The east side of Indianapolis is a far cry from Donegal County, Ireland where Eunan McIntyre hails from. Coming from the small coastal village Glencolmcille, McIntyre’s musical roots are deeply embedded in the surf of the Atlantic, the boglands where he learned to cut peat for a cottage fire, and the hills that rise out of the rich soil of northernmost Eire. “Where I come from is rich in traditional music,” he said.
A songwriter and performer, McIntyre writes about the place he was born, his experiences being part of a big family (he’s one of 16 children), and his love for traditional ballads. “When I play my own songs, people will seem to enjoy it.”
McIntyre has won several song competitions in Ireland, receiving the Pete St. John ASCIA Award for his song “Josie,” which also won the prestigious Sean McCarthy All-Ireland Ballad Song Competition. In 2002, he won it again and received first prize in the Clonmany Songwriting Competition. He has three albums of his original material to his credit, and released a live album with the Swiss band Tacha. He’s supported Irish acts such as Tommy Sands, Sean Keane, and the Wolfe Tones. He’s also performed with Sean Cannon, a member of the internationally known Dubliners.
McIntyre said that the east side is like a “home away from home,” thanks to the many familiar last names he sees, including the O’Garas, the McGinleys, and other Donegal Irish families that settled on the east side over the last hundred years and more. “I always run into people who’s last names are exactly like the ones back home,” he noted.
It’s no surprise, given that the Irish are the second largest ethnic group in Indianapolis (after German). During the Civil War, the Irish who had settled in Indianapolis formed the 35th Regiment, which was also called the 1st Irish Regiment.
McIntyre will perform in several venues around Indianapolis this weekend, including at the Eastside K of C (1040 N. Post Rd.) at 7 p.m. on March 14, the Irvington Historical Society in the Bona Thompson Memorial Center (5350 E. University Ave.) at 3 p.m. on March 15, Our Lady of Lourdes (5333 E. Washington) at 2 p.m. on the 16th, the greening of the Canal downtown at 5 p.m. on March16, at the parade March 17 at 10 a.m. plus the Golden Ace (2533 E. Washington) at noon, O’Gara’s in Beech Grove at 3 p.m., and Manley’s Irish Mutt (7041 E. 10th St.) on March 17 at 6 p.m. He’ll be at Holy Spirit on March 19 at 9 a.m., Little Flower on March 20 at 2 p.m. and the Gaslight Inn on March 22 at 3 p.m.
