across the island, that has an informal gathering on January 25th, to celebrate Robert Burns Night at the VFW Hall in Kihei, beginning at sunset. There is bagpiping, dancing, singing, poetry and of course, a haggis.
There is a second Robert Burns Night, presented by Maui Celtic at Maui's Irish Pub, "Mulligan's on the Blue" in Wailea. At the last one the boys of "The Maui Celtic Pipes and Drums" and MC John Crowe were in full dress uniform, and all the Burns Night traditional ceremonies took place, including 'The Selkirk Grace', the piping in (by Roger MacKinlay Pleasanton) and the Address 'To A Haggis', many toasts with much fine Scotch whiskey, and Robert Burns' poetry. The pipe band played, followed by the 'Celtic Tigers' playing traditional Irish and Scottish music, and at the break more piping and of course, "Auld Lang Syne"...

Maui has three Irish Pubs, the oldest established is "Mulligan's on the Blue", at the golf course at Wailea, south of Kihei, where you can find the newest one, "The Dog and Duck". The second Mulligans is "Mulligan's at the Wharf", in the Wharf Cinema Center, opposite the Banyan Tree in Lahaina Town. Certain nights local musicians play Celtic music, joined by visiting players from the old homelands, and the occasional bagpiper. The local Maui band is The Celtic Tigers, who always get the place going ! Kevin, the whistle player also has a band called An Ril. For current schedules of the bands, go to oue EVENTS page.
Both Mulligan's are the place to be on St.Patricks Day, when they have an all day and evening party with pipers and Celtic music.
To visit Mulligan's on our LINKS page click on CELTIC MUSIC ON MAUI.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VERY SAD NEWS .........

Legendary Irish singer and songwriter Tommy Makem passed away on Wednesday August 1st 2007 in Dover, New Hampshire. A great loss to Ireland and the traditional music world, he will be missed by many. Hamish and all the Maui fans of Irish music send our deepest sympathy to the Makem family, especially sons Shane, Conor, and Rory who visited and played in Hawaii back in January 2007.
Tommy Makem was born and raised in Keady, County Armagh, Ireland in 1932. His mother, Sarah Makem, was herself a legendary folk singer and an ethnomusicologist. The songs he learned from his mother would provide the foundation for his musical career. Makem came to America in the 1950s as an actor, and grew to international fame performing with the The Clancy Brothers. Armed with his baritone voice, banjo, tinwhistle, poetry, and stagecraft, he spread Irish culture around the world with his songs and stories.
He left The Clancy Brothers in 1969 to pursue a solo career but later joined old friend Liam Clancy to perform as Makem and Clancy until 1988. Liam said Tommy had a "knack of making an audience laugh and cry, holding them in the palm of his hand."
Tommy was still performing until recently, even while battling cancer, and he visited Belfast last month to receive an honorary doctorate at the University of Ulster, and returned to his native Armagh.
Irish President Mary McAleese paid tribute on Thursday to the musician's enduring legacy.
"In life, Tommy brought happiness and joy to hundreds of thousands of fans the world over," she said. "Always the consummate musician, he was also a superb ambassador for the country, and one of whom we will always be proud."

Mahalo Tommy for the great songs and music.

ALOHA NUI LOA, TOMMY MAKEM, THE BARD OF ARMAGH.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------