Convention Schedule
The Hyatt Regency Buffalo / Hotel and Conference Center, 2 Fountain Plaza, Buffalo, NY 14202
Thursday
4 April
4pm-9pm Registration – Mezzanine Level Coat Room
5pm-9pm Niagara Falls Bus
7:45pm Fáilte Mhór -Grand Ballroom – Assemblyman Patrick Burke and the Erie County Sheriff’s Pipe and Drum
8pm- 12am Ceili with the Drumlin Ceili Band – Grand Ballroom
8:30-9:30pm– Standing Committee Meeting - Executive Room – second floor
Friday
5 April
9am- 5pm Registration– Mezzanine Level Coat Room
8am-10am Secretary’s Breakfast – Grand Ballroom E/F/G – Mezzanine
9am-10am Language Officer’s meeting – Board room – second floor
Regional Meetings 10am-12pm:
Canada West – Ellicott – Second floor
West – Franklin - Second floor
Canada East – Niagara – Mezzanine
Northeast – Regency A – Mezzanine
Mid-Atlantic – Regency B – Mezzanine
Midwest – Regency C – Mezzanine
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM -Special Stage Presentation, Atrium- Exile McBride - The story of John Joseph McBride and his fight for Irish independence from his home near Buffalo, NY as told by his great nephew Michael McBride.
12-4pm Niagara Falls Bus Trip
12pm-1:30pm – Youth class – “Meet the Instruments” – Delaware C – Second Floor - Tim and Stephanie Benson
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM - Special Stage Presentation, Atrium- Irish Pipers of Early 20th Century North America - Learn about the role played by early 20th century pipers bringing the music of the uilleann pipes to the ears of an American audience. Our presenter, Nick Whitmer, is a piper, pipemaker, and historian who made this presentation at the prestigious Na Píobairí Uilleann in Dublin, Ireland in May 2022.
Provincial
Meeting 1pm-4pm in the Regency Ballroom – Mezzanine
1:30-3pm Steps for Sets-Grand Ballroom- Mezzanine-Padraig and Roisin
2pm-3:30pm – Youth class – Tin Whistle – Delaware C – Second Floor - Tim and Stephanie Benson
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM - Amazing Irish Women- Special Stage Presentation, Atrium - They stood up to monarchs, built a flying machine, wrote science books, and saved thousands of children’s lives. They were all Irish women, and their stories will delight and inspire you. Presented by Sue Romero.
3:15 PM - 4:15 PM - University of Buffalo James Joyce Collection- Special Stage Presentation, Atrium - Learn about the collection of more than 10,000 pages of Joyce’s working papers, notebooks, manuscripts, photographs, and personal artifacts. Our presenter is James Maynard, PhD Curator - Poetry Collection University Libraries.
4-5:30pm Banjo- Ellicott- second floor -Ben Hockenberry
4-5:30pm Irish Conversation Circle -beginners- Franklin- second floor -Margaret McGrath/ School of Irish Culture
4-5:30pm Harp- Delaware A-second floor- Regina Delaney
4-5:30pm Singing- Board Room – second floor- Mairin Ul Cheide
4-5:30pm Youth Seisiun – Delaware C- second floor
4-5:30pm Tin Whistle – Chippewa Room– second floor- Joanie Madden
4-5:30pm Bouzouki and Octave Mandolin- Niagara Room- mezzanine- Gregor Harvey
4pm-6pm Set Dance Class – Grand Ballroom – mezzanine- Padraig and Roisin
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM - Boston College Burns Library
Collection -Special Stages Presentation, Atrium- The Burns Library at
Boston College is home to a vast collection of Irish literature, art, and
music. The Irish Music Archives include materials relating
to tenor John McCormack, celebrated musicians such as singer/harpist Mary
O’Hara and fiddle player Séamus Connolly, and the archives of the North
American province of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Our presenter is Irish Music
Librarian Elizabeth Sweeney.
5:30 -??? Nietzsche’s Seisiun -Special Stages Presentation, Atrium- Come and experience Buffalo’s longest running Trad seisiun! Celebrating 20 years and going strong!
6-8pm Dinner Buffet – Regency Ballroom – mezzanine
8-11pm Ceili with Boston’s Connacht Ceili Band – Grand Ballroom - mezzanine
Saturday
6 April
9am-5pm Registration
– Coat Check – mezzanine
9am-10am SCT
Prep - All are welcome - Executive Room – second floor
10am-1pm Brunch
– Regency Ballroom – mezzanine
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM - Civil War Irish -Special Stages
Presentation, Atrium- The Irish played no small role during the American Civil
War. Through stories, letters, and music you learn about the contributions made
by the Irish to preserve the Union. Our presenters are Bill Fahy, author of the
program, and Mike Hoke, both members of Craobh Dugan-O’Looney
10- 11:30am Sligo-style Fiddle – Ellicott- second floor – Brian Conway-Sponsored by Cairde
10-11:30am Harp – Franklin- second floor – Regina Delaney
10-11:30am Guitar Accompaniment – Delaware A- second floor – Mark Warford
10-11:30am The Musical Legacy of Sean Ryan – Delaware C – second floor – Gregor Harvey
10-11:30am Youth Irish Conversation Circle – Board Room – second Floor – Margaret McGrath/ School of Irish Culture
10-11:30am Bodhran – Chippewa Room– second floor – Anna Colliton
10-11:30am Button Accordion – Niagara Room – mezzanine – John Nolan
10-11:30am Ceili and Two-Hand Dance – Grand Ballroom- mezzanine- Maureen Mulvey O’Leary
11:20 AM - 12:10 PM - Against the Grain – Special Stages Presentation, Atrium-Buffalo author Timothy Bohen tells the story of the Irish First Ward’s beginning and of the colorful characters that forged that beginning. The newly arrived famine immigrants settled in the Old First Ward more out of prejudice than choice. Against the Grain is history told in its best and most lively prose—the story of who did what, where, to whom and why is played out on the windswept streets in the city’s first waterfront neighborhood.
12:30-2pm Guitar Accompaniment – Ellicott – second floor – Mark Warford
12:30-2pm Clare Style Fiddle – Franklin – second floor – Patrick Ourceau
12:30-2pm Uillean Pipes – Delaware A – second floor – Patrick Hutchinson
12:30-2pm Youth Sean nos Dance – Delaware C – second floor – Jackie O’Riley
12:30-2pm Intermediate Irish Conversation Circle – Board Room – second floor - Margaret McGrath/Kevin Conroy/ School of Irish Culture – Tomas O’Maille Memorial Sponsorship
12:30-2pm Button Accordion (Jim O’Looney Memorial Sponsor)– Chippewa Room– second floor – John Nolan
12:30-2pm Irish Flute – Niagara Room – mezzanine – Kevin Crawford
12:30-3pm Set Dance Class – Grand Ballroom – mezzanine – Padraig and Roisin
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM - Irish History 101 – Special Stages Presentation, Atrium-A summary of the history of Ireland starting over one billion years ago and progressing to modern times – in one hour. The geological history of Ireland is followed by the social and economic history of Ireland since the end of the last ice age. This includes the available evidence for human habitation dating back 33,000 years ago. All the major events in Irish history will be introduced. Our presenter is Sean Murphy of the Reynolds-Hanafin-Cooley Branch.
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM - Boston College Burns Library Collection - Special Stages Presentation, Atrium -The Burns Library at Boston College is home to a vast collection of Irish literature, art, and music. The Irish Music Archives include materials relating to tenor John McCormack, celebrated musicians such as singer/harpist Mary O’Hara and fiddle player Séamus Connolly, and the archives of the North American province of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Our presenter is Irish Music Librarian Elizabeth Sweeney.
2-3:30pm Meitheal Meeting – Executive Room – second floor
2:30-4pm Irish Conversation Circle -beginners- Ellicott - second floor -Margaret McGrath/ School of Irish Culture
2:30-4pm Sligo-style Fiddle – Franklin - second floor – Brian Conway
2:30-4pm Mandolin – Delaware A – second floor – Ben Hockenberry
2:30-4pm Youth Irish Mythology and Stories – Delaware C – second floor – Markquis Owens
2:30-4pm Singing- Board Room – second floor- Mairin Ul Cheide
2:30-4pm Bodhran – Chippewa Room– second floor – Anna Colliton
2:30-4pm Tin Whistle – Niagara Room (Mike McHale Memorial Sponsor)– mezzanine – Joanie Madden
3:15 PM - 4:15 PM - Bloomsday - Special Stages Presentation, Atrium- Bloomsday will be celebrated a bit early this year as CCE Andy McGann presents the music of Ulysses. Join them as they recount Leopold Bloom’s sojourn through Dublin on June 16, 1922, along with the sights and sounds he encountered that day.
3:30-5pm Sean nos Dance – Grand Ballroom – mezzanine – Jackie O’Riley
3:30-5pm SCT Prep- All are welcome - Executive Room – second floor
4:30-6pm Clare-style Fiddle – Ellicott – second floor – Patrick Ourceau
4:30-6pm Uilleann Pipes – Franklin – second Floor – Patrick Hutchinson
4:30 -6pm Piano Accompaniment – Delaware A – second floor – Brendan Dolan
4:30-6pm Youth Fiddle Workshop - Delaware C – second floor – Tim and Stephanie Benson
4:30-6pm Advanced Irish Language Conversation Circle – Board Room – second floor – Kevin Conroy/ School of Irish Culture
4:30-6pm Irish Flute - Chippewa Room – second floor -Kevin Crawford
4:45 PM - 5:45 PM - Ards CCE - Special Stages Presentation, Atrium -This weekend we are honored to have as special guests, musicians from Belfast Ards CCE. They are joined by Lord Mayor of Belfast Ryan Murphy and members of the Belfast City Council to discuss their 2026 & 2027 bids for hosting the Fleadh Cheoil na Eireann.
6-9pm Youth Dinner and Seisiun – Regency Ballroom – mezzanine
6-7pm Cocktail hour and Award Presentations – Pre-function space- mezzanine
7-9pm Banquet and Show – Grand Ballroom – mezzanine
9pm-12am Ceili with Joanie Madden All-Stars – Grand Ballroom - mezzanine
Sunday 7 April
9-10am - Mass with Msgr. J. Patrick Keleher Chippewa Room – second floor
9am-12pm SCT Exams - Executive Room – second floor
10am-1pm Brunch – Regency Ballroom – mezzanine
11am-1pm Set Dance Class – Grand Ballroom – mezzanine – Padraig and Roisin
1-4pm Ceili Northern Lights – Grand Ballroom - mezzanine