Jack Meehan Played Trumpet Part on "When Saints Go Marching in" with Family Photos

Slideshow of Jack Meehan with Family Pics. Set to "Amazing Grace"

We give thanks for Dad's great gift of music and for the joy it has brought to thousands of people including his family and friends who have enjoyed listening and dancing to his music over the years. He has played trumpet, sax and trombone for 75 years. He started at age 12 as the youngest member of the Ballyraon Band and his last gig in N.VA. was a member of the Army-Navy Country Club's House Band for 20 years. Enjoy this great dixieland rendition of "Amazing Grace" played with one of his favourite cds.

Sean Meehan with Coach Mike Shanihan of the Washington Redskins

3301- Our First Home in the U.S.- 1956-1987

Dad at home in Falls Church/Liturgy with ARCWP Priests Judy Lee and Judy Beaumont on Aug. 5, 2012

Mone Gassama and Dad

Dad, Comfort Boadu, BMM, Judy Lee, Judy Beaumont

Pastor Phil Garrison, Pastor of UCC in Sarasota, Fl. Writes Inspirational Story About Encounter with Jack Meehan, "A Change of Wind, and A Change of Heart"

http://wellsofwellness.org/

"Jack playing his sax

Did you ever notice how some people smile with their whole face and especially their eyes?
Some time ago I visited Jack Meehan. He was born in a “t’ached cot’age” in Ireland more than 80 years ago. He is, among other things, a saxophonist and trumpeter. I visited him on the 10th floor of Sarasota Memorial Hospital where he was “rehabbing” from a medical issue. He is the father of Bridget Mary Meehan (Bishop within the Roman Catholic Women Priests movement) who celebrates Mass at St. Andrew UCC. It is a privilege to know this father/daughter!
You can see Jack Meehan, and listen to him play . . . if you google YouTube and then in their search window type in “Jack Meehan with Ballyroan, 2010.” It’ is fun.
Jack has told me in earlier conversations that if I’m going to Ireland with Patricia I need to know how to dance. ”All the men in Ireland dance when they go the pubs, Phil! You need ta’ too!” I have Jack on video (as recently as a couple months ago) trying to teach me Irish rhythms. It is beautiful to watch him . . . and . . .well . . . less so to imagine me.
I introduced myself to him tonight at the hospital as, “your dance student.”
That’s when he smiled.
It was an ebullient look of love and mirth I saw in the gleam of his eyes and the radiance of his face.
That smile of love and mirth is one I hope to encounter often among the Irish when we are there.
John O’Donohue has that sort of smile in his “Sounds True” DVD: ”A Celtic Pilgrimage with John O’Donohue,” when he tells us:
“Always in a pilgrimage, there is a change of mind and a change of heart.”
Lovely. Inviting.
He also tells us: ”faith is a helpless attraction to the divine.”
Brilliant!
You are a cherished loved one of God.
Don’t take yourself too seriously.
Such is the wisdom for growing older that I take from the look I saw on the face of Jack Meehan tonight at SMH.
One Sunday, Linn Possell and I offered this Ray Simpson Celtic Blessing. It was first given to me by Ann Dumphy of Eagle River, WI. I am honored to encounter it again as Patricia and I continue our journey toward Ireland made possible from a grant award to St. Andrew UCC from the Lilly Endowment and begun more than a year ago:

In the blessing of our foreheads . . . we reclaim the power of reason.

In the blessing our our eyes . . . we reclaim the power of vision.

In the blessing of our lips . . . we reclaim the power to speak.

in the blessing got our hands . . . we reclaim the power of creativity.

In the blessing of our feet . . . we reclaim the power of movement.

Ahh, love and mirth . . .
May we we see it often.
May we dance it.
And may we drink it in!
Ohhhhh yes."

Meehan family celebration of 4th of July/photos

Meehan family celebrates 4th of July 2012/ Music Movies

Jack Meehan and Dan Hallissey Jam on July 4, 2012:
What a joy to celebrate the fourth of July with all our  family gathered. Nancy, Sean and our friend Dawn cooked the delicious meal of burgers, both ham/salmon, baked beans, fruit, and parfait.
Dan and Dad provided the entertainment. It was the first time Dad has played the trumpet with another musician in over a year. He played sax in Florida in a special jam in, but not trumpet.
Our friend, Patricia O'Herlihy was with us to make the day a perfect festive celebration!

MUSIC  VIDEO LINKS ON YOUTUBE:
Danny Boy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTsYCs3e_L8
"When Irish eyes are smiling"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2cxkb064TA
http://youtu.be/DwF4X1KJUBY
Amazing Grace
 http://youtu.be/6YcWC4iLeqk

When Saints Go Marching in
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkCdDzjJc_0&list=UUXKfzC66-CqSPaunwyoQ5cA&index=7&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbtPt-ki3n8

http://youtu.be/N2eQqRaKV2w

http://youtu.be/cFNC44p9b1g

Jack and Dan jazz #3
http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_edit?ns=1&video_id=zngYlhxnnAQ

Jack Meehan Practices Trumpet/ June 23, 2012

Green grass of home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X5-96Sy1Ls
Jack Meehan plays hymn in honor of Mary Mother of Jesus
http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_edit?ns=1&video_id=AzJM8YRkSwQ

Meehans Celebrate Father's Day/Jack Meehan plays Trumpet at Joyful Celebration on June 17,2012

http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_edit?ns=1&video_id=sUrAvZKcKsM
On Father's Day, the Meehan family gathered to celebrate with G-man and Sean.
As usual we had an awesome meal. Nancy, Sean, Dawn cooked a delicious dinner, steak, salmon, asparagus, onions, mushrooms, potatoes, rhubarb pie.
We played pool volley ball, (you could hear the shouts to Bailey's Crossroads and beyond!) the oldsters won one game and the youngsters won one game, miracles will never cease! Dad had been in hospital off and on in 2012 and in rehab. until May. He had not played the trumpet for several months, now he is back to playing both sax and trumpet. Every day is a gift!