They sound like they came right off the boat from Ireland, but the four people that make up the group the Irish Minstrels are all from southern Minnesota.

Three of the members are siblings, Matt and Peter Stier and their sister, Melissa Schmidt. The fourth member is Larry Schmidt, Melissa's husband. All four have musical backgrounds. Melissa plays mandolin and whistle, Larry strums guitar, Pete plays the Irish Bodhran, snare and congas and Matt is the fiddler. Each sings a solo and they harmonize well together.

Brenda Rathlin, of Spring Valley manages the group's sound system.

The four have a background in blue grass music and they began to play Irish folk songs

when they were approached by the organizer of the annual Irish Feast that has been held in LeRoy in the past. This year the Irish Feast will be held in Spring Valley.

"We were just getting started singing as a group," Melissa explained. "We didn't have any Irish folk songs and we had to hurry and up get some. We only had a few selections, but everyone liked us and we have been invited back every single year."

From the small selections of Irish folk songs they began with, now they have more than 100 songs that they can pick and choose from. Since studying the music from Ireland, the group has developed a fascination with the sea and fishermen. Matt's house is decorated with model ships, and carved sailors. Pete became part of the crew on a sailing vessel in the south Pacific for four months. Melissa writes songs about the sea.

"Here we are land locked and we have such a deep feeling and pull to the ocean and fishermen. I like to write about the working class in our songs," Melissa said.

The Stiers family grew up in Grand Meadow. Their parents are Hugh and Peggy Stier. They are from a family of eight children and some of them were born in Austin. Their great-grandfather was T.F. Cummings who ran a bottling company in Austin. Both their parents were musical.

"My father couldn't carry a tune in a five gallon jug," said Larry Schmidt, of Rochester.

Since their beginnings 15 years ago, the Irish Minstrels have entertained at pubs, restaurants, coffeehouses, conventions, fairs and anniversaries, wakes and weddings. Their audiences have numbered 6,000 to 25 people. They have performed at Rochester Fest, Down by the Riverside concerts, Initiative Fund and Americorps Conventions, Rochester League of Cities Convention, Farm Fest America, Treasure Island Casino, concerts at the John Hassler Theater in Plainview, St. Mane Theater in Lanesboro and the Repertory Theater in Rochester.

"Our style is reminiscent of the Clancy Brothers, Irish Rovers and Tony Macken," Melissa said.

"We tell stories on stage and joke with each other. We are looking forward to playing at the Paramount on March 17," Larry said.

The Irish feast is scheduled for March 7, 8, 9, 14 and 15. Tickets go on sale Saturday Jan. 25, and it is advance-sale only at the Spring Valley Community Center at 9 a.m. The feast will be held at the community center too. Be prepared to wait in line as these tickets sell out quickly.

The Web site for the Irish Minstrels is www.irishminstrels.com

Sheila Donnelly can be reached at 434-2233 or by e-mail at :mailto:newsroom@austindailyherald.com