The sounds of folk music fill the halls of the administration building on Wednesday during lunch time, thanks to Dennis Doyle on the mandolin and Desmond Kilkeary on the concertina. Doyle has just released his eighth album of traditional Celtic music, accompanied by Glendale College professors.

Doyle is an English professor here at GCC and is the head of the Learning Center. “Irish Blessings” features Doyle playing Celtic harp and the synthesizer, UC Riverside professor Karen Sperry on oboe, Glendale College English professor Desmond Kilkeary on concertina, and Social Science professor Mark Romano on guitar. Romano is also a studio musician who has worked with the Indigo Girls.

Doyle and Kilkeary have been conducting Wednesday lunch jam sessions on campus for over 25 years, “People walk by and hear us and wonder where the strange sounds are coming from,” said Doyle.

Doyle and Kilkeary also played together in a band called Innisfree, named from a William Butler Yeats poem. Last year, Doyle toured with them throughout Japan, where he played the mandolin. He has also played individually at festivals and concerts in Ireland, Canada and all over the United States.

“He makes very enjoyable music,” said Journalism professor Michael Moreau who first saw Doyle perform at a folk music festival at UC Riverside. “He forms a good relationship with the audience, and likes to tell stories about the origins of his music.”

Glendale College Political Science professor John Queen has also played with Doyle, “He is very friendly to play with,” said Queen.

“I remember each morning on the Ireland Study Abroad trips he would come into the class and play his harp for the students,” said Queen. “He’s a tough act to follow.”

“Irish Blessings” is available online at cdbaby.com and locally at the Flowering Tree, 2264 Honolulu Ave. in Montrose.