An Irish Christmas in America

By Irish America Staff
June / July 2006

The spirit of an Irish Christmas will tour America in December.

With music, narration and dance, Ireland’s award-winning traditional band Téada and special guests will highlight some of Ireland’s more surprising festive traditions, including that of the Wren Boys tradition of strolling from house to house on St. Stephen’s Day.

The performance, organized by Téada’s Oisín Mac Diarmada, will feature singer Cathie Ryan, Grainne Hambly (Irish harp), Tommy Martin (uilleann pipes), and Irish step-dancers.

Mac Diarmada says, “I saw the project as an exciting opportunity to produce a small-scale show of Ireland’s wider cultural history and traditions, beyond the mainly musical aspect featured in a regular show.”

The tradition of the Wren Boys is featured on Téada’s CD, “Give us a penny and let us be gone” (Green Linnet).

Irish Christmas in America — U.S. Tour 2005

Dec. 1: Flagstaff, Arizona, Ashurst Auditorium NAU

Dec. 2: Tucson, Arizona, Rialto Theater

Dec. 3: Fallon, Nevada, Churchill Arts – Barkley Theatre

Dec. 4: Bishop, California, Bishop High School/INYO Arts

Dec. 6: Berkeley, California, Freight and Salvage

Dec. 7: Felton, California, Don Quixote’s

Dec. 9: Washington DC, National Geographic/Grovenor

Dec. 10: Dallas, Texas, Lakewood Theater

Dec. 11: New York, New York, Joe’s Pub. (Matinee and evening shows. Dancers not at this venue).

Dec. 13: Wilmington, Delaware, Grace United Methodist Church

Dec. 14: Lakewood, New Jersey, The Strand

Dec. 15: Morristown, New Jersey, Morristown Unitarian Fellowship

Dec. 16: Worcester, Massachusetts, Forest Grove Middle School

Dec. 17: St. Johnsbury, Vermont, Fuller Hall/Catamount Arts

Dec. 18: Earleville, New York, Cazenovia Theater

For details on the tour visit www.greenlinnet.com.

Irish Christmas in America will also promote awareness of Concern Worldwide US, a non-profit humanitarian organization based in Ireland, dedicated to the relief, assistance and advancement of people in the least developed areas of the world.♦

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