>>> TONIGHT, THE BOLD PROPOSALS TO COMBAT ANTI-ASIAN HATE.

COULD REQUIRING SCHOOLS TO TEACH ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY MAKE NEW YORK SAFER?

PLUS WE GO BACKSTAGE WITH CELTIC WOMEN.

"METROFOCUS" STARTS RIGHT NOW.

♪♪ >>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS" WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD, AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III.

SYLVIA A.

AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM.

THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG.

THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION.

AND BY -- ♪♪ >>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

I'M JACK FORD.

AMID THE ONGOING SURGE IN ATTACKS AGAINST ASIAN NEW YORKERS, THERE'S A PUSH TO FIND IMMEDIATE LIFESAVING SOLUTIONS AND TO BETTER EDUCATE STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE.

RECENTLY WE'VE HEARD CALLS FOR MORE POLICE, A SECURITY COMPANION SERVICE, AND ALSO A VOUCHER PROGRAM THAT WOULD REIMBURSE PEOPLE FOR CAR TRIPS AS VIOLENCE ON THE SUBWAY SPIKES.

AS FOR THE CLASSROOM, STATE SENATOR JOHN LIEU IS FIGHTING TO REQUIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO TEACH ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY.

NEW JERSEY HAS ALREADY MOVED TO DO SO, AND SENATOR LIEU HOPES THAT NEW YORK WILL FOLLOW SUIT.

FOR MUCH MORE ON THESE ISSUES, WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME BACK SENATOR JOHN LIEU, WHO REPRESENTS QUEENS AND CHAIRS THE NEW YORK CITY EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

HE JOINS US AS PART OF OUR EXPLORING HATE INITIATIVE ON ANTI-SEMITISM, RACISM, AND EXTREMISM IN AMERICA.

SENATOR, WELCOME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU, JACK, FOR HAVING ME.

AND THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.

>> LET'S START BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES I DO WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT, BUT LET'S START WITH THE EDUCATION COMPONENT IF WE CAN.

AS I MENTIONED, YOU'RE PUSHING, AND I SAW THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF YOUR PUBLIC LIFE, YOU'VE BEEN VERY FOCUSED ON EDUCATION ISSUES.

AND YOU'RE PUSHING FOR THIS NOTION OF TEACHING ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE VALUES, BOTH LONG-TERM AND MORE IMMEDIATELY FOR CREATING A PROGRAM SUCH AS THAT?

>> AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE'S BEEN THIS INCREDIBLE TWO-YEAR SPATE OF ATTACKS AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS.

CLEARLY WE NEED A WHOLE HOST OF SOLUTIONS.

I THINK THE LONG-TERM SOLUTION HERE IS TO TEACH AMERICANS ABOUT THE ASIAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE AND HOW WE HAVE BEEN A PART OF ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY.

THE ATTACKS AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS HAVE IN SO MANY CASES BEEN SO VICIOUS, IT'S ALMOST DEHUMANIZING.

IT'S AS IF -- IT'S AS IF ASIAN AMERICANS ARE VIEWED NOT ONLY AS UN-AMERICAN BUT ALMOST NOT HUMANS.

AND SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS REALLY HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHO AND WHAT ASIAN AMERICANS ARE ALL ABOUT BECAUSE I BELIEVE DEEP AT THE ROOT OF RACISM, BIGOTRY, AND HATE IS FEAR AND ALSO IGNORANCE.

SO TO REALLY GET AT THE SYSTEMIC ROOTS OF RACISM, WE NEED TO EDUCATE.

AND EDUCATE MEANS TEACHING OUR SCHOOL KIDS AND THE NEXT GENERATION ABOUT THE ASIAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.

YOU KNOW, I LAMENT OFTEN THE FACT THAT THE TEXTBOOKS THAT ARE BEING USED IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN NEW YORK TODAY ARE UNFORTUNATELY THE SAME TEXTBOOKS THAT I USED 100 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS IN GRADE SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL, MENTIONING THE COMPLETION OF THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD AND THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS THAT JAPANESE AMERICANS WERE SHUTTLED INTO DURING WORLD WAR II.

NO REFERENCE ABOUT THE 9/11 ATTACKS AND HOW THAT -- WHAT KIND OF IMPACT THAT HAD ON THE ASIAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.

THE KILLING OF VINCENT CHIN, WHICH WAS A MILESTONE IN AAPI HISTORY.

AND OF COURSE WHAT'S HAPPENED IN MORE RECENT YEARS.

WE NEED TO -- WE NEED TO HELP EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND WHAT ASIAN AMERICANS ARE ALL ABOUT SO THAT WE DON'T CONSTANTLY GET MARGINALIZED INTO EITHER THE MONOMINORITY MYTH, WHICH SAYS SOMEHOW THAT ASIANS ARE ALL RICH AND DOING WELL AND DON'T NEED ANY ASSISTANCE OR SUPPORT WHATSOEVER, TO THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM, WHICH IS THIS PERPETUAL FOREIGNER SYNDROME THAT WE CONTINUALLY SUFFER FROM WHERE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, DON'T VIEW ASIAN AMERICANS AS REALLY AMERICANS EVEN THOUGH WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR 150 YEARS.

YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING'S SUBTLE FROM, YOU KNOW, I STILL GET SPEAK ENGLISH TO WHERE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ASK ME WHERE I'M FROM, AND I SAY NEW YORK CITY, AND SOMEHOW THAT'S NOT A SATISFYING ANSWER.

>> IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO THEM BECAUSE OF THE WAY YOU LOOK, THAT YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY BE FROM HERE.

THERE HAS TO BE AN OTHERNESS ABOUT YOU BECAUSE OF THAT.

LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION BECAUSE IN SUPPORTING THIS PROPOSAL, AS YOU KNOW, IN THE WORLD OF LEGISLATION, IF YOU PROVIDE SOMETHING FOR ONE GROUP, YOU OFTENTIMES GET THAT, WELL, WHAT ABOUT US REACTION.

SO WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO NEW YORKERS WHO SAY, OKAY, THAT'S FINE.

BUT IF YOU DO THAT, IT MEANS THAT THERE WILL BE LESS TEACHING ABOUT OTHER GROUPS HERE?

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT PUSHBACK?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, JACK, THE OTHERNESS THAT YOU SPEAK TO, THAT IS PRECISELY WHAT MAKES ASIAN AMERICANS MORE VULNERABLE TO HATE AND BIGOTRY AND THEREFORE THE VIOLENT ATTACKS THAT WE HAVE SEEN TOO MANY INCIDENTS OF.

AS FAR AS TEACHING -- INCLUDING AAPI OR ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY IN THE CURRICULUM, THAT DOESN'T DETRACT FROM ANYBODY ELSE.

IT ONLY ADDS TO THE RICHNESS AND THE COMPLETENESS OF WHAT WE'RE TEACHING OUR KIDS.

AND, IN FACT, AS I AM PUSHING FOR AAPI INCLUSION IN THE SYLLABI ALL THROUGHOUT NEW YORK, I'M ALSO LOOKING TO INCLUDE THE HISTORY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS, OF THE LATINX COMMUNITIES, OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

THIS IS ALL PART OF AMERICAN HISTORY AND THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, AND TO EXCLUDE ANY OF THIS WOULD BE A TRUE DISSERVICE TO NOT ONLY OUR SCHOOL KIDS BUT FOR THE NEXT GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS AND NEW YORKERS TO COME.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A TIME NOT TOO LONG AGO WHEN ASIAN AMERICANS WEREN'T EVEN INCLUDED IN THE OTHERS.

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A PUSH TO INCLUDE AFRICAN AMERICAN AND LATINX AND NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY, AND ASIAN AMERICANS WEREN'T EVEN INCLUDED IN THAT.

SO, NUMBER ONE, I'M GLAD WE'RE FINALLY BEING INCLUDED IN THAT OTHER CATEGORY, BUT THE IMPORTANT THING REALLY IS TO ERADICATE, IN THE LONG TERM ERADICATE HATE AND BIGOTRY BY HELPING ALL OF OUR SCHOOL KIDS AND THE NEXT GENERATIONS UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE ALL PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT STRUGGLES, DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES, AND SHOULD NOT BE VIEWED AS OTHERS OR UN-AMERICAN OR EVEN INHUMAN.

>> LET ME TALK ABOUT SOME OTHER PROPOSALS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

ONE I SAW WOULD PROVIDE SOME $64 MILLION FOR SOME 50 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE.

WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT OF THAT BE, DO YOU THINK?

>> THESE ARE LONG-STANDING ORGANIZATIONS IN THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT NEW YORK THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDING SERVICE FROM FEEDING THE HUNGRY TO PROVIDING SHELTER TO CREATING PROGRAMS FOR OUR YOUTH AND OUR SENIORS.

REAL SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE TRIED AND PROVEN TRACK RECORDS OF DOING GREAT WORK, BUT THEY HAVE ALWAYS, ALWAYS BEEN WOEFULLY AND INADEQUATELY FUNDED.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO -- AND THE FACT THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BARELY THE RESOURCES TO SERVE AND SUPPORT THE AAPI COMMUNITY, THAT HAS MADE EVERYBODY IN THE AAPI COMMUNITY MORE VULNERABLE, MORE VULNERABLE TO HATE, MORE VULNERABLE TO BIGOTRY AND THESE ATTACKS THAT WE HAVE SEEN.

SO WE'RE LOOKING TO PROVIDE FINALLY AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE THE FASTEST-GROWING COMMUNITY HERE IN NEW YORK AND ACROSS AMERICA.

BUT HERE IN NEW YORK, WE HAVE THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT I'M LOOKING TO SHORE UP SO THAT THEY, IN TURN, CAN SHORE UP OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

AND THIS, JACK, AS YOU MENTIONED FROM THE OUTSET, IT'S TO ADDRESS THE ANTI-ASIAN HATE THAT WE HAVE SEEN.

IT'S ABOUT EDUCATION FOR THE LONG TERM.

FOR THE NEAR TO INTERMEDIATE TERM, IT'S ABOUT BUILDING UP THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE FAR BETTER EQUIPPED THAN GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS THESE KINDS OF NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE MORE LINGUISTICALLY AND CULTURALLY CAPABLE THAN GOVERNMENT CAN REALLY EVER HOPE TO BE.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO ADDRESS THE HATE.

>> I MENTIONED A COUPLE OF THINGS IN THE INTRODUCTION.

LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THEM.

THE NOTION OF MORE POLICING.

THE NOTION OF A SECURITY COMPANION SERVICE.

HELP PEOPLE GET OUT WHO ARE NOW FEARFUL OF EVEN LEAVING THEIR HOMES AT THIS POINT.

ALSO A VOUCHER PROGRAM THAT WOULD REIMBURSE PEOPLE FOR CAR TRIPS AS OPPOSED TO THE SUBWAYS BECAUSE OF THE VIOLENCE IN THE SUBWAYS.

ARE WE SEEING ANY PROGRESS IN THESE?

>> ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HAS MADE THE PROPOSAL -- ASSEMBLY MEMBER RON KIM MADE THE PROPOSAL ASKING THE GOVERNOR TO DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY AND TO PROVIDE VOUCHERS FOR THESE KINDS OF RIDES BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO GO OUT ON THEIR OWN AND TAKE SUBWAYS.

I THINK THAT THOSE ARE PROPOSALS THAT ARE WORTH CONSIDERATION, BUT THERE ARE ALSO LARGER AND LONG-TERM ACTIONS THAT HAVE TO BE TAKEN IN ADDITION TO EDUCATION, IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR THESE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.

WE DO NEED -- WE DO NEED LAW ENFORCEMENT TO HOLD ACCOUNTABLE THESE PERPETRATORS OF HATE CRIMES.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IN THE ABSENCE OF HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, HOLDING ATTACKERS ACCOUNTABLE, IT SENDS AN IMPLICIT MESSAGE THAT THERE'S AN OPEN SEASON ON ASIAN AMERICANS WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE.

WE CANNOT HAVE ANY KIND OF THINKING LIKE THAT OUT THERE.

BUT THERE ALSO NEED TO BE -- THERE ALSO NEED TO BE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES LOOKING TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO HOMELESS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS.

THAT'S PART OF IT ALSO.

THAT CERTAINLY HAS BEEN A COMPONENT IN THE ATTACKS AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS.

SO, YOU KNOW, LAW ENFORCEMENT, SERVICES FOR THE HOMELESS, FOR THE MENTALLY ILL, RESOURCES FOR OUR AAPI COMMUNITY, AND EDUCATION ABOUT THE ASIAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE -- THESE ARE A RANGE OF IMMEDIATE, MEDIUM-TERM, AND LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED TO PROTECT THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND TO HELP REMOVE THE "OTHERNESS" FEELING THAT WE SUFFER FROM.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE IN THE AAPI COMMUNITY ARE GENUINELY AFRAID, GENUINELY AFRAID TO BE OUT THERE, PARTICULARLY WOMEN AND SENIORS WHO REALLY HAVE BEEN -- HAVE BORE THE BRUNT OF MOST OF THE ATTACKS.

>> IF I CAN GET A QUICK ANSWER TO THIS, I HAVE LESS THAN A MINUTE.

ARE YOU SEEING SOME POSITIVE MOVEMENT IN WHAT THE MAYOR IS DOING?

>> I THINK MAYOR ADAMS HAS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.

IN THE TWO MONTHS HE'S BEEN MAYOR, HIS ADMINISTRATION -- I FEEL THEY HAVE BEEN FAR MORE SENSITIVE AND SENSIBLE IN THEIR RESPONSE TO THESE ATTACKS, THEIR OUTREACH.

MAYOR ADAMS' PERSONAL OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, FOR EIGHT YEARS, HE CAMPAIGNED HEAVILY IN THE AAPI COMMUNITY, AND AS MAYOR, HE HAS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.

>> SENATOR LIU, IT'S GOOD TO TALK WITH YOU AND ENCOURAGING TO HEAR SOME OF THE THINGS ARE TAKE IS PLACE.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU BE WELL NOW.

>> THANK YOU.

YOU TOO.

♪♪ >>> WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.

2022 IS SET TO BE THE YEAR THAT LIVE PERFORMANCES RETURN TO NEW YORK IN FULL FORCE, AND ARTISTS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE ARE FLOCKING TO OUR THEATERS TO BE PART OF THE ACTION.

CELTIC WOMAN, A GRAMMY AWARD NOMINATED ALL FEMALE PERFORMANCE ENSEMBLE IS TOURING THROUGH SEVERAL CITIES IN UPSTATE NEW YORK.

AND AT THE FAMOUS ST. GEORGE THEATER HERE IN STATEN ISLAND.

THE GROUP WILL BE PRESENTING THEIR SHOW "POST CARDS FROM IRELAND," WHICH WAS RECENTLY FEATURED IN A PBS SPECIAL.

THE LIVE TOUR PERFORMANCES PROMISE TO CELEBRATE THE RICH MUSICAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY OF IRELAND AND TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF LOVE, HOPE, AND EXPECTATION AS THE WORLD LOOKS TO GET TOGETHER AGAIN.

SO JOINING ME NOW TO DISCUSS THEIR UPCOMING PERFORMANCES IS A SOPRANO SINGER AND MEMBER OF THE ENSEMBLE GROUP CELTIC WOMAN, MEGAN WALSH.

IT'S SO GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON "METROFOCUS."

>> HI.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

JOINING US, OF COURSE, ALL THE WAY FROM IRELAND.

FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE SEEN THE PBS SPECIAL OR MIGHT NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THE GROUP, JUST TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CELTIC WOMAN.

>> SO CELTIC WOMAN IS AN ALL-FEMALE GROUP.

I THINK THAT IT'S AN INCREDIBLE PLATFORM FOR IRISH WOMEN TO SHOWCASE THEIR TALENTS, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF YOUNG IRISH GIRLS ASPIRE TO BE ONE DAY.

AS A SINGER, IT'S KIND OF THE ULTIMATE DREAM TO GET TO BE PART OF A GROUP LIKE THIS.

IT DEFINITELY CELEBRATES IRISH MUSIC AND IRISH CULTURE, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE THAT WE GET TO SHARE THAT ACROSS THE GLOBE WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE, WHICH IS AMAZING.

IRISH MUSIC SEEMS TO RESONATE A LOT WITH PEOPLE ALL AROUND THE WORLD, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE.

SO, YEAH, I THINK CELTIC WOMAN STARTED IN 2004, 2005, AND IT WAS MEANT TO BE A ONE-NIGHT CONCERT, WHICH HAS ENDED UP BEING 17 YEARS DOWN THE LINE, WE'RE STILL GOING, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.

AND IT'S JUST SUCH AN AMAZING THING THAT WE GET TO STILL DO THIS 17 YEARS LATER.

>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW IRISH MUSIC RESONATES WITH PEOPLE ALL AROUND THE WORLD, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT OR PERHAPS DEFINE IT A LITTLE BIT?

>> IT'S SUCH A HARD THING TO DESCRIBE BECAUSE I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IRISH HISTORY IS FULL OF PEOPLE EMIGRATING ACROSS THE GLOBE, THROUGH THE FAMINE, OTHER THINGS.

SO IRISH PEOPLE HAVE KIND OF ENDED UP ALL OVER THE GLOBE.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE TRAVEL TO THESE PLACES.

IT'S A CHANCE FOR THESE PEOPLE TO KIND OF RESONATE WITH THEIR IRISH CULTURE, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE.

IT'S INCREDIBLE TO BE ABLE TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, FEEL THAT RICH CULTURE AROUND YOU AND HEAR THE MUSIC OF THE PLACE THAT YOUR ANCESTORS CAME FROM.

AND I THINK THAT'S SUCH AN INCREDIBLE THING.

>> OF COURSE.

AND THEN AS YOU MENTIONED WITH, YOU KNOW, LIKE SO MANY IRISH PEOPLE ENDING UP LITERALLY ALL OVER THE GLOBE, NEW YORK IS DEFINITELY A CITY THAT HAS A RICH IRISH AMERICAN HISTORY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT BEING ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THOSE KIND OF CULTURAL ROOTS -- I MEAN DOES THAT RING SOMETHING, LIKE, DEEP INSIDE OF PEOPLE?

AND ALSO, DO YOU NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE IRISH TO APPRECIATE IT?

>> I DON'T EVEN THINK SO.

I THINK THAT'S THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT IRISH MUSIC.

IT'S ALL ABOUT STORYTELLING.

SO WHETHER YOU CAN RESONATE WITH THE MUSIC OR NOT, YOU CAN APPRECIATE IT FOR ITS BEAUTIFUL MELODIES AND INCREDIBLE STORIES OF LOVE AND HOPE AND PROSPER, I GUESS.

I THINK THAT'S WHY PEOPLE RESONATE SO MUCH WITH IRISH MUSIC.

THERE'S ALWAYS THIS KIND OF UNDERLYING TONE OF LOVE AND APPRECIATION AND JUST -- YEAH, I THINK THAT'S KIND OF THE MAGIC THING ABOUT IRISH MUSIC.

I THINK THAT'S WHY IF YOU'RE IRISH OR NOT, IT STILL RESONATES WITH YOU.

>> YOU LED INTO ONE OF MY NEXT QUESTIONS PERFECTLY, AND THAT IS, OF COURSE, HOW THE IRISH ARE JUST SO WELL-KNOWN ACROSS THE GLOBE FOR THE STORYTELLING PROWESS.

AND I WAS WONDERING IF THERE ARE ANY OF THE SONGS OR THE PERFORMANCES THAT TELL A STORY THAT REALLY SPEAKS TO YOU, SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH US.

>> I MEAN, THERE'S JUST SO MANY.

THERE'S LIKE SONGS LIKE "LONG JOURNEY HOME" THAT WE DID IN ANCIENT LATIN THAT SPOKE ABOUT PEOPLE EMIGRATING.

THE SONG THAT I SING IN POST CARDS IS ALL ABOUT HOW THE ENGLISH LANDLORDS CAME OVER AND DESTROYED ALL OF THE BEAUTIFUL OAK TREES IN IRELAND AND THE BEAUTIFUL NATIONAL PARKS, AND I THINK THAT THERE'S SO MANY STORIES THAT HAVE SUCH AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE IN IRISH MUSIC.

AND THEN THERE'S THE FAN FAVORITES LIKE "DANNY BOY" THAT JUST HAVE SUCH AN INCREDIBLE MEANING TO MY OWN FAMILY.

IT WAS MY DAD'S FAVORITE SONG.

THERE'S CERTAIN SONGS THAT ARE PASSED DOWN GENERATION TO GENERATION, WHICH IS KIND OF WHY THE MUSIC IS SO IMPORTANT TO US.

AND, YOU KNOW, EACH PERSON HAS THEIR OWN PERSONAL STORIES THAT COME WITH HEARING THE MUSIC, I GUESS.

>> OF COURSE.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT I PERHAPS CONNECT SO MANY PEOPLE IS YOU DO HAVE THOSE PERSONAL CONNECTIONS.

I'M WONDERING TO EMBARK ON SUCH A MASSIVE TOUR FOR POSTCARDS FROM IRELAND, WHAT IS IT THAT PEOPLE CAN EXPECT WHEN THEY COME TO SEE THE SHOW?

>> I MEAN, I THINK THIS SPECIAL IS VERY SPECIAL, AND I KEEP SAYING THAT ALL THE TIME.

YOU KNOW, THIS MUSIC IS SO KIND OF TRADITIONAL AND AUTHENTIC, WHICH IS AMAZING, AND I THINK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO COME TO THE SHOW AND KIND OF GO THROUGH THIS JOURNEY OF THAT STORYTELLING OF THESE BEAUTIFUL MELODIES AND THESE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, UNDERLYING THEMES, WHICH IS WHAT IRISH MUSIC IS KNOWN FOR.

BUT ALSO THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FAN FAVORITES AS WELL.

THE PEOPLE COME TO SEE "RAISE ME UP" AND "AMAZING GRACE" AND ALL THESE SONGS THAT HAVE BECOME SO POPULAR OVER THE YEARS.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE JUST TAKEN ON THIS JOURNEY IN OUR SHOWS OF JUST KIND OF -- I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN IT.

I THINK THAT JUST COMES WITH THE MUSIC AND EVERYTHING THAT THE MUSIC TELLS.

YEAH, I THINK THAT PEOPLE WILL COME AND HAVE THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE FOR THE EYES AND THE EARS IN EVERY SENSE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT DANCERS, AND WE'VE GOT A BAND, AND WE'VE GOT THE BEAUTIFUL COSTUMES AND THESE INCREDIBLE STRONG FEMALES AT THE FOREGROUND OF THE STAGE.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S JUST A WHOLE SPECTACLE REALLY.

>> OF COURSE.

AND YOU SORT OF TALKED ABOUT -- I MEAN YOU GUYS ALSO HAVE A BAND, BUT IT'S NOT JUST A BAND IN A TRADITIONAL AMERICAN SENSE SO TO SPEAK.

THERE'S A LOT OF TRADITIONAL IRISH INSTRUMENTS THAT ARE PART OF THE SHOW.

I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD TELL US A FEW OF WHAT ARE SOME OF THE UNIQUELY IRISH INSTRUMENTS THAT ARE PART OF THE TOURING ENSEMBLE.

>> YEAH.

THERE'S MANY.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE BAGPIPES, WHICH HAVE A HUGE CELTIC HISTORY.

THERE'S THE ELLEN PIPES.

THEN WE HAVE PERCUSSION.

WE HAVE A TRADITIONAL IRISH DRUM.

WE HAVE THE TIN WHISTLE, THE ACCORDION.

ALL THESE DIFFERENT INSTRUMENTS.

IT'S KIND OF -- I THINK MOST OF THE TRADITIONAL INSTRUMENTS OF IRELAND ARE IN OUR SHOW, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE THAT WE GET TO SHOW THAT AROUND THE WORLD.

OFTEN PEOPLE COME UP TO US AND BE LIKE, WHAT WAS THAT THING THAT SOMEONE WAS USING?

YOU'RE LIKE, OH, THAT'S THE BAIRON.

THEN A FEW WEEKS LATER I'LL GET A MESSAGE FROM THAT PERSON WHO HAS SENT ME A PICTURE OF THEM LEARNING HOW TO PLAY IT, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE.

PEOPLE ARE COMING TO SEE OUR SHOWS AND THEN GOING AWAY AND RESEARCHING THESE INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL IRISH INSTRUMENTS AND LEARNING THEM FOR THEMSELVES, WHICH IS AN AMAZING THING.

>> WELL, OF COURSE.

I MEAN JUST THE SHOW ITSELF SOUNDS LIKE IT'S JUST SUCH AN AMAZING, BREATHTAKING SPECTACLE.

BUT THERE IS ALSO THE FACT THAT THIS IS HAPPENING UNDER THE CLOUD, IF YOU WILL, OF THIS ONGOING PANDEMIC, HOPEFULLY SOON JUST ENDEMIC, ET CETERA.

SO JUST FOR YOU AS A MUSICIAN, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE ABLE TO FINALLY GO BACK ON THE ROAD AND SHARE YOUR GIFT WITH THE WORLD?

>> I MEAN, WHEN OUR MUSIC STOPPED BACK IN 2020, WE THOUGHT TWO WEEKS, WE'LL BE BACK.

WE'RE GOING TO BE SEND HOME, AND WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND EVERYTHING IS GOING TO GO ON AS NORMAL.

WHEN THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN, I THINK EVERY MUSICIAN HAD TO LOOK AT THEIR LIFE AND GO, OKAY.

WELL, THIS IS HAPPENING.

WHAT DO I DO?

IT'S BEEN SUCH AN INCREDIBLY HARD TIME FOR, I THINK, MOST MUSICIANS ACROSS THE GLOBE.

SO THE FACT THAT THERE'S KIND OF THIS HOPE NOW AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING BACK TO CONCERTS, PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT CONCERTS, WHICH IS AMAZING.

PLUS FOR ME PERSONALLY, IT'S JUST -- IT'S BEEN A HARD TWO YEARS, AND THE THOUGHT OF BEING BACK UP ON THE STAGE DOING WHAT I'VE TRAINED SO HARD TO DO AND WHAT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO DO IS LIKE A FEELING LIKE NO OTHER.

IT MEANS THE ABSOLUTE WORLD TO ME.

>> WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING THE MOST FORWARD TO?

I MEAN, IS THERE, YOU KNOW, A RUSH THAT COMES FROM BEING ON THE STAGE?

IS THERE A CONNECTION WITH THE AUDIENCE?

IS IT JUST BEING ABLE TO SEE THE WORLD AGAIN?

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING MOST FORWARD TO?

>> I MEAN, IT'S KIND OF CLICHE, AND PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS LIKE, REALLY?

BUT WE ARE A FAMILY ON THE ROAD.

AND WHEN EVERYTHING STOPS, YOU KNOW, I WENT FROM SEEING THOSE WOMEN EVERY DAY NEARLY FOR A WHOLE YEAR TO NOT SEEING THEM BECAUSE IRELAND HAD EXTREMELY STRICT ISOLATION RULES.

SO WE DIDN'T GET TO SEE EACH OTHER FOR LIKE A YEAR AND A HALF, WHICH WAS SUCH A HARD THING WHEN YOU GO FROM LIVING WITH THESE PEOPLE TO NOT SEEING THEM AT ALL.

SO I'M EXCITED TO GET BACK TO BE AROUND, LIKE, LITERALLY MY BEST FRIENDS IN THE WHOLE WORLD AND TO HAVE THOSE EXPERIENCES AGAIN, AND TO GET BACK UP ONSTAGE, MEET ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE STILL SUPPORTED ME THROUGH TWO YEARS OF NOT WORKING.

AND THEY'RE EXCITED TO SEE ME.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE THEM.

YEAH, IT'S JUST VERY SPECIAL, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK TO IT.

>> ARE THERE ANY NERVES ABOUT GOING BACK ON THE ROAD?

ANY NERVOUSNESS OR CONCERNS?

>> I DID AN ONLINE CONCERT A WHILE AGO, AND I COULDN'T EVEN SEE THE AUDIENCE, AND MY NERVES GOT SO BAD THAT I COULD NOT FEEL MY HANDS.

THEY HAD GONE PINS AND NEEDLES BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN A YEAR AND A HALF OR NEARLY TWO YEARS SINCE I SANG FOR PEOPLE.

SO IT WAS THIS OVERWHELMING KIND OF NERVOUS ENERGY.

SO THEN I WAS JUST THINKING, OKAY.

YOU KNOW, IN A COUPLE MONTHS I'M GOING TO BE STANDING SIDE STAGE.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A FULL AUDIENCE.

THE OVERTURE IS GOING TO BE PLAYING, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN JUST THESE NERVES CAME OVER ME.

I JUST KNOW I'M GOING TO BE A NERVOUS WRECK FOR THE FIRST FEW CONCERTS GETTING BACK INTO IT, BUT ALSO NERVOUS EXCITED.

IT'S KIND OF A MIXTURE OF THE TWO.

I ALWAYS THINK THAT NERVES MAKE FOR A GREAT PERFORMANCE BECAUSE THAT ADRENALINE KIND OF LIFTS YOU AND PUTS THE FIRE UNDER YOU, WHATEVER THEY SAY.

YOU KIND OF GET OUT THERE AND GIVE IT YOUR BEST.

I'M NERVOUS BUT EXCITED.

>> WELL, THAT'S GREAT, ESPECIALLY YOU WANT TO DELIVER A GOOD PERFORMANCE HERE IN NEW YORK CITY BECAUSE WE ARE KNOWN TO EXPECT THE BEST FROM PEOPLE.

>> YES.

>> HOW FAMILIAR ARE YOU WITH PERFORMING SPECIFICALLY FOR NEW YORK CITY CROWDS?

>> I WAS ACTUALLY REALLY LUCKY.

WHEN I WAS 17, I WON A COMPETITION, AND I WAS ABLE TO GO SING -- DO A SMALL TOUR AROUND THE UNITED STATES.

ACTUALLY IT WAS JUST AROUND NEW YORK.

AND I GOT TO SING IN CARNEGIE HALL, WHICH WAS AN INCREDIBLE THING TO DO AT 17.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT I WAS GETTING TO DO THAT.

SO I WAS SO LUCKY, AND EVERYONE WAS JUST SO WELCOMING AND REALLY KIND.

SO I'VE HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE WITH PERFORMING IN NEW YORK, AND THEN I'VE BEEN TO UPSTATE NEW YORK QUITE A FEW TIMES WITH CELTIC WOMAN AS WELL.

SO I THINK THAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN SO LOVELY AND WELCOMING.

>> OF COURSE, OF COURSE.

AND HAVE YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO VISIT OR PERFORM AT THE ST. GEORGE'S THEATER IN STATEN ISLAND, OR WILL THIS BE YOUR FIRST TIME?

>> WE WERE IN STATEN ISLAND, BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER IF THIS WAS THE SPECIFIC THEATER THAT WE WERE IN.

SO I HAVE PERFORMED IN STATEN ISLAND, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S THE THEATER.

BUT, YEAH, STATEN ISLAND WAS LOVELY.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT.

>> WELL, I THINK WE ABSOLUTELY CAN PROMISE THAT IT WILL BE A MEMORABLE SPACE FOR YOU TO PERFORM IN.

WELL, WE ARE COMING UP TO THE END OF OUR TIME TOGETHER.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO LEAVE THE AUDIENCE WHO MIGHT BE, OKAY, I WANT TO GO BACK OUT, BUT WHY THIS SHOW?

WHY IS THIS WORTH GOING TO SEE?

>> I THINK THAT EVERY SINGLE LAST PERSON ON THAT STAGE THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE SO GRATEFUL TO BE THERE, AND I THINK THE ENERGY ON THE STAGE THIS YEAR, IT WILL BE INCREDIBLE, NOT TO MENTION THAT WE HAVE SUCH AN AMAZING SPECIAL TO BRING TO YOU GUYS.

WE'VE GOT SUCH AMAZING SET LISTS AND FEATURING A LOT OF THE SONGS FROM POSTCARDS FROM IRELAND BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, THOSE FAN FAVORITES THAT EVERYBODY LOVES TO HEAR.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AN ABSOLUTE SPECTACLE.

THERE WILL BE MUSIC.

THERE WILL BE A LIVE BAND.

THERE WILL BE US WOMEN AT THE FRONT GIVING IT OUR ALL.

I JUST THINK YOU SHOULD COME SEE THE SHOW BECAUSE I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE BRILLIANT.

>> I THINK THAT'S A GREAT ENDORSEMENT.

MEGAN WALSH IS A SOPRANO SINGER AND MEMBER OF THE ENSEMBLE GROUP CELTIC WOMAN.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR TOUR, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT STOPS IN NEW YORK CITY, AT THE SAINT GEORGE'S IN STATEN ISLAND.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III.

SYLVIA A.

AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM.

THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG.

THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION.

AND BY --