Irish Arts Week

Irish Arts Weeks: April 12 - April 30, 2024

Celebrating a milestone 15 years of cultural enrichment and community, the Celtic Junction proudly invites you to partake in our 2024 Irish Arts Week from April 12th to April 30th.

This year, we're offering an array of events to bring the best of Irish arts and culture to our community. Enjoy a diverse lineup including free Irish dance classes, engaging concerts, film showings, and our special Irish Language Weekend. Plus, join in on Irish music sessions and explore unique, one-off classes on knotwork, history, and literature.

Kicking off the week, our Irish Language Weekend beckons with the lyrical beauty of Ireland's native tongue, promising a deep connection to the culture that beats at the core of the Celtic Junction. Join us in this celebration of tradition and community as we honor 15 years of bridging worlds through the arts.

Friday, April 12

DSG

Deireadh Seachtaine Gaeilge /Irish Language Weekend, April 12 @ 4:30 PM

In-person. Weekend fee $175. Beidh ranganna ann do chuile dhuine ó thosaitheoirí go cainteoirí líofa. There will be classes for everyone from absolute beginners to experienced learners.

Presented by CJAC's Education Program and Gael Linn.

gael-linn-at-70

Film: Gael Linn at 70 - 70 Years of Innovation in Language and Cultural Revitalization, April 12 @ 7:45 PM

In-person. Free to DSG participants. $15 to public. "Gael Linn ag 70," a commemorative program of music and song to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Irish language organization. Produced by Aniar for TG4, the celebratory program features music and conversation with an all-star cast.

Directed by Oisín Ó hEartáin, the TG4 program explores the organization's history and impact, including its influence on the commercially published music of Donegal by the likes of Clannad, Aodh Ó Duibhennaigh, Skara Brae and Altan; its films such as 1959's 'MIse Éire' with soundtrack by Seán Ó Riada; its office and activities in Northern Ireland; and SLÓGADH, the national youth festival of the arts first held in 1970.

The film will also look at Gael Linn’s best-selling record, Mary Bergin’s Feadóg Stáin a hAon, as well as the organization's sean-nós releases and the label's support of contemporary songs in the Irish language.

Presented by CJAC's Education Program and Gael Linn.

Saturday, April 13

DSG

Deireadh Seachtaine Gaeilge /Irish Language Weekend, April 13 All Day

In-person. Weekend fee $175. Beidh ranganna ann do chuile dhuine ó thosaitheoirí go cainteoirí líofa. There will be classes for everyone from absolute beginners to experienced learners.

Presented by CJAC's Education Program and Gael Linn.

Dara Vallely art


Cúchulainn as an imperishable reservoir of inspiration by Réamonn Ó Ciaráin, CEO of Gael Linn, April 13 @ 4:00-5:30 pm

In-person. $15. This talk will be delivered in a narrative style combining a retelling of lesser known Cúchulainn stories with learned and fresh insights. Dara Vallely's paintings will form a background to this presentation and instill a new vitality and depth to these ancient stories. Réamonn Ó Ciaráin has authored three books on Cúchulainn which were published by Gael Linn, as well articles in a variety of publications. He has toured the Midwest of the USA speaking about Cúchulainn, Ireland’s greatest mythological hero.

Presented by CJAC's Education Program and Gael Linn.

Sunday, April 14

DSG

Deireadh Seachtaine Gaeilge /Irish Language Weekend, April 14

In-person. Weekend fee $175. Beidh ranganna ann do chuile dhuine ó thosaitheoirí go cainteoirí líofa. There will be classes for everyone from absolute beginners to experienced learners.

Presented by CJAC's Education Program and Gael Linn.

By Joseph Cashman - Source: http://images.google.ie/images?q=1913+lockout&hl=ga&btnG=Cuardaigh+%C3%8Domh%C3%A1nna *Credit and copyright: © RTÉ Stills LibraryRTÉ image ref no: 0510/033Collection: RTÉ Cashman Collection, PD-US, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4643661

The Dublin Lockout of 1913: A Discussion, April 14 @ 1 pm CDT

Online. Free. Join Irish social and political historian Ann Matthews and Steve Griffith, chair of the Celtic Junction Arts Center’s Education Committee, for a discussion of the Dublin Lockout of 1913. This seminal event in Irish history exposed the poverty and struggle of Dublin’s working class just prior to the Easter Rising of 1916. It also serves as the center of James Plunkett’s most famous work, Strumpet City, and for Matthew’s play, LOCKOUT.

You must register at the link above to receive a link to the Zoom webinar. Presented by CJAC's Education Program.

Hurling practive

Hurling Practice with TCRE, April 14 @ 1:00-3:00 pm CDT

In-Person. Free. Are you interested in learning a new sport? Hurling is the national sport of Ireland with over 3000 years of history behind it. It uses the combined skills of baseball, lacrosse, hockey, and soccer. Twin Cities Robert Emmets is the Minnesota representative of this great sport. We are a coed club that offers many levels of participation. From fun and recreational social leagues year-round to competitive traveling teams that participate in, and win, national tournaments. Our April practices are geared toward teaching new players the basics of the game and for returning players to knock the rust off. We are welcoming to all and hope to see you on the pitch!

Practice is located at 1151 Jessamine Ave W, St. Paul 55103. No sign-up, just show-up! Presented by Twin Cities Robert Emmets Hurling

Dan Gleeson

Dan Gleeson Gallery Opening, April 14 @ 4:00- 5:00 pm CDT

In person. Free. An immigrant’s relationship with a city is a two-way process that inevitably changes both the newcomer and the new home itself. The beautiful architectural renderings of Irish-born architect Dan Gleeson vividly illustrate how one immigrant artist’s imagination helped shape the actual landscapes and skylines of the Twin Cities.

Presented by the McKiernan Library

 

Heaton-Session-600

Session with Matt and Shannon Heaton, April 14 @ 5-6 PM

In-person. Free. Matt and Shannon Heaton are playing a concert at the Celtic Junction Arts Center at 7:00 pm on Sunday, April 14th. Before the concert, they have generously offered to host an in-person session from 5-6 pm.

Bring your flutes and fiddles—or just come for a pint—and enjoy a pre-concert informal session led by Matt & Shannon Heaton in the Center for Irish Music's Scanlan Music Hall.

An Irish session is a fun, lively social gathering of traditional musicians, playing sets of tunes together in unison.

If you know three or 300 tunes, you are welcome to pull up a chair and be part of the hang. And if you’re new to the tradition, there are still many enjoyable ways to participate, including listening to tunes you don’t know and being part of the conversations between tunes!

Presented by Center for Irish Music and Celtic Junction's Sunday Session.

Matt and Shannon Heaton promo image

Matt and Shannon Heaton in Concert, April 14 @ 7-9:30 PM

In-person. $20. With engaging stage presence and masterfully-crafted music, Boston-based Matt and Shannon Heaton offer well-travelled Irish music from the heart. Their new album “Whirring Wings” is a seamless blend of brand-new and centuries-old music. The title comes from Robert Burns’ line “the moorcock springs on whirring wings,” and the Heatons took it as stimulus to find lift and space with favorite tunes on flute, guitar, and bouzouki.

Presented by CJAC's Concert Series.

Monday, April 15

OID preschoolers

Free Irish Dance Classes, April 15 @ 4:45 - 5:30 pm

In-person. Free. O'Shea Irish Dance has free trial classes for Preschoolers. Families with little dancers who want to try a class can fill out this form to reserve a spot. Write oidadmin@osheairishdance.com with questions.

Reservation is required.  Presented by O'Shea Irish Dance.

Celtic Viking

Unraveling the Knot: Shared and Divergent Designs in Celtic and Viking Knotwork, April 15 @ 6:30-7:45 pm CDT

Online. Free.  In this seminar and discussion, teaching artist Jeanine Malec will highlight the overlapping motifs as well as unique characteristics that unite and define these two fascinating historical traditions in knotwork and design. Rounding out our panel, Carstens Smith, Director of Education at Norway House and Steve Griffith, Education Chair and history instructor at Celtic Junction will share their insights on the overlapping histories between Norway and Ireland and how they intersect in America.

Participants must register at the link above to receive the Zoom webinar link.

Presented by CJAC's Education Program in partnership with Norway House.

Tuesday, April 16

Myth Round Table

Myth Round Table, April 16 @ 6:30 -7:30 pm CDT

In person. Free. Our monthly discussion group will continue to explore the story of the great hero, Cuchulainn. All welcome. Located in the education classroom and hosted by Ryan Quinn. 

Presented by CJAC's Education Program.

Celtic Woman

Celtic Woman: 20th Anniversary Tour at the State Theatre, April 16 @ 7 - 10 pm CDT

In person. Discount code IRISH. Join us as Celtic Woman celebrates two decades of music and artistry with their 20th Anniversary Tour, landing at the prestigious State Theatre on April 16th. This momentous occasion promises an evening filled with the ethereal harmonies and captivating melodies that have defined Celtic Woman as a powerhouse in world and folk music. Experience the evolution of their journey, showcasing a blend of traditional Irish music with contemporary notes, in a performance that honors their illustrious past while looking forward to the future.

Presented by CJAC's Outreach Program.

Wednesday, April 17

OID beginners

Free Irish Dance Classes, April 17 @ 5:30 - 6:30 pm

In-person. Free. O'Shea Irish Dance has free trial classes for Beginners. Families with dancers 5-13 years who would like to try a class can fill out this form to reserve a spot. Write oidadmin@osheairishdance.com with questions.

Reservation is required.  Presented by O'Shea Irish Dance.

The Village Funeral: An Irish Family by a Graveside during the Great Famine by Daniel MacDonald

The Stories They Tell: Ireland’s Famine Museums, April 17 @ 6:30-7:30 pm CDT

In-person. Free. The Stories They Tell: Ireland’s famine museums – in Dublin and Strokestown – are compelling stops for visitors. This class will spotlight the museums’ histories with photos and commentary from the academic coordinator of the Irish Heritage Trust which operates the National Famine Museum in Strokestown. Hosted by Jane Kennedy. Please note, registration is required. Follow the link above to register.

Located in the education classroom across from the McKiernan Library. There is no elevator access to that floor. Presented by CJAC's Education Program.

Hurling practive

Hurling Practice with TCRE, April 17 @ 7:00-9:00 pm

In-Person. Free. Are you interested in learning a new sport? Hurling is the national sport of Ireland with over 3000 years of history behind it. It uses the combined skills of baseball, lacrosse, hockey, and soccer. Twin Cities Robert Emmets is the Minnesota representative of this great sport. We are a coed club that offers many levels of participation. From fun and recreational social leagues year-round to competitive traveling teams that participate in, and win, national tournaments. Our April practices are geared toward teaching new players the basics of the game and for returning players to knock the rust off. We are welcoming to all and hope to see you on the pitch!

Practice is located at 1151 Jessamine Ave W, St. Paul 55103. No sign-up, just show-up! Presented by Twin Cities Robert Emmets Hurling

Irish-Dance-at-the-Dubliner-5624c

Irish Céilí Dancing at The Dubliner, April 17 @ 7:00 - 9:00 pm

In person. Free. Join in the fun with an Irish céilí dancing session, every Wednesday with instructor Paul McCluskey and live music with local musicians. Presented by The Dubliner Pub located at 2162 University Ave in St. Paul.

Irish Bungalow

The Irish Bungalow: Jack Fitzsimons and the Bungalow Bliss, April 17 @ 8:00-9:00 pm CDT

Online. Free. To many, the bungalow can be seen as a descendent of the traditional Irish cottage. With a goal to improve housing in rural Ireland, Fitzsimons’s plans offered improved living standards, but his designs garnered a fair amount of criticism for their bland aesthetics and unnatural relationship to the landscape.

Participants must register online by “purchasing” this class at the link above. You will receive a Zoom meeting link from instructor Otto Paier on the day of the presentation. Presented by CJAC's Education Program.

Thursday, April 18

Ghosts1916690-crop

Irish Studies Round Table, April 18 @ 7-8:30 pm CDT

In person. Free. The discussion theme will be the Easter Rising 1916. All are welcome to join! We will meet in the education classroom across from the McKiernan Library. Jane Kennedy and Patrick O'Donnell will be your hosts.

Presented by the CJAC's Education Program.

Friday, April 19

Morien McBurnie

Taking Flight Collective Concert, April 19 @ 7:00-9:30 pm CDT

In person. $10. Free for youth 18 years and younger.  The 2024 Taking Flight Collective is headed up by multi-instrumentalist Morien McBurnie (banjo, guitar, bouzouki, song) who will be performing a concert of gorgeous songs and driving instrumentals with the following guests: Ethan King, Owen Larson, Shawn McBurnie, Brian Miller, David Ochs, Cormac Ó Sé, Carmen Pasquerella, Katya Roberts, Liam Slattery, and Dáithí Sproule.

Sponsored by the Celtic Junction Arts Center.  Presented by Center for Irish Music.

Lies we tell

Film: Lies We Tell, April 19 @ 7:00-8:30 pm CDT

In person. $15. At the Main Cinema located at 105 SE Main St, Minneapolis, MN 55414. Use code CAJMSPIFF43 for $2 off.
Here’s a taut 19th century thriller, crackling with tension and barbed dialogue, that pits smart but stubborn young heiress Maud against her scheming guardian Uncle Silas (David Wilmot), his odious son, spoiled daughter and daughter’s sinister governess. In this clever feminist re-working of the Gothic novel by Sheridan Le Fanu, the orphan Maud (Agnes O’Casey, great-granddaughter of Irish literary giant Sean), still a minor, ignores the concerns of her late father’s trustees and agrees to be the ward of his estranged brother, only to find that the rumors about Silas’s shadowy and possibly murderous past are true and then some. Inspired screenwriter Elisabeth Gooch decided that she had had enough of passive Victorian heroines and wrote a film that she would want to see. Confidently directed by Lisa Mulcahy and lushly shot in available light by Eleonor Bowman, Lies We Tell is a breathtaking treat. –Alissa Simon

Presented by Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF).

Saturday, April 20

feis2024b

O'Shea Irish Dance Feis, April 20 at Mall of America

In-person. Free to spectators. An Irish stepdance competition at which students from many different Irish dance schools compete in front of judges who score them out of 100 points. Top dancers in each age level and skill level receive medals or trophies as awards. Dancers must register and pay at Feisworx to compete.  Presented by the Irish Dance Parent Association and  O'Shea Irish Dance.

Geraldine Mills Poet

When the Light: How Memory and History Shape a Poem, April 20 @ 1:00-2:00 pm CDT

Online. Free. Join award-winning Co. Galway poet and writer Geraldine Mills as she reads from “When the Light,” a collection of new and selected poetry published in 2023. As a descendant from a family who arrived in the U.S. in 1883, stayed briefly and returned to Ireland, Mills’ poetry draws from her family’s experience in search of place.

Participants must register online by “purchasing” this class at the link above. You will receive a Zoom meeting link from instructor Jane Kennedy on the day of the presentation. Presented by CJAC's Education Program.

The Magdelene Sisters

MOVIE: The Magdalene Sisters, April 20 @ 3:00 - 5:30 pm

In-person. Free. The year is 1964, three teenage women are forced by their families and caretakers to
live and work in one of the many homes for “fallen women” run by individual orders of the Catholic Church that existed throughout Ireland until the 1990s. The Magdalene Sisters is a heartbreaking and sometimes brutal film that portrays without flinching a dark time in Irish history…a time that continues to haunt the Irish to the present day. A discussion will follow the film.

The film, written and directed by Scotsman Peter Mullan, received much acclaim when it premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2002. It has been both praised and criticized for its portrayal of life in Ireland’s Magdalene laundries and the role played by the Catholic Church. Running time: 119 minutes.

Due to the subject matter and graphic depiction of the treatment of women, this film may not be suitable for those under 18 years of age.

Participants must register online for this movie so we can plan appropriate seating in the Classroom or Studio 3. Presented by CJAC's Outreach Program

Scottish ceilidh band

Ceilidh with the Gunn Slingers, April 20 @ 6:00 - 9:00 pm

In person. $10, Free for youth 18 and under. The Gunn Slingers play a mix of traditional Scottish tunes with hard groove and high energy to create a night of dancing and craic you will never forget.

Total Scottish ceilidh funk in its wildest form - the kind the kids like.

Presented by CJAC's Youth Advisory Council

Sunday, April 21

Feis2024

Leap into Spring Feis, April 21 at Mall of America

In-person. Free to spectators. An Irish stepdance competition at which students from many different Irish dance schools compete in front of judges who score them out of 100 points. Top dancers in each age level and skill level receive medals or trophies as awards. Dancers must register and pay at Feisworx to compete.  Presented by the Irish Dance Parent Association and  O'Shea Irish Dance.

Brian Miller

Into the Woods: Irish Music and Dance in Logging Era Minnesota, April 21 2:00 pm CDT

Hybrid. In-person or Register for the Webinar. Free. Franz Rickaby, one of only a handful of folk song collectors active in Minnesota, wrote in the 1920s that "in the logging camp the hegemony in song belonged to the Irish." Eoin McKiernan Library Director Brian Miller has spent over 15 years investigating songs and other Irish cultural expressions in logging-era Minnesota. Join him for this audiovisual exploration of Rum River logging camp jig dancers, Bemidji street corner ballad singers and Irish fiddlers who raised the roof on the Iron Range.

Presented by the Eoin McKiernan Library.

Irish session in Twin Cities. Several people sitting around beverage laden tables playing instruments in a large warm room filled with book shelves, lights, and stained glass.

CJAC's Irish Music Session, April 21 @ 4 - 9 pm

In-person. Free. Join us most Sundays at 4 pm for the Learner’s Session and at 6 pm for the Regular Session. The cafe is open with a limited selection of beverages and snacks. Presented by CJAC's Outreach Program.

Monday, April 22

OID preschoolers

Free Irish Dance Classes, April 22 @ 4:45 - 5:30 pm

In-person. Free. O'Shea Irish Dance has free trial classes for Preschoolers. Families with little dancers who want to try a class can fill out this form to reserve a spot. Write oidadmin@osheairishdance.com with questions.

Reservation is required.  Presented by O'Shea Irish Dance.

Elizabeth Stack

Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears: Ireland’s Immigration Story by Dr. Elizabeth Stack, April 22 @ 6:30 - 8:00 pm CDT

Online via Zoom. Free. Dr. Elizabeth Stack is the new Executive Director of the American Irish Historical Society (AIHS) in New York. Stack say: "I have learned that because emigration is part of the Irish story, and immigration part of the American, there is a reciprocity that exists between both countries that exceeds familial ties or time of arrival."

Dr. Stack’s topic will be “Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears: Ireland’s Immigration Story.” In this lecture, Dr. Stack will trace the changing patterns of emigration and how the diaspora has adapted to life in America. She will also look at how Ireland has coped with the exodus of her people, and how for the first time in her history, Ireland has recently received more people than have left.

Participants must register online for this webinar at the link above. Presented by CJAC's Education Program.

Tuesday, April 23

Lies we tell

Film: Lies We Tell, April 23 @ 4:30-6:00 pm CDT

In person. $15. At the Main Cinema located at 105 SE Main St, Minneapolis, MN 55414. Use code CAJMSPIFF43 for $2 off.
Here’s a taut 19th century thriller, crackling with tension and barbed dialogue, that pits smart but stubborn young heiress Maud against her scheming guardian Uncle Silas (David Wilmot), his odious son, spoiled daughter and daughter’s sinister governess. In this clever feminist re-working of the Gothic novel by Sheridan Le Fanu, the orphan Maud (Agnes O’Casey, great-granddaughter of Irish literary giant Sean), still a minor, ignores the concerns of her late father’s trustees and agrees to be the ward of his estranged brother, only to find that the rumors about Silas’s shadowy and possibly murderous past are true and then some. Inspired screenwriter Elisabeth Gooch decided that she had had enough of passive Victorian heroines and wrote a film that she would want to see. Confidently directed by Lisa Mulcahy and lushly shot in available light by Eleonor Bowman, Lies We Tell is a breathtaking treat. –Alissa Simon

Presented by Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF).

Dungeons and Dragons

Dungeons and Dragons, April 23 @ 6:30 - 7:30 pm

Online. Free. Join this presentation to learn about how Irish mythology has become integral to the world's most popular roleplaying game. We'll explore the many spells, monsters, and classes that take inspiration from Ireland's larger-than-life legends.

Participants must register online by “purchasing” this class at the link above. You will receive a Zoom meeting link from instructor Ryan Quinn on the day of the presentation. Presented by CJAC's Education Program.

Wednesday, April 24

OID beginners

Free Irish Dance Classes, April 24 @ 5:30 - 6:30 pm

In-person. Free. O'Shea Irish Dance has free trial classes for Beginners. Families with dancers 5-13 years who would like to try a class can fill out this form to reserve a spot. Write oidadmin@osheairishdance.com with questions.

Reservation is required.  Presented by O'Shea Irish Dance.

Lady Gregory.

The Living Tree: Lady Gregory and the Irish Literary Renaissance, April 24 @ 6:30 - 7:45 pm CDT

Online via Zoom. Free.  This talk will discuss the greatness of the Galway-born, Lady Gregory (1852-1932), her role as founder and director of the Abbey Theatre (Ireland's national theatre), and her work as a playwright and lecturer who visited St. Paul and Minneapolis in 1915.

Participants must register online by “purchasing” this class at the link above. You will receive a Zoom meeting link from instructors Mary McCormick and Patrick O'Donnell on the day of the presentation. Presented by CJAC's Education Program.

OID adults

Free Irish Dance Classes for Adults, April 24 @ 7:30-8:30 pm

In-person. Free. Join an O’Shea Irish Dance soft-shoe class and get a thorough workout while learning some steps with other adults. Come on in, it’s fun! Fill out this form to reserve a spot. Write oidadmin@osheairishdance.com with questions.

Reservation required. Presented by O'Shea Irish Dance.

Thursday, April 25

Julia Topper

Introduction to Ethnomusicology, April 25 @ 5:00-6:15 pm CDT

Online. Free. For every ethnomusicologist, there is a different definition of what, in fact, ethnomusicology is (and isn't). Come learn about this fascinating discipline of study, and learn what Dr. Julia Topper's personal definition of the field is! This class will cover the history of how ethnomusicology came to be, how it exists in the world today, and what lessons you can take from it to enhance your daily dose of music, whatever form that may take.

Dr. Julia Topper is a musician, Irish dancer, and ethnomusicologist from the Washington, DC region. She holds an MA and PhD in ethnomusicology from the Eastman School of Music and University of Maryland, College Park, respectively, and she has taught at a number of academic institutions in the DC area.

Participants must register online by “purchasing” this class at the link above. You will receive a Zoom meeting link from instructor Julia Topper on the day of the presentation. 

Presented by CJAC's Outreach Program.

Friday, April 26

Stories I Didin't KNow

Screening and Discussion: Stories I Didn't Know, April 26 @ 7:00 - 9:00 pm

In-person. A search for her Irish ancestors leads a woman down an unexpected path to a family secret about a sacred piece of land.

“Should be required viewing for Minnesotans” - Peter Diamond, MSP Magazine

Director Rita Davern, Dakota educator Ramona Kitto Stately and recording artist Reuben Kitto Stately (stage name KITTO), will be present for the screening and Q&A session following the film.

Presented by CJAC's Outreach Program.

Saturday, April 27

CJACLogo-Red-15years-600px

CJAC 15th ANNIVERSARY Celebration, April 27 @ 5:30 - 8:00 pm  CDT

In person. Free. Join us for the Celtic Junction's 15th Anniversary Celebration! Kick off the evening with a reception and cocktails at 5:30 PM, followed by an evening of entertainment from 6-8 PM with King Wilkies Dream. Don't miss the highlight of the evening – our Aer Lingus Raffle Drawing at 8 PM, when you could win 2 round-trip tickets to Ireland! Celebrate with us as we honor 15 years of culture and community at the Celtic Junction.

Presented by Celtic Junction Arts Center.

Sunday, April 28

Next Generation Kids

Irish Arts Adventure: Dance, Music, and Language for Kids, April 28 @ 1:00 - 2:00 pm

In person. $10. Adrienne O'Shea will provide an engaging introduction to the rich traditions of Irish language, dance, and music. This class is a wonderful opportunity for young learners to explore the vibrant world of Irish arts, immerse themselves in its lively rhythms, and maybe even pick up a few words in the Irish language. Join us for a fun-filled hour where culture and education meet the joy of learning!

Follow the link above to register by purchasing class.

Presented by CJAC's Education Program.

Build an Irish flag

LEGO(R): Build an Irish Flag, April 28 @ 2:00 - 3:00 pm CDT

In person. $10. Build an Irish flag out of LEGO(R) Parts and other materials! Join us for a one-hour jam-packed workshop where building and designing are key! An instructor who has worked for one of the largest architecture firms in the Twin Cities will guide youth through the design/build process and teach different LEGO(R) building techniques. The session is open to school-age youth. This is an introduction to design through creative play with LEGO(R) Parts and other materials.

Follow the link above to register by purchasing this class.

Presented by CJAC's Education Program.

Irish Fair Town Hall for Irish Arts Week

Irish Fair of Minnesota Volunteer Party at Finnegans, April 28 @ 1:00 - 3:00 pm

In-person at Finnegans. Join us at Finnegans Brewery for the Irish Fair of Minnesota Volunteer Appreciation Party! This special event is our way of saying thank you to the incredible volunteers who make Irish Fair a success. Enjoy an evening of camaraderie, refreshments, and fun as we celebrate the dedication and spirit of our volunteer community.

Presented by Irish Fair of Minnesota

Irish session in Twin Cities. Several people sitting around beverage laden tables playing instruments in a large warm room filled with book shelves, lights, and stained glass.

CJAC's Irish Music Session, April 28 @ 4 - 9 pm

In-person. Free. Join us most Sundays at 4 pm for the Learner’s Session and at 6 pm for the Regular Session. The cafe is open with a limited selection of beverages and snacks. Presented by CJAC's Outreach Program.

Monday, April 29

Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus Launch, April 29

Welcome back Aer Lingus! You were missed.

OIDhandspodium

History of modern competitive Irish dance, 6:00-7:30 pm, April 29th

Hybrid. In the classroom or via Zoom webinar. Dive into the history of modern competitive Irish dance with Julia Topper. We'll explore its evolution, regional influences, and the nationalist movement that shaped the CLRG's national competitive style. This session will also pave the way to understanding Riverdance's emergence at Eurovision 30 years ago. Join us for a concise journey through Irish dance history and its landmark moments, setting the stage for our Riverdance anniversary event.

Register for the webinar by following the link above.

Presented by the Outreach program.

Tuesday, April 30

Eurovision

30 Year Eurovision Anniversary, April 30 @ 3:00 - 4:30 pm CDT

Online. Free. Thirty years ago to the day, the Eurovision Song Contest featured the debut of "Riverdance" as a short interval act, a performance that captivated the world and led to the creation of the groundbreaking show as we know it. Join us to explore the enduring impact of "Riverdance" with original cast members Cormac O'Se, who was a 16-year-old dancer in the lineup, and Katie McMahon, the featured soloist. They will share insights into the show's legacy and its influence on the establishment of Celtic Junction. Panelists include Natalie Nugent O'Shea, Executive Director of Celtic Junction Arts Center; Brian Miller, Library Director; and Patrick O'Donnell, Education Director. Don't miss this fascinating discussion on the transformative power of "Riverdance."

You must register at the link above to receive the Zoom link. Presented by CJAC's Concerts and Events Program.

Support

These organizations are funded in part by the generous support of the Minnesota State Arts Board, Metro Regional Arts Council, Saint Paul Star Program, and the Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Program.

Minnesota State Arts Board and Clean Water Land & Legacy logos
Metro Regional Arts Council logo
Saint Paul Cultural Star Program Logo
globalirishheader1083