ANDERSONVILLE — Who said summer camp was only for kids?
Adults and kids alike are invited to the Irish Music School of Chicago's fifth annual Francis O'Neill Irish Arts Week, a summer camp dedicated to celebrating all things Irish beginning Saturday.
The kids' day camp will be held in Andersonville at First Free Church, 5225 N. Ashland Ave., from Saturday to July 3. The adult programming will be held there, and at Chief O'Neill's Restaurant & Pub, 3471 N. Elston Ave., in Avondale from Saturday to July 1.
Though the time commitments vary depending on the child's age group — kids ages 4 to 17 can sign up — a typical day includes playing Irish musical instruments, singing, dancing and doing arts and crafts, as well as playing Gaelic sports outside if weather permits.
Similarly, adults can attend workshops where they can learn how to play Irish instruments, hone their skills or learn about Irish history. The classes are taught by professional Irish musicians such as Mary Bergin, who will be performing at Saturday's opening concert at Concordia Lutheran Church, 3855 N. Seeley Ave. The Irish Times called Bergin "the best tin whistle player of this century."
The tin whistle is a woodwind instrument that was invented in the early 19th century and resembles a recorder.
Though the camp focuses on Irish culture, executive director Seán Cleland said you don't have to be Irish to sign up. In fact, he encourages non-Irish folks to give it a try.
"This is cool music that's accessible to everyone. It's got a really long history in Chicago. It's almost like Chicago music, more than a thing for Irish people," said Cleland, who also plays the Irish fiddle and teaches music at the school.
For kids, registration costs between $215 - $300, depending on the child's age. Adults can either buy an all-access pass ($269), take evening and weekend classes only ($199), take weekday afternoon classes only ($129) or take weeknight classes only ($109). For details on what each package includes, visit the school's website.
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