Children enthralled by Irish Traveler history and lore performance of Chris McBrien

[July 25, 2015]  LINCOLN - The summer reading program entertainment at the Lincoln Public Library ended on a high note Thursday morning with a performance by Irish Traveler Chris McBrien. It is difficult to classify McBrien’s performance, because he is so good at so many things.

He had the full house of young readers grinning from ear to ear with his musicianship, magic, dancing, humor, but most of all his story telling. He even threw in some ventriloquism with a cast of puppets straight from the Old Country. His story about the war between the fairies and the leprechauns with food as their weapons brought the house down. He ended the story asserting that war created shepherd’s pie.

Story telling can be magical in the right hands, and McBrien is one of the best.

One of his main themes with storytelling is the power of books to overcome something a child may be afraid of. Read a book and become informed and banish fear. He also stressed the importance of being honest with one’s friends and adults, and respectful of their parents. He mentioned many times that the library is the place to go if young readers have questions, and librarians are always a good resource. McBrien mentioned the many books in the library about Ireland, and its friendly population and beautiful countryside.

The library is also a good place to learn about Chris McBrien’s ancestors, the Irish Travelers. The Irish Travelers are one of the oldest itinerant cultures in the world. They have traveled the roads and byways of Ireland for centuries.

While often likened to Gypsies, McBrien stressed that the Irish Traveler culture is different. The Travelers wandered around Ireland in their caravans telling stories and entertaining the people of the small towns they visited in return for room and board. They were also tinkers and enjoyed the hospitality of their fellow countrymen.

The maternal side of McBrien’s family is actual Irish Traveler. His mother’s ancestors immigrated to America in 1809 and settled in the countryside near what is now Canton, Illinois. Chris currently lives in Lisle with his family.

Chris McBrien performs more than three-hundred shows a year, eighty of which are at public libraries throughout the Midwest. He also performs all over the world at military bases for the United States Department of Defense.

Thursday marked the end of the summer reading program at the Lincoln Public Library. Youth Librarian Melissa Oxborrow mentioned that a week has been added to the date for kids to turn in their reading logs. They now have until August 1.

The coveted summer reading T-shirts will be available August 10. Contact Melissa at the library at [phone] for any questions.

[Curt Fox]