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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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