Who We Are

Meet McDermott's Handy -- Kathy DeAngelo and Dennis Gormley, who have been performing Irish music together since 1978.

It is a living memorial to Ed McDermott, a fiddler from County Leitrim, who emigrated to America in 1915 and who, 60 years later, was still inspiring young people with his music. One of those young people was Kathy, introduced to Ed McDermott by Dr. Dick Levine (founder of the Middletown Folk Festival in New Jersey) in 1971.  She became his steady accompanist and they performed together until his death at 81 in 1977.

Kathy organized a tribute to "Mac" for the '77 New Jersey Folk Festival and many of the young people he had taught came to honor him. The musicians called themselves McDermott's Handy -- in Mac's honor. There has been a McDermott's Handy ever since.

Kathy later introduced Dennis to the tradition and together they have traveled new paths in Irish Music.

Meet McDermott's Handy -- strong vocals backed by Celtic harp, fiddle, guitar, flute, whistle, bouzouki, banjo, mandolin, bodhran, bass and keyboards. Their debut album "Come Take The Byroads" includes many selections not previously recorded.

The music has been handed down to our daughter, Emma Gormley, who is now a fine fiddler and singer in her own right. Here we are performing at the Manchester Inn in Ocean Grove for the 2003 Christmas House Tour.