A REVIEW OF THE 2000 CELTIC NEW YEAR BALL
In 2000, our honoree was the fabulous Irish actor Gabriel Byrne, whose accomplishments in the entertainment world and his devotion to promoting Irish culture made him a natural choice for The Wild Geese Award for Outstanding Contributions to Irish Culture.
>> click here for more on Gabriel Byrne
Dierdre Danaher, a champion Celtic harpist, played during the cocktail hour. Then the festivities started with the tattoo led by the Greenwich Emerald Society Pipe Band, into the Grand Ballroom of The Hyatt Regency Hotel. Guss Hayes and his Band returned to offer music for dancing and listening enjoyment.
And the entertainment line-up was a perfect blend of Irish traditions. Ball goers heard Irish tenor Kevin Hill sing a selection of beautiful Irish melodies, old and new. He was accompanied by pianist Doug Dickson, of the Yale School of Music. Traditional Irish music lends a powerful balance with the playing of reels, hornpipes, and ancient Irish marches. Our special musicians were Matt Connolly of Norwalk, Connecticut, considered a master unsurpassed on the Uilleann pipes. Pat Stratton of Hamden, Connecticut, is well known in Irish music circles for his expertise on the Fiddle, and has played many venues over the years with Matt. Jim McGinty of Pleasantville, New York, added the thunder to the group with his playing of the Bodhran drum. It was a most memorable evening for all.
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