1. Finvarra’s Wren: Tiny Cottage Series
Join us in the Tiny Cottage Saturday, August 3rd for some great traditional Irish folk music and
storytelling by Finvarra’s Wren! Hailing from Detroit as a family-based group and being one of
North America’s most exciting Irish quartets, Finvarra’s Wren will be performing authentic folk
music of Irish, Scottish, and Celtic-American style—“making the kind of music you’d only hear
on the west coast of Ireland” says the Detroit Metro Times. An array of unique tune styles will
be on hand, including jigs, reels, and hornpipes.
Jim Perkins and Cheryl Burns will be providing vocals in addition to guitar by Jim as well as a
mountain dulcimer (plucked string instrument) and bodhran (Irish frame drum), while the
dynamic brother-sister duo of Asher and Alison Perkins will handle the button accordion and
concertina, a button accordion/harmonica instrument (Asher) as well as additional vocals, fiddle,
and tin whistle (Alison). Musical performers, teachers, and recording artists are all a part of this
group’s forte. “Finvarra’s Wren unequivocally ranks in topmost echelon of American bands
performing Irish traditional music today. With expert musicianship from every quarter, the
band’s imaginative interpretations of tunes and songs are wholly true to the Irish traditions” –
Don Penzien, Director of the Mississippi Celtic Festival. Tickets are available at
www.IrishCulture.org or by calling 781-821-8291.
Minnitts of Anabeg
Come stop by the ICC August 9th at 8pm for both a feature presentation and discussion of The
Minnitts of Anabeg. Following the showing, Irish film director and script writer, and the director,
writer, and producer of the film, Alan Brown (Krown Films), will provide information on the
film that recounts the most significant time in Irish history: the effect of English rule on Irish
society, and one man’s fight to save a community while unable to save his family. Filmed in
Tipperary, Ireland, the film stars Frank McGrath as Joshua Minnitt, an English Justice of Peace
during the Irish potato famine who was disowned by his father after marrying a Catholic girl. His
wife is played by Lucy Jubb. This will be an exclusive opportunity to get a look at an extremely
crucial point in the history of Irish culture and heritage along with a description on the film’s
production. It’s very interesting to get a look at the way Brown portrays the past events during
the making process. This event is the perfect way to take a look back at critical events that have
shaped the Irish culture and heritage for what it is today. Brown’s recap of the film will be
insight that you wouldn’t want to miss. Tickets are available at www.IrishCulture.org or by
calling 781-821-8291.

2. Summer Baking with Brendan Cronin
Everyone is welcome to the ICC Tuesday, August 13th to learn summer baking recipes from the
only Irish chef to hold the Swiss culinary title of ‘Chef de Cuisine Diplome’, Brendan Cronin.
Brendan hails from Co. Mayo, Ireland and grew up on a small dairy farm, and has since cooked
in luxury hotels in Limerick and Dublin in addition to venturing outside his native country in the
Swiss Alps, Africa, and the Far East. Basically, Brendan is a very experienced expert chef who
has been ‘Cheffin’ in some of the greatest 5-star hotels around the world, meeting various high-
profile chefs along the way. Being a native of Ireland himself, he a representative of the culture
and would be an ideal chef to receive Irish summer baking lessons from. Brendan will be
showing off two of his favorite summer desserts, which include strawberries and Baileys. If this
summer heat continues anyway it has thus far, these dessert recipes will be a must, especially in
mid-August. Brendan is very personable; this is the perfect way to spend a summer evening in a
relaxed environment with good company and be enlightened by Brendan about Irish baking. Be
sure to check out Brendan’s cookbook “Cheffin’: From Potatoes to Caviar” for some more
recipes, and follow him on Twitter- @CheffinBook. Tickets are available at
www.IrishCulture.org or by calling 781-821-8291.