I can't tell you how many e-mails I get from Irish music fans bemoaning the fact that Guinness no longer does their famous fleadhs. While some of the blame might be laid on the feet of the makers of the black stuff, the majority of the blame lies squarely on your shoulders. 

Yes, I’m talking to you. 

Folks like Black 47 and the Young Dubliners have launched great Celtic package tours in the past, and the organizers have whispered privately to me that the financial returns were checkered at best, with a lot of empty seats. You can imagine, then, how other people might be shy to stage a concert with such a spotty success rate on a go-forward basis. 

If you read this column regularly, it’s probably safe to say that you’re a fan of the genre. In the next couple of weeks you will get your shot to redeem yourself; reading my occasionally brilliant musings just isn’t enough, people.

Need a break from the holiday gift-buying crunch? How about a taste of St. Patrick’s Day to relieve the stress? 

Might I suggest dropping by a benefit concert for the annual Craic Film Fleadh on Friday, December 10? The concert at Crash Mansion in Manhattan will feature an exciting double bill of two top Irish groups, Stand and Mr. North. 

The event is sponsored by Rheingold beer. Who knew they still made that gloriously skanky stuff? For more information on the benefit concert or the annual Craic festival, visit the website at www.thecraicfest.com.

If you can’t wait that long, the Jivin’ Jones Irish Rock Festival in Hoboken, New Jersey on December 2 and New York City on December 3. This extravaganza will kick off at Willie McBride’s (616 Grand Street, in Hoboken) with performances by Lancaster County Prison, Icewagon Flu, Neck, The McCabes and The Prodigals.

On Friday, the festival continues in New York at Connolly’s (121 West 45th Street between Sixth Avenue and Broadway) with performances by Larkin Brigade, Icewagon Flu, Neck, The Ruffians and The McCabes.

Tickets are available online now for $10 at www.irishrockfest.com. Any remaining tickets will be available the night of the show for $12. 

Plans are currently in the works for a similar festival to be produced in Boston, in early 2005. For those of you bellyaching about no Guinness fleadh, this is your opportunity to support a grass roots cause to keep us in green music all year long. 

For more information, log onto http://www.irishrockfest.com/.

The best way to insure future fleadhs is to support these great Irish bills now and restore promoters’ faith in the genre. Hope to see you there.