Irish Music Club at Westville Correctional Facility

In fall of 2022, Shannon devised and taught a beginning Irish music class as part of the Moreau College Initiative, a college program where incarcerated men can earn an associates or bachelor’s degree from Holy Cross College while incarcerated at Westville Correctional Facility, an Indiana state prison. The students were taught to learn basic Irish music tunes on the tin whistle, as a means to discuss Irish history and culture, as well as develop an understanding of basic music theory.

At the culmination of the class, the students asked that they be able to continue working on their music, and expand to play other instruments. Shannon and 4 men from the program founded the Irish Music Club. Instruments were donated, and the men began to study fiddle, concertina, banjo, guitar, and bodhrán. During the winter of 2024, Shannon devised and taught a 200 level Irish music class while the club continued to meet with John Kennedy. The group has continued under the direction of John Kennedy, and are producing a book of tunes taught in the classes and composed by the club members.