Saturday's Schedule

North Star Irish Dance is a program offering Irish dance in a competition-free environment. Dancing in Eden Prairie and Northfield, NSID's strength is embracing dancers of various levels and customizing teaching styles to individual needs. NSID also frequently volunteers in the community as a part of their mission of Connecting to Community while Fostering Tradition.

Mactír Academy of Irish Dance (meaning Wolf Academy of Irish Dance) offers both competitive and performance based classes with a focus on precision, teamwork, and grace. Mactír strives to be the premiere team-based competition school in Minnesota, where dancers and families choose their own journey. Whether that is going to a couple feiseanna (competitions) a year, performing with local and international bands, or competing in the Irish Dance World Championships. Our dancers celebrate this exquisite art form in a variety of settings and spread the joy of Irish Dance to everyone they meet. Mactír Academy is thrilled to have performed at Irish Fair of Minnesota since 2014!

Irish Diplomacy offers genre-bending trad music. An eclectic and jazz-infused Celtic band who shine when playing original material you'd swear came from the tradition.

Hudson Irish Dance Academy offers classes for kids & adults in the Twin Cities taught by CLRG-certified instructor Corey Hudson T.C.R.G.  One of the Twin Cities premiere Irish dance coaches, Corey brings unparalleled passion for teaching & choreography to every class. With over 30 years of dance experience, Corey has coached dancers to great success at Regional, National, and World Championship levels, including 2013/2014 U8/U9 Boys National Champion & multiple World medal holders.  Located in Wayzata & Maple Grove.

The Onórach Mulhern Geraghty (OMG) School of Irish Dance invites you to experience the joy and camaraderie of Irish step dance. OMG School of Irish Dance is officially certified through CLRG in Ireland, we are world-renowned for developing and supporting dancers from Beginner up through World Championship levels of competition, and have studios in Minnesota, Illinois and Ireland. 

O'Shea Irish Dance is led by director Cormac O'Sé T.C.R.G. (certified instructor with An Coimisiún Le Rinci Gaelacha), original cast member of Riverdance & native of Dublin, Ireland. Cormac comes from a deep pedigree with the legendary Scoil Rince Uí Shé of Dublin, Ireland, taught by his parents for the last 47 years. Cormac toured for six years with Riverdance, performing over 2000 performances, across four continents to over two million people. He can be seen in the original film, Riverdance, The Show and four other film productions.  Established in 2005, OID provides training for the demanding and technical art form of traditional and competitive Irish Step dance where dancers train as artists, musicians, and athletes. Teaching ages three to adult, OID instructors inform the whole dancer to train a healthy body in strength, flexibility, and fitness as well as a healthy mind in confidence, discipline, and performance.   OID's Minnesota dancers have achieved 9 Regional Solo Championship titles, 2 Regional Ceili Titles, 2 National Championship Titles and 6 top-ten placements in the World Championships bringing the only 2 world globes home to the state.  O’Shea Irish Dance features their dancers in performances throughout the year, and produces two professional, full-length theatrical shows annually at several Twin Cities venues, including Stepping Stone Theater, Chanhassen Dinner Theater, and the Fitzgerald Theater.

Purgatory Creek plays Irish and American Roots music. 871 miles to Nashville, 3702 miles to Belfast, 50 below zero with the windchill.

The Rince na Chroi Irish Dancers are a performance-based Irish dance school from St. Paul. Founded in 2003 by owner and director Katie Stephens Spangler, Rince na Chroi averages over 100 public performances throughout the year- and the Irish Fair of Minnesota is always a highlight! Rince na Chroi has over 200 dancers of all ages, and they accept students as young as three, up through adults. Their dancers perform year-round at venues and events all over the Twin Cities and the Midwest. Visit their website or find Rince na Chroi on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for more information.

Hudson Irish Dance Academy offers classes for kids & adults in the Twin Cities taught by CLRG-certified instructor Corey Hudson T.C.R.G.  One of the Twin Cities premiere Irish dance coaches, Corey brings unparalleled passion for teaching & choreography to every class. With over 30 years of dance experience, Corey has coached dancers to great success at Regional, National, and World Championship levels, including 2013/2014 U8/U9 Boys National Champion & multiple World medal holders.  Located in Wayzata & Maple Grove.

The Shamrock School of Irish Step Dance is one of the longest running schools in the Twin Cities and is a performance and competitive school with many accomplished dancers at all levels. Our school is steeped in Irish culture and tradition as our founder- May Kirmer Buckley was born in Dublin, Ireland and a prominent dancer at the Theater Royle in Dublin’s fair city that moved to the US in 1945 after marry a “a prominent American soldier and a good looking Yankee in a uniform!” A love of Irish Dance and of continuing to foster the perfection and a passion for this sport/art form is what our school is all about. We offer classes from 4 through college ages and are based in Eagan, MN. We love participating in the Irish Fair of Minnesota and welcome new students.

The Northerly Gales is a Twin Cities-based Celtic Americana quartet that loves to perform live! The band consists of Tamara Maluda, Jimmy Sherman, Randy Conaway, and Danny Schwarze. Inspired by Irish, Scottish, American and Canadian folk music, this band sure knows how to play music that will have audience members tapping their feet and forgetting their troubles!

Wee Ones Parade is for kids for to dress up & enjoy a parade dedicated to just them. Signs & Posters are encouraged. Starting point will be the park playground! 

Cookie Decorating - Let your wee-one show their inner artist by decorating Irish themed cookies with Chef Shelagh. Of course they get to eat their creations too. (Ages 5-10) Space is limited to 25, so arrive early.

Learn more about Shelagh here!

Bring your littles over to Celtic Corner for crafts and games  (or stay after cookie decorating!) 

  J

An award-winning songwriter and much sought-after guitarist, his ability to meld songwriting and guitar styles seamlessly caught the attention of NPR who featured his arrangement of The Star Of The County Down on their All Songs Considered program. Patsy’s travels hosting guitar and songwriting workshops and performing have led him to formulate his ideas into lessons and one-on-sessions based on his years of experience answering the questions and queries of an ever-growing band of music-lovers. 

Learn more about Patsy. 

Bundle & Go - David and Suzanne Rhees

Offering an eclectic mix of traditional tunes and songs from Ireland and Wales to Cape Breton and beyond, including original tunes and songs, on flute, fiddle, accordions, and more.  

You are cordially invited to Afternoon Tea in the Celtic Corner at Irish Fair of Minnesota, served on Saturday, Aug. 13 from 2 - 4 pm.

Afternoon Tea is a lovely mid-afternoon repast quite popular in Ireland. Guests for Afternoon Tea will enjoy their own personal pot of hot Barry’s Irish Tea and a selection of treats,served at their table on fine china.

Traditional music from Bundle and Go (2-2:45) and Dunquin (3-3:45) will be featured.

Join us for this special occasion and let us pamper you. Tickets are $20 perperson and advance purchase is recommended as seating will be limited! 

Dunquin plays traditional Irish exuberant reels and jigs and heart-melting Irish tunes on fiddle, wooden flute, and piano for concerts, dancing, and all special celebrations, private or public. Known for gorgeous arrangements of traditional tunes and some award-winning originals in the trad style, Dunquin is in demand!  Rosa Wells, fiddle; Don Ladig, whistles and flutes; Sherry Ladig, piano and music arrangements.

Celtic Phoenix Theatre. Celtic Camelot: Tales of Mystery & Magic for All.   An ensemble of writers and actors committed to intermingling the capacious Irish and Celtic literary, historical, and mythological traditions in self-created “devised” theatre, the Celtic Phoenix Theatre most frequently performs in the McKiernan Library and is the resident acting troupe at St. Paul’s Celtic Junction Arts Center. Previous productions include: Dream Voices from the Irish Famine and Wails from the Cauldron: A Hallowe’en Pilgrimage. The group includes: Sarah Kiani, Patrick O’Donnell, Dan Gleeson, Eddie Owens, Naomi Stemborg, Fred Stemborg, Mariam Kiani, John Concannon, Karen Rene-Peterson, and Jane Steiner.

This year at Irish Fair:

Celtic Camelot:  Tales of Magic  and Mystery for all ages. 

A multimedia, interactive, devised performance featuring the Lady of Shallot and 3 Acts. This multilayered performance will include Audio recording of the Lady of Shallot and three live acts highlighting the Celtic side of Camelot tales : 

Act one: The Irish knights of the round table 

Act Two: Merlin and Morgan le Fay

Act Three: The young King Arthur with his Irish steed, sword and the stone. 

The performance is designed for all ages and is a creative immersion into Camelot for children and adults alike! 

Written, directed, and devised by Sarah Kiani and Ellen Hedrick 

Starring: Sarah Kiani, Mariam Ben Said, Adam Kiani and Ellen Hedrick 

Tech: Jack Hedrick and Shams Kiani 

Ever wonder if there really is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, if fairies grant wishes, or if your little brother is really a changeling? Come explore the emerald isle's rich storytelling tradition with Out of the Mist Celtic Theatre's Irish Myths and Legends. Join us for a rousing, interactive adventure for the entire family, filled with laughter, singing, and, perhaps, a surprise or two.

Comedy comes to Irish Fair! Irish comedians, Dave Nihill, Sean Finnerty and Mick Thomas will be taking the stage. Friday and Saturday at Celtic Corner. Catch these hilarious voices of modern Ireland, accents included.

From Dublin, Dave Nihill is the first ever-Irish winner of the prestigious San Francisco International Comedy Competition, runner up in the NPR, the Moth’s largest US Grandslam storytelling competition, and the first ever-Irish comedian to have a special on Dar Bar Comedy.

From Longford, Ireland, Sean Finnerty decided to move stateside where a series of mature decisions that he failed to make led him to stand-up comedy. Recently he was rewarded for his efforts as he became the first ever Irish comedian to perform on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

Born and raised in Wexford, it wasn’t until moving to New York that Mick Thomas's stand-up comedy career was born. A natural performer and insightful writer, in a few short years Mick has blown away one club owner after the next with his honest and genuinely original takes on American society and life as a young and dedicated family man.Mick has performed with the biggest names in comedy including Dom Irrera, Norm Macdonald, Jim Breuer, Carl LaBove, John Pinette, and Greg Giraldo.

Get a preview

Knocknagow Irish Dancers are based in Minneapolis/St.Paul area of Minnesota. Active in the Twin Cities since 1985, Knocknagow dances traditional Ceili and Set dances. Many of their dancers have background in Irish step dancing and have studied Sean Nos. Both styles are incorporated into their performaces and choreographies.

North Star Irish Dance is a program offering Irish dance in a competition-free environment. Dancing in Eden Prairie and Northfield, NSID's strength is embracing dancers of various levels and customizing teaching styles to individual needs. NSID also frequently volunteers in the community as a part of their mission of Connecting to Community while Fostering Tradition.

The Shamrock School of Irish Step Dance is one of the longest running schools in the Twin Cities and is a performance and competitive school with many accomplished dancers at all levels. Our school is steeped in Irish culture and tradition as our founder- May Kirmer Buckley was born in Dublin, Ireland and a prominent dancer at the Theater Royle in Dublin’s fair city that moved to the US in 1945 after marry a “a prominent American soldier and a good looking Yankee in a uniform!” A love of Irish Dance and of continuing to foster the perfection and a passion for this sport/art form is what our school is all about. We offer classes from 4 through college ages and are based in Eagan, MN. We love participating in the Irish Fair of Minnesota and welcome new students.

The Onórach Mulhern Geraghty (OMG) School of Irish Dance invites you to experience the joy and camaraderie of Irish step dance. OMG School of Irish Dance is officially certified through CLRG in Ireland, we are world-renowned for developing and supporting dancers from Beginner up through World Championship levels of competition, and have studios in Minnesota, Illinois and Ireland. 

Mooncoin Ceili Dancers knows the excitement of Irish dance is mainly in the legs and feet, with quick, graceful movements or vigorous battering steps carrying dancers though the complex, often geometrically patterned dances. Irish ceili and set dance are forms of dance that have traditionally been practiced socially. These are the dances that have brought people together for celebrations of all kinds throughout Irish history. Mooncoin Ceili Dancers honor these traditional dances, while infusing them with a modern performance spirit. We also create new dances in the ceili and set styles, demonstrating that all traditions are living, growing, constantly evolving entities that bring many and varied meanings into the lives of those who share them.

For 18 years Green Fire Irish Dancers has performed contemporary hard and soft shoe steps and choreographies as well as traditional and historic dances from the early 1800's - early 1900's done in authentic period costume. We also teach easy dances for audience participation. Children, teens and adults practice and perform together. Based in friendship and cooperation rather than competition, Green Fire strives to give all dancers the opportunity to pursue their dreams. Please contact Green Fire at greenfiredancers@gmail.com.

Eilís Academy  (ay-lish)  aims to inspire dancers to dedicate themselves to the tradition and athleticism of Irish dance.  Eilis Academy is based in Anoka, providing expert Irish Dance instruction to the North Metro. We offer a traditional foundation for ages 5 years old and up, at all levels of dance experience. Classes are offered for both solo competition and team performance with instruction year round. 

Classes in Anoka, MN

eilisacademy2012@gmail.com
facebook.com/eilisacademy
www.EilisAcademy.com

Casey Academy of Irish Dance is a small performance dance school located in the Twin Cities. We strive to combine a contemporary style with a traditional art form, Irish step dancing. As a family inspired school we want everyone to have the opportunity to be enriched with Irish culture. We offer discounted classes for siblings and did we mention boys dance free? For more information you can go to the website listed above or email emily.caseyhare@gmail.com.

Rince na Gréine (RINK-ah nah GRAHN-ya) means "Dance of the Sun" in Irish. We teach traditional Irish Dance to ages 3 through adult. At Rince na Gréine, we want our dancers to experience the joy of Irish Dance in any way they want to, whether that is just for recreation, or through performance or competition.  We are an Open Platform school, meaning we welcome anyone to dance with us.​​

Irish céilí (kay-lee) dance with music by the Twin Cities Céilí Band and dances taught and called by Mike Whalen, renowned Twin Cities figure in Irish Dance.  Fun and easy to learn.  

Based in the St. Paul & Minneapolis metropolitan area, the Twin Cities Céilí Band (TCCB) have been providing traditional Irish céilí music for all manners of Irish dance: step, set, sean-nós, and céilí for almost 20 years.Live traditional music, played by musicians who are in touch with the Irish music tradition, invites people to tap their feet, clap their hands, and get up and dance. Live music for dancers is a conversation between the dancers the musicians. The Twin Cities Céilí Band strives to be part of that conversation by playing for local céilí dances, set dances, and pretty much for anyone willing to dance.

Camogie is a fast and furious Irish stick-and-ball team field sport played by women. Camogie is played by 100,000 women in Ireland and worldwide, largely among Irish communities. Picture below is Miss Shamrock 2020/2021 Zophia Raleigh demonstrating for fans at Irish Fair. 

New this year, for your littles! Introducing, the Lil Spud run. Participants move from start to finish without touching or dropping their potato. Open to kids aged 2-12, hilarious to watch and everyone is a winner.

In addition to a couple of dedicated times on Croke Park sports field, you will find the Brian Boru Irish Pipe Players at our kiddie parade and performing impromptu shows randomly on the Irish Fair Grounds throughout the weekend.  

Couch potatoes rejoice - we have just the race for you! The start and finish lines are a mere three meters apart, and everyone's a winner. 

The Zero K start point to end point is only three meters in length. It may not be long, but this in no way detracts from its genuine race-like feel! And we believe everyone who has the stamina to walk, run, jog, or hop the three meters distance deserves to win first place!

All first place winners receive an Irish Fair branded tote bag. After participating in the race, relax and rehydrate with a cold beer on us. 

Register in advance or procrastinate right up to the day of the run and pay at the ZeroK registration table located in the Guinness Pub Tent. The Zero K Couch Potato Run is held on both Saturday 8/12 and Sunday 8/13. Participants should be at Croke Park by 2pm or just a little before!  Registration for race, tote bag, a beer, and bragging rights are included in the fee. (Please note: This fee does not include the price of general admission . Admission must be purchased separately!) 

There will also be water and soda available for those who want a non-alcoholic beverage option, or for those under 21 years of age!

Contact info@irishfair.com with questions.

Register Now!

The Center for Irish Music Youth Ensembles are the next generation of award-winning traditional musicians in our community! The Advanced Youth Ensemble delivers high energy, heart-warming tunes and songs on traditional instruments like fiddle, harp, accordion, flute and bodhrán.

The Inland Seas is a Celtic/Americana ensemble with lush vocals, whistle, guitar, mandolin & percussion, Tunes range from rousing pub songs to emotive ballads.

Formed in 2017, The Inland Seas brings together several experienced Minneapolis-based musicians to create a new Celtic/Americana ensemble. Combining lush vocals with whistle, guitar, mandolin, and percussion, the group plays a varied mix of tunes from rousing pub songs to mournful ballads. Come sing, dance, and drink along with many moods of The Inland Seas!

Anna, Sheila and Clare Friel are traditional musicians born in Glasgow with their family roots firmly entrenched in the Donegal Gaeltacht (Derrynamansher). Being siblings, they achieve a close blend on fiddle, flute and uilleann pipes interspersed with wonderful harmony, many from their family and local repertoire. Fresh and invigorating, we welcome the Friel Sisters for their first visit to the Irish Fair stage. Learn more. 

Aoife Scott is an award winning folk singer and songwriter based in Dublin, Ireland. Born into the legendary Black family - Aoife is steadily rising to the top of the traditional and folk music scene. Fragile and ethereal one minute and strong and vibrant the next, Aoife has a dynamic and profound voice. Her music has a broad creative scope but is largely influenced by her own roots in folk and traditional Irish music.

The Sweet Colleens are David Bade, Jeremy Greenhouse, Pete Sandvik, Jeff Gram and Scott Keever – accomplished multi–instrumentalists who together fuse their diverse musical backgrounds into a high energy, infectious, and crowd–pleasing mix of “Celtic folk–rock and alt. country/Americana, with Cajun and Caribbean seasonings.”

Born in 2005, Doolin' takes its name from a small village on the west coast of Ireland, renowned for its traditional music and high-rise craic, this typically Irish holiday spirit.

After only a few months of existence, Doolin' is already rubbing shoulders with the biggest and shares the stage with Alan Stivell in the framework of the festival of skin of Carmaux

The group recorded its first album, "Popcorn Behavior", distributed by Keltia Musique, which received the Bravos Trad'Mag award and the support of Irish flutist Desi Wilkinson, with whom the band will go on tour in March 2006.

Lake Effect is the trio of Kathleen Green (fiddle), Amy Shaw (flute), and Chris Bashor (guitar), who met at local Irish sessions. Kathleen and Amy are “alumni” of Paddy O’Brien’s O’Rourke’s Feast. Our trio offers an eclectic repertoire of traditional and newly-composed music from Ireland and the Irish diaspora, played with skill and verve.

Learn more here!

Rúpálaí: (Roo-Pul-Lee)

An uncommonly traditional quartet featuring songs in Irish, English and Breton, along with driving dance tunes and more. With Siobhán Dugan on vocals, Buddy Ferrari on vocals and bouzouki, Rosa Wells on fiddle and Chad McAnally on Gaelic harp, flute and vocals.

North Star Irish Dance is a program offering Irish dance in a competition-free environment. Dancing in Eden Prairie and Northfield, NSID's strength is embracing dancers of various levels and customizing teaching styles to individual needs. NSID also frequently volunteers in the community as a part of their mission of Connecting to Community while Fostering Tradition.

Irish stories and songs for children, families, and adults

The Center for Irish Music (CIM) is a thriving nonprofit community music school based in St. Paul’s Hamline-Midway neighborhood inside the Celtic Junction building. The CIM is dedicated to handing down traditional Irish music to the next generation of musicians in our community. Through private lessons, group classes, sessions and events featuring world-class artists, the CIM aims to inspire and support the traditional Irish music community in the Twin Cities, throughout the Midwest, and Canada.

Good music raised local! Serious string band featuring Twin Cities teen duo Derek Anderson (banjo, bouzouki) and Morien McBurnie (banjo, guitar). These lads play Irish tunes both traditional and modern, along with their own compositions. Serious students of the instruments, these banjo boys have been playing and busking around town for four years. Learn more here!

Dòrain is a Twin Cities-based traditional folk band that focuses on Scottish and Irish songs and tunes with four-part vocal harmonies and intricate arrangements. Features flute, fiddle, concertina, Scottish smallpipes, harp, guitar and bouzouki, as well as singing in both English and Scottish Gaelic. Hear them here.  Follow them on Facebook here. 

Mactír Academy of Irish Dance (meaning Wolf Academy of Irish Dance) offers both competitive and performance based classes with a focus on precision, teamwork, and grace. Mactír strives to be the premiere team-based competition school in Minnesota, where dancers and families choose their own journey. Whether that is going to a couple feiseanna (competitions) a year, performing with local and international bands, or competing in the Irish Dance World Championships. Our dancers celebrate this exquisite art form in a variety of settings and spread the joy of Irish Dance to everyone they meet. Mactír Academy is thrilled to have performed at Irish Fair of Minnesota since 2014!

O’Neill School of Irish Dance opened its doors in 2019. We started with only a few championship-level dancers who needed a coach and some assistance with creative choreography. Now, only a few short years later, we’ve expanded our school to offer multiple classes featuring many talented dancers.  We’re known for our commitment to supporting our dancers’ competitive goals and enhancing their timing and technique. Dancers come to us for instruction in both competitive team dancing and solo dancing.

Fola Glas sings Irish (and American Irish) songs accompanying ourselves on guitars, ukulele, and fiddle.

Kia Cashman was an original member of The Giggin' Síles. "Music has always been an important part of Kia’s life. Her father frequently sang and played the guitar and her mother drove her to voice, violin, piano, and music theory classes. She was a member of the Bel Canto Voices, sang as a cantor, and has been in various musical groups including Da Loons, the 2017 winners of the Duluth Battle of the Jug Bands" She is also a student and teacher of the Irish language.

As of March 15 of this year, Bill Conlan has been entertaining with Irish songs for 60 years. He's one of the founding members of The Gallivanters who entertained for 50 years in night clubs, country clubs, Minnesota State Fair for 13 years, and the Minnesota Irish Fairs from 1980 until 1995. From 1987 through 1993, he and his late partner Dan were "The Irish Band" at the Festival of Nations. Bill was the recipient of IMDA Honors in 2018.

Kia and Bill have performed together at coffee houses since 2018. Check them out onstage at Irish Fair this year!  

O’Neill School of Irish Dance opened its doors in 2019. We started with only a few championship-level dancers who needed a coach and some assistance with creative choreography. Now, only a few short years later, we’ve expanded our school to offer multiple classes featuring many talented dancers.  We’re known for our commitment to supporting our dancers’ competitive goals and enhancing their timing and technique. Dancers come to us for instruction in both competitive team dancing and solo dancing.

The Shamrock School of Irish Step Dance is one of the longest running schools in the Twin Cities and is a performance and competitive school with many accomplished dancers at all levels. Sharmrock School of Irish Step Dance is steeped in Irish culture and tradition as our founder- May Kirmer Buckley was born in Dublin, Ireland and a prominent dancer at the Theater Royle in Dublin’s fair city that moved to the US in 1945 after marry a “a prominent American soldier and a good looking Yankee in a uniform!” A love of Irish Dance and of continuing to foster the perfection and a passion for this sport/art form is what our school is all about. We offer classes from 4 through college ages and are based in Eagan, MN. We love participating in the Irish Fair of Minnesota and welcome new students.

The Center for Irish Music (CIM) is a thriving nonprofit community music school based in St. Paul’s Hamline-Midway neighborhood inside the Celtic Junction building. The CIM is dedicated to handing down traditional Irish music to the next generation of musicians in our community. Through private lessons, group classes, sessions and events featuring world-class artists, the CIM aims to inspire and support the traditional Irish music community in the Twin Cities, throughout the Midwest, and Canada.

Eilís Academy  (ay-lish)  aims to inspire dancers to dedicate themselves to the tradition and athleticism of Irish dance.  Eilis Academy is based in Anoka, providing expert Irish Dance instruction to the North Metro. We offer a traditional foundation for ages 5 years old and up, at all levels of dance experience. Classes are offered for both solo competition and team performance with instruction year round. 

Classes in Anoka, MN

eilisacademy2012@gmail.com
facebook.com/eilisacademy
www.EilisAcademy.com

Giggin’ Síles - Maureen Engelhardt, Connie Hessevick, Mary Lane, Kathie Luby

Traditional and not so traditional tunes sung in English and Gaelic. 

The Lóma mór Irish Dance Club was formed in 1999 to promote set, ceili, 2-hand, and sean nós dancing as a lifelong social, cultural, and community-building activity in the Twin Cities area.

Learn more here!

For 18 years Green Fire Irish Dancers has performed contemporary hard and soft shoe steps and choreographies as well as traditional and historic dances from the early 1800's - early 1900's done in authentic period costume.  We also teach easy dances for audience participation.  Children, teens and adults practice and perform together.  Based in friendship and cooperation rather than competition, Green Fire strives to give all dancers the opportunity to pursue their dreams. Please contact Green Fire at greenfiredancers@gmail.com

Knocknagow Irish Dancers are based in Minneapolis/St.Paul area of Minnesota. Active in the Twin Cities since 1985, Knocknagow dances traditional Ceili and Set dances. Many of their dancers have background in Irish step dancing and have studied Sean Nos. Both styles are incorporated into their performaces and choreographies.

The Eddies sing songs with and without accompaniment. We sing sea songs, sea shanties, and other songs of work. We sing songs of emigration, immigration, sadness, joy and silliness. We are all about the fun and all about the harmony. . See more about the Eddies

Casey Academy of Irish Dance is a small performance dance school located in the Twin Cities. We strive to combine a contemporary style with a traditional art form, Irish step dancing. As a family inspired school we want everyone to have the opportunity to be enriched with Irish culture. We offer discounted classes for siblings and did we mention boys dance free? For more information you can go to the website listed above or email.

Rince na Gréine (RINK-ah nah GRAHN-ya) means "Dance of the Sun" in Irish. We teach traditional Irish Dance to ages 3 through adult. At Rince na Gréine, we want our dancers to experience the joy of Irish Dance in any way they want to, whether that is just for recreation, or through performance or competition.  We are an Open Platform school, meaning we welcome anyone to dance with us.​​

Todd Menton is a multi-instrumentalist and the lead singer in Boiled in Lead, a Twin Cities-based punk/folk/world-music band. He has toured extensively with the band, and is also a solo recording artist for New Folk Records. His music is a combination of original and traditional Irish tunes and songs, rendered in a unique, edgy style. The bodhrán and mandolin are featured prominently on his recordings, and are his two favorite instruments. 

O’Neill School of Irish Dance opened its doors in 2019. We started with only a few championship-level dancers who needed a coach and some assistance with creative choreography. Now, only a few short years later, we’ve expanded our school to offer multiple classes featuring many talented dancers.  We’re known for our commitment to supporting our dancers’ competitive goals and enhancing their timing and technique. Dancers come to us for instruction in both competitive team dancing and solo dancing.

The Eddies sing songs with and without accompaniment. We sing sea songs, sea shanties, and other songs of work. We sing songs of emigration, immigration, sadness, joy and silliness. We are all about the fun and all about the harmony. . See more about the Eddies

Hailing from Cork in the south of Ireland, Patsy has traveled the globe, guitar in hand, accompanying, creating and recording with some of the giants of Irish music.
An award-winning songwriter and much sought-after guitarist, his ability to meld songwriting and guitar styles seamlessly caught the attention of NPR who featured his arrangement of The Star Of The County Down on their All Songs Considered program. Patsy’s travels hosting guitar and songwriting workshops and performing have led him to formulate his ideas into lessons and one-on-sessions based on his years of experience answering the questions and queries of an ever-growing band of music-lovers. Learn more about Patsy.

The Two Tap Trio will touch your heart and then get you up dancing! High energy traditional Irish music – jigs, reels, polkas and songs – with a trio of outstanding musicians including Live Ireland’s “Best Vocalist of the Year” Norah Rendell (The Outside Track) on song and flute, internationally acclaimed guitarist Brian Miller (Bua, Atlantic Steps) and Nathan Gourley on the fiddle.

Formed in 2007 and based in the Twin Cities, the Two Tap Trio mixes driving fiddle and flute duets with Norah’s acclaimed voice, underpinned by intricate guitar and bouzouki accompaniment. A high caliber stage act, the trio performs at festivals and concert halls throughout the Upper-Midwest and puts the spring in the step of Irish dancers back home in Saint Paul.

Hailing from Ireland, Clare is an award winning professional singer/songwriter, performing and recording artist, who uses her platform to bring awareness on all mental health matters while being a spiritual and physical advocate too. Clare feels it’s her duty to give back to her listeners and be real, raw and honest to help de-stigmatize the conversations around addiction, suicide, anxiety, depression and many more problems our world is facing.   Learn more 

Dòrain is a Twin Cities-based traditional folk band that focuses on Scottish and Irish songs and tunes with four-part vocal harmonies and intricate arrangements. Features flute, fiddle, concertina, Scottish smallpipes, harp, guitar and bouzouki, as well as singing in both English and Scottish Gaelic. Hear them here.  Follow them on Facebook here.  Learn More.

Clairseach! The real old Irish harp strung in gold, silver and brass, played with fingernails and traditional techniques in a modern context with old and new ballads and comic songs; plus the full gamut of dance music with button accordion, concertina, wooden flute, whistles and bodhran. Performances and workshops for ages 8 to 80!

Reaching for the Draíocht: Exploring Irish Traditional Music | Draíocht is a Gaelic word meaning ‘spiritual power’ or ‘soul.’ Paddy will offer a brief general history of Irish music, from ancient clan marches and harp tunes, to the dance melodies that make up the bulk Irish traditional music today, playing examples of many different types of tunes.

Local historian offers a lecture titled "Banished: Irish Women 'Convicts' in Australia." In the early 1800s, the British Empire chose to empty its workhouses and send convicts to its colonies in Australia. Some 40% of those sent were Irish women who in many cases had been caught stealing during famines to feed their families. Multiple aspects of this "transportation" and how it impacted Ireland and those banished to Australia. 

Daniel and Claire make up the duo, "the foxfire affair." These multi-instrumentalists entertain with a guitar, mandolin, concertina, and other instruments. They'll span several centuries of music playing everything from Irish traditionals to sea shanties, a little American folk to rock, and a touch of original material.

Facebook video stream

Facebook video stream for St. Patrick's Day
 

Twin-Cities harpist Stephanie Claussen invites audiences to explore new locales and eras through her music. Influenced by her love of fairy tales, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the world music section at her local library, she performs a unique mixture of Scottish tunes, J.S. Bach, and anything rich in medieval or French harmonies.