Unless you've been living under the Blarney Stone, you've heard about "Lord of the Dance," super-tapper Michael Flatley's creation which takes traditional Irish dance into the 21st Century by infusing it with more freedom of movement and blending it with black leather, smoke, and lights. Michael Flatley did not appear in Binghamton -- this was troupe No. 2. (Troupe Number one was scheduled to appear in Australia and New Zealand at that time, but Flatley collapsed with a bronchial ailment).

Troupe No. 2 was excellent. The role of the Lord (danced by Flatley in Troupe 1) was danced by John Carey. At half the age of Flatley, 19-year-old Carey lacked the cocky maturity and arrogance that Flatley brings to the role but Carey does not lack the dancing skills. He and other dancers received sincere applause from the audience after each number, and a thunderous standing ovation at the end of the show.

The one disappointment with the show was the decision by someone to include the sound of the taps in the recorded music which accompianied the show.

In The Binghamton Press of December 9, 1997, Gene Gray stated that "scores of floor mikes picked up the staccato of every tap." I don't know what concert Mr. Grey was at, but the taps that the audience HEARD were not being produced by what they were SEEING. There was not one floor mike on that stage. Even if there had been "scores of floor mikes" there would have been very little sound for them to pick up --- the dancers were tapping away on a rubber mat over particle board. ( I was sitting in the third row, and checked the stage immediately after the show. And as I was checking the floor, a stage hand confirmed what I was seeing.)

Despite the recorded tap sounds, it was a wonderful, thrilling performance by a group of very talented, very hardworking dancers.Aengus at Owego

The group Aengus performed A Celtic Christmas in a free concert in Owego on December 20, 1997. For almost two hours, they delighted a packed auditorium with rousing jigs, humoruous songs, touching tunes, and dancing. Aengus is composed of Robbie O'Connell, Jimmy Keane, and Kathleen Keane.

Ireland-born Robbie, nephew of the Clancy Brothers, has definitely inherited the Clancy musical talent and fine singing voice. He has lived in this country since 1979 amd has recorded several albums. Robbie also tours with his uncle Liam and cousin Donal.

Jimmy was born in London of Irish parents and has won five consecutive All-Ireland titles on the accordion.

Kathleen (no relation to Jimmy) was born 26 years ago in Chicago to parents from County Galway. She has won awards for her performances on the tin whistle, flute, and fiddle.

Aengus opened the concert with a collection of old Scottish tunes associated with Christmas followed by Robbie singing "Drive the Cold Winter Away."

Kathleen then surprised and delighted the audience by showing she's more than just a fine fiddler - she's also a fine Irish dancer! As Robbie and Jimmy played a song about frost and snow, Kathleen danced a hornpipe. The floor mike picked up every click of her black shoes on the stage's wooden floor.

Robbie asked the audience, "Do ya feel like singing?" When several folks in the audience enthusiastically replied "Yes!" Robbie quipped back, "Go ahead, we'll wait!" He then invited the audience to join in the chorus of their next tune.

One of the most touching songs was "Christmas in the Trenches" which tells the story of a man who takes part in an unofficial truce for one night during World War I.

A traditional Irish Christmas cake is something like a fruitcake soaked in brandy, covered with almond paste, and frosted with a very hard icing. The cakes are often a source of pride for their bakers. Robbie sang a very funny song about "Miss Fogarty's Christmas Cake" that was full of plums and prunes and cheeries, "and a crust that was made out of glue." Hatchets and saws had little effect on this cake and 'twas said it "would kill a man twice."

The trio closed Act I with "The Wren" about the St. Stephen's Day tradition for boys to place a dead wren in a decorated holly bush, dress in costumes, and go from house to house asking for money.

After a twenty-minute intermission Act II opened with the sad and plaintive "On A Cold Winters Day" followed by Kathleen dancing a slip jig, a "light dance, close to ballet." Robbie sang a sweet Gaelic song whose title translates to "Concerning That Night in Bethlehem."

No Irish concert would be complete without a song about whiskey, and this concert was no exception. Robbie and Jimmy sang about the "water of life," their rich voices filled the auditorium as they sang unaccompianied by any insturments.

This was followed by three holiday jigs: "Merry Christmas Jig," "Christmas Comes But Once a Year," and "The Holly Tree." Robbie sang an old Breton tune from the 12th Century (in French with an Irish accent). The audience joined in the chorus of "The Holly and the Ivy."

Aengus sang a song written by Robbie's cousin which told of the Irish tradition of attending Midnight Mass and visiting the relatives till the wee hours of the morning.

The concert concluded with well-known Christmas songs which, according to Robbie, Jimmy disguised as Irish Polkas. The audience enjoyed Celtic versions of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "Halleluiah Chorus," "Jingle Bells," and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."

Following a standing ovation, - and a surprise visit from Santa Clause on stage - Robbie, Kathleen, and Jimmy returned to do an encore of a blast of reels and a dance by Kathleen.

This was a most enjoyable, pleasant concert of great Celtic music by three very talented artists.