Celtic Concert Rings In Season To Be Green

In a season overloaded with faux-Irish renditions of “Danny Boy,” Batt Burns and Maura Burns are welcome messengers of true Irish culture.

Batt Burns, an elementary school headmaster in County Kerry, is one of the few true seanachie (storytellers) in Ireland. His wife, Maura, is a singer and musician dedicated to traditional Irish songs, in both Gaelic and English.

They will perform at The Met a week from today in a show sponsored by the Spokane-Limerick Sister City Society and O’Doherty’s Irish Grille.

Burns learned the seanachie tradition at the feet of his grandfather in Kerry. In addition to his stories, he also shares comic verse, jokes, recitations and serious poetry.

His show includes contributions from a number of well-known Kerry writers.

Burns has appeared on “Good Morning America” as well as on many television shows in Ireland and England.

Maura Burns comes from a musical family in County Cork, where her mother was one of Ireland’s top concertina players. Maura also plays the concertina as well as sings.

, DataTimes MEMO: Tickets: $12, available through all G&B Select-a-Seat outlets or by calling 325-SEAT or 1-800-325-SEAT.

This sidebar appeared with the story: CONCERT Batt Burns and Maura Burns will perform at 7 p.m. March 14 at The Met.