A popular Irish singer in town is more than ready for St. Patrick's Day next Wednesday, March 17. He's been recording and posting an Irish song on YouTube each day for nearly two months.
After 63 days, Brian Corcoran, who has lived in town for more than 30 years, will end his tune-a-day Irish songbook on March 17, St. Patrick's Day.
Sitting with his guitar and wearing that Irish staple, a gold claddagh ring, he plays guitar, sings and records an Irish song each day at his Andover home on Ivy Lane. Wistful, joyous and sentimental is how he describes the playlist. A friend handles the recording as he sings comfortably in his home.
YouTube viewers hail from as far away as Ireland, Canada and New Zealand, and also include a servicewoman stationed in Afghanistan who heard his Irish concert at Hampton Beach, Corcoran said.
"It's really taken off," he said of his Irish songbook. "People send me notes and their requests online and I play them. They love it."
Listeners have heard "Gentle Annie," "Peggy Gordan," "Streets of London," "Red is the Rose" and numerous other Irish songs.
Corcoran said he simply likes to sing. This all started on Jan. 14 when Corcoran launched his online Irish songbook and pledged to sing an Irish song a day for a total of 63 days.
"I sing at home all the time, so I thought why not do a virtual concert people can get at home," he said. "I just thought this would be good for those who can't get to a show."
He's a regular at Atria Marland Place and Wingate, both in Andover, as older listeners are among his biggest fans. This 50-something singer has been performing for 40 years, in concerts and nightclubs in Boston, Ireland, New York and Las Vegas.
"And everywhere in between," he laughed.
He's shared the stage with some big-name Irish singers, including Tommy Makem, Liam Clancy and Seamus Kennedy.
These days, he's enjoying his homebase in Andover. He and his wife, Jane, have two daughters - Molly, who attends college, and Kiley, an eighth-grader at Doherty Middle School, and their oldest, son, Corey, who lives in Texas.
But he's hoping to land a few gigs on the Irish festival circuit this spring and summer as word of his Irish songbook is spreading.
"I told my family about it first," he said, adding that he grew up in Lynn and is one of 15 kids so they alone can share the news with many.
St. Patrick's Day will be a typical one for Corcoran. He starts out in concert at Bancroft Elementary School every March 17. The tradition started when his daughter, Molly, attended the school. She's in college now. It's been 15 years with several different principals but he said he still looks forward to the show. Then he's off to The Sports Zone in Dracut. He'll be performing there from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. He's also been doing that show for years and Andover fans are plentiful, he said.
As for the grand green finale on the last day of his songbook on March 17, Corcoran said he hasn't decided what Irish song he will sing.
"I don't plan, I just wait to get the requests," he said.
You can make song requests or view the songs at the www.youtube.com site. Type "Brian Corcoran" into the search box.
Also for St. Patrick's Day
Radio show by Tom Garvey
St. Patrick's Day will be ushered in again by Andover resident Thomas J. Garvey on radio station WCCM-1110AM, from noon to 4 p.m. A program of the traditional music of Ireland as well as conversation will be featured, including a report from one of the marching units of the County Leitrim Society on Fifth Avenue, New York City.
This will be the 24th anniversary of the Irish show hosted by Garvey and station program director Bruce Arnold. The Internet will carry the show as well on www.1110wccmam.com
Gallery show
New paintings of Ireland fill the walls of Lorica Artworks for its next show called "Time and Again," with a reception on Friday March 12from 6 to 8 p.m. at 96 Main St., Andover.
"The collection of (more than 45) paintings is a group labor of love by artists from Ireland and here at home, a first for a number of the regional artists," according to gallery owner Mia Guerrera. "They've all chosen some aspect of Ireland as subjects. In that respect the images are universal statements and easily recognizable. The similarity ends there however, and the uniquely descriptive approach of the artists takes over."
"Time and Again" will be on view at Lorica Artworks through April 17, 2010. Gallery hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10-5; Thursday, 10-7; and Sunday by appointment. The gallery is closed on Mondays. Admission is free.
