Lucky Us: North Carolina Irish Allstars Bring St. Patrick’s Cheer on March 17

Hear Duke’s own William Dawson and other colleagues playing Irish favorites at Duke University Hospital

The North Carolina Irish Allstars poses for a photo
The North Carolina Irish Allstars, featuring Duke's William Dawson, will perform a St. Patrick's Day concert at Duke Medicine Pavilion's main concourse. Photo courtesy of North Carolina Irish Allstars

William Dawson theorizes that there are a handful of times a year when everyone agrees on what type of music to listen to. During Oktoberfest, polka music is a must. Around the Fourth of July holiday, patriotic instrumentals are a no-brainer.

And on St. Patrick’s Day, lively Irish melodies bring a smile to everyone.

That’s why Dawson is bringing his band North Carolina Irish Allstars to Duke Medicine Pavilion’s main concourse from noon to 3 p.m. March 17 for a free performance of classic and traditional St. Patrick’s Day songs.

“It’s just a friendly type of music that appeals to all kinds of people,” said Dawson, the Musician in Residence for Arts & Health at Duke University Hospital. “You can be old or young or anything in between, and this fun, lightning-fast, neat, ancient music can ring a distant bell on the back of your brain.”

The set list includes singalongs such as “Danny Boy” and “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling,” along with classic Irish tunes, “O’Carolan’s Quarrel with the Landlady” and “The Night Before Larry was Stretched,” and a handful of “traditional songs I can’t pronounce,” Dawson joked.

Dawson plays a traditional Irish drum called bodhrán (pronounced bow-rahn or buh-rahn) and octave mandolin in the band. Fellow Duke Hospital musicians also in the group include Robert Thornhill on mandolin and Bill Newton on harmonica and pennywhistle, a type of Irish flute.

“The pennywhistle is that very specific Irish flute whistle sound when you think of the beginning of ‘Titanic,’” Dawson said. “And Bill is the best pennywhistle player I’ve ever met.”

Dan Eason rounds out the group on guitar.

All of Dawson's fellow musicians are "crazy about Irish music," he said.

“I'm happy to just give everybody a little bit of Irish pluck on St. Patrick's Day,” Dawson said.

For additional gigs, check the North Carolina Irish Allstars performances here.

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