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West of Galway brings Irish sound to local music scene

By LIANE SMITH (Contact)

Originally published — 4:40 p.m., April 20, 2007
Updated — 4:50 p.m., April 20, 2007

It started with Christmas: West of Galway formed about five years ago as a few friends were urged to participate in a Christmas variety show by Mike Joynter of the Naples Irish American Club.

Submitted photo

Local Irish band West of Galway.

The band has grown to five members, including club President Linda Marie Macchia and Naples Fire Chief Jimmy McEvoy.

The band plays at local festivals, private events and Fitzgerald’s Irish Pub in both Naples and Bonita Springs.

The members: McEvoy, vocals and six-string guitar; Bernie Green, vocals and 12-string guitar; Stephen Sadler, vocals and fiddle; Alan Norman Plath, vocals and concertina; and Macchia, bodhran, percussion and whistle.

“To me, it’s not like work. It’s like hanging out with my friends. We’re not friends because of the music,” Macchia said.

She used to own an Irish store, Hallinan’s Irish Imports in Naples, where she hosted Irish music teachers and classes.

The music: West of Galway performs their own renditions of traditional Irish songs, such as “Fiddler’s Green,” “Star of the County Down” and “Whiskey in the Jar.”

Their first album, “Kitchen Parties” is a sampling of the songs the group performs. They’ll be back in the studio in September to work on their next CD.

Irish roots: Every band member, except Stephen Sadler, has them. Sadler grew up around bluegrass and easily made the transition to Irish music.

Macchia’s grandparents were from Galway and Sligo. “Every holiday, we listened to Irish music,” Macchia recalled. “I didn’t know how cool it was. My mother laughs at me (now) and says, “When did you get so Irish?”

Kitchen parties: Many of the band members vividly remember kitchen parties, sitting around with family and friends, eating and drinking, and dancing to Irish music. “That was pretty typical,” Green said.

Now, the band practices around a fire pit in Green’s back yard, with a few pints and good laughs. “It turns into our own little kitchen party out back,” Green said.

In the name: Galway is on the west coast of Ireland. Green often tells the audience, “We’re West of Galway, and technically, so are you.”

Find out more: To contact the band, call Bernie Green at 821-1740 or go to www.west-of-galway.com.