Trio prepares for contest in Ireland

Trio of young musicians prepare to compete in Ireland

FRANKLIN — Though Franklin resident Dylan McDonald is a musician himself, he claims that all of his children are musical because of his wife, JoAnn, who sang to them as they were growing up. Whoever is responsible, it was clear to the 40 or so people at the Franklin Branch of the Sussex County Library this past Friday that the kids picked it up somewhere. All of the McDonald children learn music as part of their home-school curriculum. But recently, three of the 10 McDonald children reached a new level of excellence. Brothers James, 14, Daniel, 13, and Joseph, 10, competed in the Mid-Atlantic Fleadh (Gaelic for festival) in Parsippany this May, where they won numerous awards in categories from fiddle playing to singing to penny-whistle. They've now qualified to compete in the All-Ireland Fleadh, which will be held in Ireland from Aug. 12 to 19. To help pay for their trip the boys recorded and released a CD titled “The Trip to Athlone,” which showcases a variety of their instrumental and vocal talents on an assortment of traditional Irish reels, jigs, songs and ceili band pieces. They played some of these pieces during a free concert they put on at the Franklin library Friday night, including a show closer performed by the full McDonald family called "Crowley's Reel." Franklin Mayor Paul Crowley was in attendance at the show but patriarch Dylan McDonald said they didn't play it to curry favor with the mayor. He described the number as a popular traditional piece and says its inclusion on the program that night was just a "provincial coincidence."

Practice, practice, practice
The boys are proud of their efforts. James, the oldest of the three, said that it takes about an hour and a half of practice every day to learn and memorize all of his pieces. Though he also enjoys basketball and biking, he works hardest at playing music because he hopes to be a professional musician in the future. A shorter term goal, he said, is to be able to teach traditional Irish music.
Each of the three brothers said he feels more excited than nervous to travel to Ireland and play in the finals. “It’s going to be fun,” said 10-year-old Joseph.
“I just love playing music,” Daniel said, adding that he understands there will be some amazing talent in these upcoming competitions. Instead of being afraid of losing, he said, he is just going to be happy to be performing.
James also said that he believes the trip will be “very good educationally,” as he and Daniel also received a scholarship to study traditional music at a special school in Ireland the week before the competition.

Hear their music
The boys have another concert scheduled this week at the 4-H fair in Chester.
James will be a contestant in the fiddle competition at the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show on Aug. 5, just days before the big competition in Ireland.
Their CD is available for download or mail order at the family’s Web site at www.mcdonaldfamilysingers.com. The CD costs $10 for download or $15 for mail order. They've estimated the trip will cost around $4,000.

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