Sunday's Schedule

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.

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.

Legacy has been playing Celtic traditional tunes and pub-style songs in a way that sets it apart from other bands.

Legacy offers a balanced selection of songs (traditional pub, ballad, and contemporary styles) and dance tunes (traditional and stylized arrangements).

Learn more here!

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

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.​​

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.

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.

Screaming Orphans, an all-sister band from Bundoran, Co. Donegal, Ireland, are one of the most sought-after Celtic bands with a powerful, award-winning sound combining their original melodic pop songs with a unique take on traditional Irish music and song. The band first came to prominence when Sinéad O’Connor asked them to tour with her as her back up vocalists and opening act.

The band is renowned for their trademark spine-tingling four-part harmony which led them to many collaborations with artists such as Sinéad O’Connor, Joni Mitchell, The Chieftains, Baaba Maal, the Afro Celt Sound system, Eileen Ivers and Martin Furey.

Screaming Orphans’ 2019 pop album, Life in a Carnival, produced by internationally distinguished producer John Reynolds, charted No. 24 in the iTunes Pop Music charts (U.S.), No. 7 in the Billboard World Albums charts, No. 1 in the iTunes Singer/Songwriter charts (IE), and No. 3 in the overall iTunes music charts (IE). The new album follows 2017’s critically acclaimed folk album Taproom which also charted at the top of iTunes and Billboard charts and was voted Folk/Pop/Rock Album of The Year.

As of this year, the band has released 14 albums of both original pop and Folk/Irish music.

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! 

Which instrument would your child like to play? Come see talented young musicians and instructors from the Center for Irish Music play traditional Irish instruments like accordion, whistle, flute, harp, bodhrán, fiddle and banjo. After a brief performance demonstrations, they'll open up the floor and invite YOU to try playing some of them!

The Petting Zoo is sponsored by the Center for Irish Music, handing down the tradition to the next generation of musicians through private lessons, group classes, and more! www.centerforirishmusic.org

Join us at Celtic Corner for fun and games!  We will do crafts and play some games. 

Irish Wrap Sandwiches. Chef Shelagh Mullen has great ideas for fun family food prep. Join her at Irish Fair for a demo of how to make Irish Wraps. Easy and delicious. Space is limited to 30! 

Learn more about Shelagh here!

Cheese Toasties. Chef Shelagh Mullen demonstrates how to make the classic cheese toasties that can be found all over Ireland. Easy and delicious. Ooey, gooey samples will happen. Space is limited. tag shecooksdesign.com

Learn more about Shelagh here!

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.

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!

Hannah Flowers is a singer and harpist from St. Paul, Minnesota. Classically trained from a young age, she discovered Traditional Irish music as a teenager and hasn’t looked back since. Known for her sensitive and lyrical accompaniment of songs as well as her syncopated and rhythmic accompaniment of dance tunes, Hannah enjoys exploring the full depth of traditional Irish music and song. She regularly performs as a duo with Fiddler Mattie Ernst and as a trio with flautist Cory Froehlich and Fiddler/dancer Danielle Enblom.  Learn more at http://hannahflowersharp.com/

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.

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!

Chris Murphy, aka Gus the Bardic Troubadour, is a one-man-band; enthralling audiences with a spirited mix of Traditional and Modern Irish Folk music since 2010. He also performs covers of crowd favorites, as well as what he calls Pub Covers; popular songs, but with an Irish twist.

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.

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.

Paul McCluskey teaches social dance weekly at the Dubliner. He can and will teach anyone to dance!

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.

All skill levels are welcome! 

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 . Pictured is Miss Shamrock 2020/2021 Zophia Raleigh demonstrating for fans at Irish Fair. 

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!

Cumar is an exciting new musical group which brings together the complex and irresistible rhythms of West African drumming with the beautiful, flowing melodies of traditional Irish dance music. It features two master drummers from Guinea, West Africa, brothers Fodé and Alhassan Bangoura, who are the artistic director and lead dancer/choreographer of Minneapolis-based Duniya Drum and Dance; as well as three well-known musicians from the Twin Cities Irish music scene: Laura MacKenzie on flute and vocals, Mary Vanorny on fiddle, and Sean Egan on clarinet. The group, whose name means “confluence” in the Irish language, was created in 2020 through a grant from the Irish Music and Dance Association's Cross Cultural Initiative, and made its debut at the Irish Fair of Minnesota in August of 2021.  We are pleased to welcome them back to Irish Fair 2022! 

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.

Celtgrass. Irish Americana. Galway-based We Banjo 3 has one foot in Irish music and one foot in Americana music, seamlessly combining the virtuosity and precision in each genre’s traditional disciplines with the artful song-craft and infectious live performance of today’s musical landscape. Don't miss this crowd favorite! 

Included with the price of admission, there will be a Catholic Mass on Sunday, August 13, 2023 at 10:15 am on the Dublin/Main Stage. 

An Luan is an Irish Traditional music ensemble based out of The Center for Irish Music. Ann, Aja, Dave, Bob, Mike, Emma, Ben, and J.

This duo of fiddle and accordion players of traditional Irish music are recent graduates of the Center for Irish Music, and have recently (Jan 2022) released their first album; Star of the North with Brian Miller. They've been playing and competing together in fleadhs for the past 4-5 years, and are the next generation of traditional irish musicians in the community. Their duo playing was awarded 3rd place in the All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in 2019.

Irish, French, and Métis Music and Dance. Danielle (fiddle and step dance) and Patrick (accordion) play tunes from Ireland to Quebec to New Orleans. Danielle is an Irish fiddler, old-style step dancer, and ethnochoreologist (dance anthropologist) who has studied with the masters from Belfast, to Cork, to Quebec, to Manitoba. She is an expert in the old regional styles of dance in Ireland, and also dances the steps of her French Canadian and Métis (mixed-blood indigenous of Canada) great grandparents.  Patrick Harrison, known from New Orleans to New York for his extraordinary old-time jazz playing has put on his "trad" hat once again to join Danielle a fun mix of tunes and steps from Ireland and Turtle Island. You are in for an absolute treat with these 2 amazing performers. 

Kindred is a trio that plays traditional Celtic music and Celtic inspired Americana music. Americelticana...the perfect blend!
AKA Singleton Street, we also play bluegrass and gospel. Get more info on Facebook @singletonstreet

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.

McCormick & Vanorny play traditional Irish music on accordion and fiddle. The pair met at a local session years ago and became ‘tune pals’, connecting over the music and the ease of playing together. They are most often joined by the great Brian Miller on guitar and bouzouki. Come listen to jigs, reels, hornpipes and polkas played with high energy and respect! 

Listen here before the fair!

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.​​

Holy Ground is a three piece band with vocals/guitar, flute/whistle, and keyboards/mandolin. We do traditional Irish pub songs, mostly about getting your heart broken, drinking whiskey, and getting arrested. We bring our own PA to most shows.

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.

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 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.

The Onórach Mulhern Geraghty 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.

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. Having faced a lot of hardship in her own life, 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. ‘If I can leave this world a little better off than when I entered, I’ll know I fulfilled my life’s purpose. I just want to be a voice for those who don’t, and to be an inspiration for those around me so that nobody ever feels like they are in this alone’, she exclaims.  Learn more

For nearly 15 years, Locklin Road has played Irish music (as well as an eclectic variety that fits the venue, from originals to bluegrass, folk, blues and Americana favorites) -- both from performances throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin and via their five CDs -- with vocals, guitars, mandolins, bodhran, Irish whistles, fiddle, banjo and more. Together, Sheri O'Meara, Dan Kowalke, Gregg Weigand and Tom Greenwald gear the music to listeners! 

Jim McGown! A local favorite on Irish pub stages, Jim plays an engaging mix of tunes that range from heartwarming ballads to foot-stomping, hand-clapping sing-alongs. Prepare to lift a pint while you dance and sing along!

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. 

The Careys aka Joe and Jessica Carey aka "Siblings, Not Spouses" are a St. Paul-based brother-sister duo who bring a medley of melodies spanning traditional Irish ditties, classic American rock and folk, and their original heart-wrenching, lyrically soul-bearing pieces (with a bit of shoot-from-the-hip banter in between). Their dynamic vocals, sibling harmonies, and disarming wit are not to be missed and are sure to leave audiences feeling like part of the family.

Folk Rock with an Irish and Bluegrass twist

Learn more here!