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Dr. Mick Moloney, acclaimed Irish instrumentalist and singer, led “A Celtic-Appalachian Celebration” in the Villanova Room of the Connelly Center on Feb. 15. With his talented accompaniment, Robbie O’Connell (singer), Jerry O’Sullivan (pipes), Billy McComiskey (accordion), Bruce Molsky (fiddle, guitar and banjo) and Dana Lynn (fiddle), Moloney presented a combination of Irish and Irish-American music—ranging from classical compositions to more modern melodies.

“Moloney is an absolutely wonderful entertainer,” said Dr. Vincent Sherry, acting director of the Irish Studies Program. “He truly is a force of musical nature.”
In addition to the musicians, several dancers performed. Niall O’Learly, who is an All-Ireland dance champion, and Amy Fenton-Shine, who has danced with many Appalachian groups including the Green Grass Cloggers; together, they demonstrated how the two dance styles are similar. Later, two unexpected guests entered— a young dancer from the Ryan School of Irish dancing, and a student at Villanova.

Moloney has recorded and produced more than 50 albums. He also has authored Far From the Shamrock Shore, a book accompanied by a CD subtitled "The Story of Irish-American Immigration Through Song” (Crown Publications, 2002 and Shanachie, 2002). Additionally, Moloney has hosted three nationally syndicated folk performances on American public television and has been actively involved with numerous Irish television specials, such as the PBS documentary “Out of Ireland.” Moloney received the 1999 National Heritage Award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Currently, he teaches at New York University while also
touring and writing.

This was the second consecutive year that Moloney played at the University. The event was sponsored by the Ireland Chapter of the Villanova Alumni Association and the Irish Studies Program.