Irish Christmas in America comes to Butte, Missoula and Bozeman
Published: November 16, 2011
The Friends of Irish Studies at the University of Montana are bringing an Irish Christmas in America to three Montana towns.
The tour features one of the most talked-about vocal acts to emerge from Ireland in recent years – Lumiere, comprised of Eilis Kennedy and Pauline Scanlon; Seamus Begley from West Kerry, a legendary singer, accordionist and raconteur; and ferocious fiddler Oisin Mac Diarmada of the award-winning Irish group Téada.
The holiday show was first conceived in 2005 by Mac Diarmada, a renowned fiddle player from County Sligo, 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,” he says. “Music was a way that people stayed close to home.”
The show features top Irish musicians, singers and dancers in an engaging performance, that’s rich in history, humor and boundless energy.
This family-friendly performance features Irish ballads and holiday carols, lively fiddle tunes and nimble Irish dancing. Narration brings to life ancient customs and stories, while evocative photographic images provide a rich historical context.
Catch the show Nov. 29 at the Mother Lode Theatre in Butte; Nov. 30 at the University Theatre in Missoula and Dec. 1 at Hope Lutheran Church in Bozeman.
All shows begin at 7 p.m. and tickets are available at 888-MONTANA or from http://www.griztix.com. For more information, visit http://www.friendsofirishstudies.org.
