Category: Archive
I agree. But it’s only part of the reason why the honoree for 2003 is Mike Rafferty, a 77-year-old flute, whistle, uilleann pipes, Jew’s harp, and lilting master from the village of Larraga in the parish of Ballinakill, East Galway. Rafferty, who’s lived in the U.S. since 1949 and resides in Hasbrouck Heights, N.J., did indeed have an impressive year in music. It’s just not noticeable in the usual way of a sparkling new album or multiple guest spots on the recordings of others.
In 2003, Rafferty taught advanced flute to adult students on a one-to-one basis each week at his home, was a music instructor at the Catskills Irish Arts Week in East Durham, N.Y., and the Swannanoa Gathering in Asheville, N.C., participated in c