P.V. O'Donnell Branch CCE

06/04/2026

P.V. O’Donnell Branch CCE is delighted to welcome Jake James & Cara Wildman to our branch for the first time together. They will host some tremendous workshop learning opportunities, and lead our final Second-Saturday Session of the season before our July/August break.

About Jake and Cara:

Jake James is a two-time All-Ireland fiddle champion, bodhrán player, and dancer from Queens, NYC. The Irish Echo called his 2018 album Firewood an "outstanding debut solo recording." Since then, he's released In Reel Time with fellow NYC flute player Brenda Dowling and toured throughout the United States, Canada, and Japan with esteemed groups such as the Green Fields of America, the Trinity Irish Dance Company, the Paul Brock Band, and RUNA.

Cara Wildman is a highly sought after bodhrán player at the cutting edge of the instrument's modern development. She credits a large part of her musicality to growing up playing western swing with her father in her hometown of Dorchester, Texas. She has toured with Joanie Madden, Oisin Mac Diarmada's Irish Christmas in America, Máiréad Nesbitt, and more. Cara was the 2021 All-Ireland Fleadhfest champion and has a Masters in Irish Traditional Music Performance from the University of Limerick in Ireland.

Cara and Jake will lead two workshops at 1:00 PM. For Cara’s workshop, go to Irish Heritage Society of Milford, (131 Bridgeport Ave) and for Jake’s workshop, go to 58 Maple St. in Milford. We are so excited for all that these two wonderful musicians have to bring to our branch!

The Session and Workshop are brought to you by Sláinte Milford and P.V. O’Donnell Branch CCE.

Locations:

Irish Heritage Society of Milford
131 Bridgeport Ave
Milford, CT 06460

(Private Residence - Jake James' Workshop Only)
58 Maple St.
Milford, CT 06460

05/09/2026

THIS AFTERNOON at 2:30 PM!! Come join us!

P.V. O’Donnell Branch CCE is delighted to welcome back to our branch the world-renowned singer and fiddle player, Liz Hanley!

Liz Hanley is a Brooklyn-based singer and fiddler whose music spans traditional Irish repertoire and contemporary folk. Raised in a musical Irish-Hungarian family in Boston, Liz’s foundation in traditional tunes and songs comes from her father, Andy Hanley, and legendary family friends like Brian and Lindsay O’Donovan. A classically trained violinist with a degree from NYU, she spent years touring globally with the late Dr. Mick Moloney and the Green Fields of America, as well as the prog-folk ensemble Frogbelly and Symphony.

Known for what Irish Music Magazine calls a "distinctive voice" and a "knack for reawakening our interest in the familiar," Liz is a mainstay of the NYC session scene. As an educator, she is a frequent faculty member at the Catskills Irish Arts Week and the Acadia Festival of Traditional Music. Her teaching is informed by her extensive study of violin performance and her specialized knowledge of vocal health, making her workshops uniquely accessible and technically insightful. Whether you are looking to expand your repertoire or refine your technique, Liz offers a wealth of knowledge from the heart of the traditional music scene.

Liz will lead a workshop for all instruments and levels from 1:00-2:00 ($10 suggested donation) all about arranging a song in a session. She will then be the special guest for our monthly session from 2:30-5:30. Both events will take place at Irish Heritage Society of Milford.

The Session and Workshop are brought to you by Sláinte Milford and P.V. O’Donnell Branch CCE.

05/09/2026

This afternoon at 1:00 PM!! Register online via the link below, or walk-in registration (please arrive a bit early). Looking forward to this wonderful workshop with Liz Hanley!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehMtktSroHljh0a6fLZbUmv2ETfe1G-Wtsicv6Fx1Vt3ocww/viewform

05/06/2026

This coming Saturday, May 9th, join our branch for two very special music opportunities with world-renowned fiddle player and singer, Liz Hanley! Liz will be teaching a workshop open to all instruments and levels from 1:00-2:30 ($10 suggested donation) and will be the guest leader at our Second-Saturday Session from 2:30-5:00. This will be a fantastic day, and not to be missed! Please SHARE, and come join us at Irish Heritage Society of Milford for this wonderful afternoon!

Register for the workshop using this link so we know who to expect on the day of the event!

https://pvocce.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=08b72bc5d65a004ed5cbfda21&id=e12216f8a7&e=c7fc45b63f

Workshop: 1:00-2:00
Session: 2:30-5:00
Location: Irish Heritage Society of Milford
131 Bridgeport Ave, Milford CT 06460

01/31/2026

Mark your calendars, folks! We have a great session coming up on Saturday, February 7th! All are welcome to join in the fun from 12:30-2:30! Brenda Dowling will be our guest, and she will be hosting a great workshop afterwards (taking place in Fairfield) from 3:30-4:30 as well. Come kick off February with us!!

To register for the workshop, please follow the below link:

https://forms.gle/YEd4QVQUKA2PieWN9

01/10/2026

Please note that this lecture tomorrow is ALSO taking at Irish Heritage Society of Milford at 1:00-2:00 prior to our 2:30-5:00 session!

You won’t want to miss this fantastic Irish Music Talk with Dan Neely taking place at Irish Heritage Society of Milford this coming Saturday, Jan 10th! Join us from 1:00-2:00 at IHSM for the lecture and from 2:30-5:00 to participate in the session at which Dan Neely is also the special guest. All are welcome!

01/05/2026

You won’t want to miss this fantastic Irish Music Talk with Dan Neely taking place at Irish Heritage Society of Milford this coming Saturday, Jan 10th! Join us from 1:00-2:00 at IHSM for the lecture and from 2:30-5:00 to participate in the session at which Dan Neely is also the special guest. All are welcome!

01/05/2026

This Saturday, join us from 2:30-5:00 at Irish Heritage Society of Milford for some great tunes with Dan Neely! Dan will also be hosting a special historical lecture about Ireland and America from 1:00-2:00. All are invited to join us for this special afternoon of music and learning! Share this with your friends and help spread the word!

12/08/2025