B U F F A L O N E W S
Patricia Czora-O’Gorman of Grand Island qualified to compete in the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in Tullamore, County Offaly, by winning second place in a competition held in June in Pearl River.
In the Irish national event, she will compete against up to 15 others in three categories: ladies’ ballad-singing in English; newly composed ballad, for which she plans to sing her own composition, “The Galway Man”; and lilting. “Lilting was historically a way of doing instrumental music without instruments,” Czora-O’Gorman said, demonstrating the melodic “deedle-di-di” phrasing used.
Two years ago, she competed in the same event, which was held in Letterkenny, Donegal.
Although battling a virus, “I did not embarrass myself or my country,” she said, laughing.
Czora-O’Gorman started singing Irish tunes after friends brought her to traditional Irish music sessions. She plays guitar and sings at the sessions in Nietzche’s, 248 Allen St., from 4 to 8 p.m. every Saturday.