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My name is Michael Fitzpatrick, and I have been involved in Irish
Music and Dancing for over thirty-five years. Having come from a musical and
dancing family, at the age of five I was introduced to Irish step-dancing and
the button accordion. As the years went by, the music and the dancing became
not just an exercise, but a way of life. The North American Oireachtas and
All-World became my fall and spring Olympics, while the US and All-Ireland Fleadh Cheol became the winter and summer version. I was fairly successful, having won the North American
Dancing Championships in 1971 at the age of 12, and again in 1976, (placing
second in 1975 and 1978) as well as having won the US Fleadh Cheol on the
button accordion in 1975, 1976, and 1978. I eventually retired from
competitive dancing and began playing music for championship dancing
competitions throughout the United States and Canada. As there
were a limited number of musicians at that time who could play the entire
list of set dances, there were very few weekends that I was not on the road
traveling to play at feiseanna.
In 1984, after having relocated to Boston, I was encouraged to sit for my
TCRG exam by my dancing teacher Cyril T. McNiff (TCRG/ADCRG) as well as by other teachers,
especially in light of the fact I had been a champion dancer as well as musician. Prior to
the exam date, I was asked by "An Coimisiún" if I would play the music for the exam as
well as being an examination candidate. I was honored to have been asked and
gladly accepted the offer to play. I was awarded my TCRG that year, achieving
full marks in the music section of the exam. While I realized I might never
actively teach dancing, I knew having the degree would always keep me in
touch with Irish dancing, my Irish dancing friends, and the ever-growing
Irish dancing community.
I supported myself over the years playing at feiseanna as well as
on the showband circuit from London to Los Angeles, singing as well as playing
the guitar, fiddle, tin whistle and button accordion. In the summer months I could be
found on weekends at The Irish Village in Cape Cod where I performed
regularly for 12 years. During St. Patrick's Week over the years, I could be
performing anywhere, such as Florida, on a Caribbean cruise, or the hotels
and casinos on the strip of Las Vegas. In recent years, I have found a rekindled love
for my favorite instrument, the button accordion. This led to an insatiable
desire to master new tunes and return to my roots of playing for Irish dancers.
Now, no matter where you might live, my most likely venue is your local feis.
Thank you for visiting my website, and I hope you have found it very
friendly, inviting, informative and user friendly. With best wishes for every
success in your dancing career, and all the wondrous possibilities of where
it might lead you.......
Michael Fitzpatrick, TCRG
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