Ken Fleming talking about The O'Flaherty Retreat
b'The O\\u2019Flaherty Irish Music Retreat was first held on October 30-31, 2004, at the Springhill Retreat Center in Richardson, Texas.\\xa0 More than 140 students of all ages gathered to learn traditional Irish music on a variety of instruments taught by teachers mostly from the Dallas area.\\xa0 The enrollment was far greater than what was expected, and the turnout demonstrated a strong interest in Irish music throughout Texas and the Southwest region.
Indeed, Irish music has been played and enjoyed in Dallas pubs and festivals for many years, going\\xa0\\xa0 back to the early \\u201880s when a handful of bands formed and played regularly at places like the NFL Bar, George Wesby\\u2019s Pub and the Cedar Pub.\\xa0 Its popularity increased locally as the North Texas Irish Festival and the Southwest Celtic Music Association were formed to promote the music.\\xa0 But unlike in other major cities in other parts of the country, Irish trad music here has been mostly locally-grown and self-taught. There wasn\\u2019t much emphasis on the teaching and the understanding and appreciation of the roots of Irish music. That all was about to change, thanks in part to the influence of one man.'