IAHM 2026 Special Event Performance Series: FRANKIE GAVIN and Special Guest

THIS WILL BE AN UNFORGETABLE NIGHT IN ALBANY NY.

The one and only legend, Frankie Gavin. Class. Pure class!!

The Irish American Heritage Museum is honored and proud to welcome world renowned recording and music phenomenon Frankie Gavin as part of IAHM's 2026 Special Event Performance Series.

Frankie Gavin is - put into its simplest terms - an absolute legend in the Irish music and cultural landscape, standing out like Binn Bhán (Benbaun) in his native County Galway. Frankie's journey started early; he was raised with and surrounded by music. At seventeen, Frankie won All-Ireland competitions for fiddle and flute. Originally influenced by the great Irish and American-Irish fiddle players James Morrison and Michael Coleman, Frankie later found himself playing with the stars that included The Rolling Stones, Earl Scruggs, Lez Paul, Stéphane Grappelli, James Galway, Andy Irvine and Yehudi Menuhin, as well as with many other of the greatest contemporary players and singers of traditional Irish music. All have left their mark on Frankie's eclectic approach to music. In 2010, Frankie made it to the Guinness Book of World Records, officially became the world’s fastest fiddle player when he played The Foxhunter’s Reel at a breath-taking 150 beats per minute!

Frankie has played for four American presidents, starting in 1962 when - at the age of six he played for John F. Kennedy on his 1962 visit to Ireland. Frankie later for Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama, as well as for France’s President Mitterrand, Britain’s Prince Charles (now King Charles III), Prince Albert of Monaco and, in front of the Pope on his last visit to Ireland.

The name Frankie Gavin is synonymous with De Dannan, the globally renowned traditional Irish band he founded in the mid-1970s. Despite a few breaks and changes of personnel over the years, the De Dannan continues to perform and excite audiences in Ireland and around the world.

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In light of this event, the Irish American Heritage Museum would like to once again acknowledge the continued and kind generosity of the Flanagan family. IAHM's Flanagan Theater - which IS Albany's most intimate venue - is named for the Flanagan Brothers. Michael Flanagan settled in Albany; many of Michael's relatives regularly attend events at the Museum, and the Flanagan family are beloved benefactors and supporters of Irish culture upstate New York.

Frankie Gavin has repeatedly expressed his appreciation of the Flanagan Brothers' influence, and will discuss the influences of Michael Flanagan and the Flanagan Brothers during this spectacular concert.

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