Martin

Martin McHugh and the Tara Hill ceilidh band perform at the Failte Minnesota Green Tie Dinner.

When John Dingley still ran the (in)famous Irish Well, I went every Sunday night to marvel at Martin’s playing. He would sit down early in the evening with a cup of coffee and his squeeze box and start off a set of jigs and reels and slides. Over the course of the night other players would wander in for the seisiun (including, of course, Tom Dahill), and they’d join in, play along, wander off, but through it all, at the solid center, there was Martin, until he shut the place down at closing time. We’ve got a solid Irish music scene in the Twin Cities, and that’s largely because of Martin, who has been a mentor and an inspiration for decades.

If you’re in Minneapolis this Saturday, be sure to stop at the Eagle’s Club, 2507 25th Street East, for the ceili dance & celebration honoring the contributions of musician Martin McHugh. There’s no telling who might show up — Martin’s music has stretched half way around the world, and there’s no shortage of people who have been touched by his gifts.

Three cullings for today: