Eileen Ivers stays true to her Rockland roots

Famed Irish fiddler performs Sunday

By: Kevin Phelan

What: Eileen Ivers and Immigrant Soul
When: 3 p.m. March 2
Where: Dominican College, 470 Western Highway, Orangeburg
Tickets: $37.50; dc.edu/events, 845-848-7406, special events@dc.edu

While touring the world playing traditional folk music, Irish fiddle virtuoso Eileen Ivers has seen how much her songs transcend cultural barriers. “One of the wonderful things about roots music is that it truly touches people,” the Grammy-winner says. “The honesty and raw emotion of the music and stories translate to varied audiences, from Ireland to Japan to Australia to the States… music truly is a universal language.”

Ivers, who lives with her husband in West Nyack, is the daughter of Irish immigrants. Immersed in Irish music beginning at the age of 8, she has a long list of accomplishments: The winner of 35 medals in the prestigious All-Ireland Music Competitions, the Emmy-nominated artist has toured with the likes of Sting, Hall and Oates and The Chieftains, has appeared on close to 100 albums and helped to found the all-female Irish-American band Cherish the Ladies.

Hailed as “the Jimi Hendrix of the violin” by The New York Times, Ivers has performed for presidents Carter and Clinton and Queen Elizabeth II. She’s gearing up for a busy month in March, during which she’ll be playing 10 shows in eight cities.

Ivers won’t be home for St. Patrick’s Day — she’ll be performing in Colorado — but she and her band Immigrant Soul will do a benefit concert at Dominican College on Sunday. Via email from Ireland, Ivers answered a few questions about being back in Rockland and her St. Patrick’s Day traditions.

Q: What’s it like performing back in Rockland?

A: Playing music for the hometown crowd is always exciting and the concert at Dominican College is even more special because it’s a benefit for the college. Seeing familiar faces in the audience is such a treat, and I may be partial, but Rockland crowds are always warm and interactive so we’re looking forward to the college gym rockin’ again!

Q: How often do you have the chance to get home?

A: Aside from March, December and the summer festival season, we are lucky to be able to base the touring schedule around long weekends. All of us in the band have families so it’s great to be home more on a weekly basis. We’re fortunate in that other aspects of the business can be accomplished from home like composing and recording.

Q: Any big plans while you’re home?

A: Get the house ready for spring after all the snow we were “blessed” with this winter!

Q: Do you have any favorite haunts in the area?

A: Of course! Let’s see...Nanuet Hotel Restaurant (132 Main St.) for its awesome pizza, Piermont’s Turning Point (468 Piermont Ave.) for some great music and atmosphere and Pearl River’s A Starting Place playground (664 Orangeburg Road) for some smiles and laughs watching our 4-year-old son and his friends.

Q: How will you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?

A: The band and I will be celebrating in the Mile High City with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. But aside from the performance, it is always interesting to see how the local folks celebrate and join in the festivities. A favorite memory from a few years back was watching a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Omaha, Neb., and a bunch of older fellas were proudly riding their Harleys with green tinted beards…everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day!

Q: Did your family have special traditions for the holiday?

A: Back when my grandparents were alive in Ireland, there was a wonderful tradition of my two grandmothers sending shamrock and a lovely handwritten letter wishing the family many blessings. And here’s to many blessings to all this St. Patrick’s Day season!