Gordon Shaffer was known as the Godfather of Irish Music in Akron, Ohio.
Talented musicians of all ages have joined and learned with the Akron Ceili Band.
Under Shaffer's guidance, traditional sessions started with a small group and has grown through the years.
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A silence falls over the crowd ...
Akron Ceili Band ~
A Brief History
Ceili (also spelled Ceilidh in Gaelic) (pronounced KAY-lee)
is a "coming together". Friends, family and neighbors coming together to celebrate an event or as a diversion from life's troubles.
A ceili is music and dancing - both country dances of Ireland such as "The Siege of Ennis" or "The Waves of Tory" and the set dances like the "Connemara Set". The dances encompass various dance rhythms such as jigs, rells, hornpipes and polkas with set figures for each segment of the "set dance".
Ceili Band = obviously, a band that would know the necessary tunes to play for a ceili. Traditionally, a ceili band should have fiddles, accordians, flutes, uilleann pipes and a snare drum. Banjos are sometimes present as well.
The Akron Ceili band is non-traditional in the fact that we have bodhrans (Irish drums), guitars, whistles (known as feadogs in Ireland), mandolins and even the occasional stand-up bass. The infusion of these non-traditional instruments create a unique combination when we perform the traditional music of Ireland.
Gordon Edward Shaffer - Founder of the Akron Ceili Band.
Gordon played piano accordian his whole life and kept a tradition of Irish music alive in the Akron, Ohio area. Many feis musicians as well as pub bands owe much to Gordon for his tireless hours of instruction and guidance.
Gordon began the Akron Ceili Band very informally at the Ancient Order of Hibernians (Mark Heffernan Division, Akron, Ohio) in late 2000. The band evolved from a small session to the group as it is today. This happened in part due to the support of both area AOH clubs - Mark Heffernan Division and the St. Brendan's Division (North Akron).
Gordon passed away in 2004. his legacy lives on and, we hope, is a lasting tribute to a wonderful man and musician.
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