BACK Eileen Ivers: world-renowned fiddler.
John Ivers from Cultrasna left Kiltimagh nearly fifty years ago and journeyed to New York City where he settled. He met his future wife, Nancy, at a dance in Manhattan. They settled in the Bronx after they were married. They had two daughters, one of whom, Eileen became the famous fiddler.

As a child, Eileen, with her father, watched the fiddlers on "Hee Haw." It was the family's favourite programme, and Eileen, even at such a tender age, was determined to become a fiddler.

She started taking her first lessons at the age of eight. Her teacher was the well-known Martin Mulvihill from Limerick who died in the late '80s. Martin was a good teacher who put up with all the "scratching and scraping", and his star pupil went on to win thirty medals before she was eighteen years of age. These medal were won in Ireland during the annual summer vacations.

Later in life, Eileen Ivers began to experiment with other types of music. Using rock techniques and equipment, she began to develop her own style, without losing the traditional Irish base. This development took a few years, and Eileen travelled the world, playing to enraptured audiences.

One of the highlights of a truly remarkable career was the time she spent as chief instrumentalist in Riverdance. She replaced the original fiddled, in London, In June of 1995. She had less than a week to learn the whole show. Eileen was privileged to be part of the show for three and a half years.

But it was time to move on. She has now recorded her fourth album, "Crossing the Bridge." This album has Irish and American influences, but the foundation, however, is the traditional Irish music she grew up with in the Woodlawn district of the Bronx.

Some day Eileen would like to teach traditional Irish fiddle. She feels that you have to hand it down the way it was handed to you. It is in this way that the tradition will be kept alive.

In the meantime, one of the best Irish fiddlers enjoys her success. She has recently married, and has a new home in Nyack. Work will commence soon on her summer home in Cultrasna. We hope that her future will be as bright and enriching as her past.

I want to express my gratitude to Jimmy and the late Evelyn Ivers from Cultrasna for their hospitality and their help in compiling this article. Jimmy is the proud uncle of Eileen.

Aiden Burke

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