It Takes a Village: Family and Community Connections to Irish Music“There was music before me and after me. » These powerful words open the book The Living Note: The Heartbeat of Irish Music and encompass the “living” nature of musical traditions in Ireland. As I come to the end of my semester in this module, I have come to understand the important and recurring role of “family” in Irish culture, and particularly in the arts. Every week I found myself interacting with the word family, whether in films such as Se Mo Laoch-Joe Derrane or Dara Bán Mac Donnchada, in class with our teachers like Pádraic Keane and Colm Gannon, or at concerts of arts in action by the Ó brothers hIarnáin and others. The common thread has always been this notion of family. The more I looked into these different sources of information, the more I began to understand the vital role this simple six-letter word has played throughout music history. It is not only unique to the individual, it is always transforming. I challenged myself to explore the connection between music, Irish culture and family ties. Alongside these connections, I want to examine the impact this can have on the individual and the community through an alternative definition of family. Pádraic Keane, one of the professionals hired to teach the tin whistle section of our module, was one of the first musicians I heard. talk about the concept of family. Coming from a lineage of musicians, he grew up surrounded by music. Specifically, his father, Tommy Keane, was also a renowned musician. He told us about his natural tendencies and this feeling of attraction to music. Many artists are connected to their work by their passion; however, with Pádraic you could see a deeper connection...... middle of paper...... especially Ireland. I am honored to have had this experience that I will always hold close to my heart during my semester abroad, and I look forward to seeing where this new knowledge can be useful in my future.BibliographySéMo Laoch' ("You are my hero"): Joe Derrane https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3U4CBZhY4H0Oileán Thoraí'- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF9i3jJ_qcUDara Bán Mac Donnchada- https://www .youtube.com/watch?v=VqHSIaLHx9cFlanagan, William. Ireland now: stories of change from the global island / Notre Dame, Indiana: University of Notre Dame Press, c2007.Woods, Peter. The Living Note: The Heartbeat of Irish Music /Dublin: O'Brien Press, 1996Henigan, Julie. Sean-nos in Donegal: In search of a definition. 19996. http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/sean-nos.htmAn Chief Mhairt of Fhomhair: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqrNB7gPPPY