Irish Christmas in America

Powerful Irish music and dance, emotive vocals atmospherically combined with narrative and engaging photographic slide show Irish Christmas in America Produced by Oisín Mac Diarmada of award-winning lrish group Téada, the hugely popular Irish Christmas in America show features top Irish musicians, singers and dancers in an engaging performance rich in history, humour and boundless energy. The 2011 tour features one of the most talked-about vocal acts to emerge from Ireland in recent times – Lumiere, comprising the talents of Sony recording artists Eilís Kennedy & Pauline Scanlon. After an incredible reaction from audiences during the 2009 & 2010 tours, Séamus Begley from West Kerry once again rejoins the tour with his charming wit and musical prowess. This family-friendly performance features evocatively-sung Irish ballads and holiday carols, lively fiddle tunes and thrilling Irish dancing. Narration brings to life ancient customs and stories, while evocative photographic images provide a backdrop of rich historical context. Take a memorable glimpse into the enchanting spirit of Christmas, as some of Ireland’s finest traditional artists bring you on a distinctively Irish journey during the holiday season of 2011. Show Origins The holiday show was first conceived in 2005 with past tours featuring such stellar guest vocalists as Séamus Begley, Karan Casey, Cara Dillon, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Cathie Ryan and Michael Londra. Mac Diarmada enthuses about the program as a way to bring traditional and often unknown Irish customs to the States. “One of the most heartfelt themes of Irish Christmas is emigration,” says Mac Diarmada. “Music was a way that people stayed close to home.”