In the Knick of time for St Patrick's Day

 

Too late for Paddy's Day? Sure what of it! Its never too early in the morning for a bit of Trad.

American Irish punk band The Prodigals played at the home of the New York Knicks during the half-time show at Madison Square Garden, on March 17 last.

Merging traditional Celtic melodic roots with rock rhythms, the band still features three original members in Gregory Grene (button accordion and lead vocals), Andrew Harkin (bass), Brian Tracey (drums), plus Galway's Dave Fahy (guitar and lead vocals) who has been a member since 2009.

Of those, Gregory Grene has Cavan links, having spent a large portion of his youth shared between living in Chicago and Belturbet.

 

 

Gregory is also the twin of Andrew Grene, how died tragically in the 2010 Haiti earthquake while working for the United Nations, and serves as a director of education and microfinance bearing his late brother's name.

Playing with the band on the day was Andrew's son Alex on fiddle.

The Prodigals are one of the most successful bands to emerge from the East-Coast Irish scene, and have headlined major venues and festivals throughout the United States, Los Angeles and Las Vegas to Chicago, Boston and Maine, as well as abroad in Canada, Germany and Ireland.

Earlier on St Patrick's Day the band played a noon gig at the pub of Ballyhaise-native Steve Duggan, Paddy Reilly's Music Bar on 29th Street in Manhattan.