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Photo/Christopher Mule

Monsignor Charles Coen, center, plays the concertina during AnEvening of Irish Traditional Mus ic, Song and Dance a t St.Joseph-St. Thomas Parish in Pleasant Plains. The concertcelebrated Irish culture and hono red Father Coen for his part infostering it while se rving in the parish and in St. Paul's, New

Brighton, from 1968 to 1986. Gathered to play with him were,from the left, Doug Barr, concertina; Linda Hickman, flute; DylanFoley, fiddle; John Nolan, a ccordion, and Eamon O 'Leary, guitar.

Beloved Staten Is land priest Monsignor Coen as Irish as they come

Published: Thursday, November 04, 2010, 2:21 PM Updated: Thursday, November 04, 2010, 2:56 PM

 By Kathryn Carse

PLEASANT PLAINS -- Fingers were flying over

fiddle, flutes and concertinas on Oct. 22 at

St. Joseph-St. Thomas Parish in Pleasant

Plains where nearly 300 people — past and

present parishioners and other Irish music

lovers — packed the house to honor

Monsignor Charles Coen and tap their feetto some very fine tunes.

Not that "Father Charlie," would give you

the idea he was responsible for any of it.

The monsignor served on Staten Island for

18 years, first as a new ly ordained priest, in

St. Paul's Parish in New Brighton for eight

years, before relocating to St. Joseph-St.

Thomas. During that time, he shared his love

of music with parishioners young and o ld

and his own talents became known among

Irish music circles everywhere. He just "backed into it," he says.

"Like so much in life, it just happens. You don't start out to do that," he sa id in a phone conversation the

day before the concert. For example, teaching youngsters one or two songs for St. Patty's Day led to years

of conducting children's choruses that ended up mastering 40 songs and sang in illustrious places like

Carnegie Hall and entered competitions. And they were singing in Irish, a language they would not have

ever heard.

"It was very easy," says Father Coen, "children learn phonetically, very fast."

The result was often long-lasting. Five of his former students, all women, dusted off their concert skills to be

part of the recent performance. Joan Van Tine Roesch had her folder of mimeographed sheets and, more

impress ively, she had not forgotten the songs. "I brought them to my kids, sang them to them when they

were babies," she sa id.

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know it at a ll.

"It's known in the background in the movies," said Father Coen, holding the instrument in his upright hand

like a small layer cake. Both mournful and jaunty, the instrument sang in his hands when he played.

DREW IN OTHERS

Westerleigh resident and concert organizer Doug Barr first saw a concertina 33 years ago when Father

Coen presented an Irish music program at Totten Intermediate School where Barr was a fledgling music

teacher. A sax and clarinet player, Barr was smitten by the instrument. It wasn't until 20 years later that he

bought one on Ebay, mastered a few songs and summoned the courage to join a sess ion himself.

Ten years later, he was able to call upon some of the best musicians hed met to "represent a high level of 

traditional music" to honor Father Coen. Among them were All-Ireland champions Dylan Foley on fiddle and

John Nolan on accordion, Westerleigh resident Linda Hickman, flute and tin whistle, and Dubliner Eamon

OLeary on guitar and vocals.

They joined Father Coen on the stage, playing jigs, reels, slow a irs and hornpipes with names like

"Scattered Mud," Devanny's Goat and "Ben Hill." The musicians played with abandon, though they hardly

moved. That they left to Caitlin Ward and Niamh Mann, two young stepdancers from the Donny Golden

School of Irish Dancing. In glittery versions of traditional dress, they tapped, kicked and skittered across the

stage, remaining perfectly still above the waist, in keeping with traditional Irish dance.

Led by Father Coens former students, the audience sang the Irish national anthem in English and Irish and

then the "Star Spangled Banner."

"Not everywhere you'd hear people sing along in Irish," an audience member remarked.

The concert is part of a larger program that Barr and Ms. Hickman have launched through a Staten Island

Council on the Arts and Humanities grant to awaken interest in Irish traditional music. With the

encouragement of folklorist Christopher Mulé, they have also established a monthly session at the Wild

Goose bar in West Brighton.

Father Coen is retired and living in Greenville, N.Y., these days. He helps out in parishes as needed. He

presides over a weekly session in the Rhineville Hotel and teaches at the East Durham School of Traditional

Music.

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Opportunities for more Ir ish culture

A concert devoted to Irish music on Oct. 22 honored former Staten Island priest Monsignor Charles Coen.

There are other places where you can listen in, and learn.

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A traditional music session

Doug Barr concertina; Linda Hickman, flute/tin whistle, and Iris

Nevins, harp, joined by area musicians

The Wild Goose, 530 Forest Ave., West Brighton

Second Sunday of the month,

next one Nov. 14

1 to 4 p.m.

Irish dance or ceili

Music by Paddy Noonan band

Benefit for Eden II School

in St. Joseph-St. Thomas school auditorium

50 Maguire Ave., Pleasant Plains

Nov. 13; 7:30 p.m.

$40 includes food, beerand setups;

call Ann Clark, 718-356-5557

Ceili set dance lessons

Every other Wednesday in Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, 7:30 p.m.; beginners

welcome;

call Columcille Irish Cultural Center at 718-667-8842.

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