Reels: The Mountain Road & The Merry Blacksmith

Ian Barksdale has played Irish fiddle since a child. Born in Philadelphia, raised near Boston on the New Hampshire border, he learned his music from his Grandmother's native County Tyrone, Ireland. She would play for the family and neighbors every Friday night in her kitchen. There would be dance, songs, stories and jokes all night long, in the true Irish fashion.

Ian has called Lee County, Florida, home for nearly twenty years now. He has recorded several albums of Irish music over the years, both solo and with bands, and plays fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin and Irish whistle. He performs and teaches Irish Traditional music.