New CCÉ branch in Arizona
The new Four Peaks Irish Arts is Arizona’s branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Pronounced COAL-tis KYOL-tory AIR-in, CCÉ is the largest group in the world dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of Irish music, dance, language, song, and culture. Loosely translated, it means “gathering of Irish musicians.” It is especially interested in passing on these traditions to our youth.
Founded in Dublin in 1951, CCÉ now has more...
Thursday, June 5, 2008 Read More →
New Celtic Singing Group Forming--Open Auditions
Awen, a newly formed Celtic singing group, will be holding open auditions for Altos, Tenors and Basses. Awen is a small chamber ensemble of 14-16 dedicated voices performing a broad range of Celtic music, within a cappella and instrumental formats.
For more information, please email awensings@gmail.com or phone: 572-8693.Wednesday, May 21, 2008 Read More →
2008 St. Patrick's Day Parade Winners
It was a chilly and sometimes rainy day for the parade and festival, but the crowd had a good time. Here are the parade winners (see their pictures here):
Best of Parade: Seven Pipers Scottish Society Pipe & Drum Band, second place, Tir Conaill Academy of Irish Dance
Best Float: McArdle Clan, second place, St. Augustine High School
Most Humorous: Mashed Potato Queens, second place, Society of Perpetual Indulgence
Best Theme (St. Patrick...Sunday, March 16, 2008 Read More →
Arizona Dancers Shine at the Western U.S. Region Oireachtas
Tow dancers from Tir Conaill Academy of Irish Dance, Libby Decker for Girls Under 10 and Matthew Svoboda in Boys Under 10, won first place at the Western U.S. Region Oireachtas in Los Angeles last November. Nicholas Shore, also with Tir Conaill, placed second in Boys Under 15. They have qualified to dance at the the Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne 2008, the world championships in Irish Dancing, which will take place in Belfast, Northern Ireland, March 23-30, 2008. Tucsonans with the Maguire Academy of Irish Dance, also did well at the Oireachtas. Kyren Lynch placed fourth in Boys Under 15, Riley Lopez placed sixth in Boys Under 10, Simon Williamson placed seventh in Boys Under 17, and Patrick Lopez placed seventh in Boys Under 12.
Saturday, March 8, 2008 Read More →
Young Ambasssador Program Seeks Student Applicants to Come to Belfast
The Saint Patrick Centre in County Down, Northern Ireland, is about to launch a new cultural program which invites young people in Arizona to come to Ireland, experience the cultures of the northern part of the island and build a life long association with the people there. The Centre, which is a major tourist attraction and reconciliation site located in “Saint Patrick’s Country” beside the patron saint’s grave has established a non profit support organisation called the Friends of Saint Patrick in America. Their aim is to build on the interest and links which already exists in Arizona and promote a greater understanding of the shared cultural heritage of Northern Ireland. Central to the focus of the Friends of Saint Patrick for 2008 is The Young Ambassador Program which seeks twelve prospective Young Ambassadors from throughout North America to travel to Belfast in July/August 2008 to explore various aspects of traditions particular to that part of the island of Ireland.
Thursday, February 7, 2008 Read More →
New Irish Store is Open
Tucson has a new Celtic oriented shop, located in downtown Tucson, offering items of Irish, Scottish, and Welsh origins. The grand opening was November 24th. The store is located at 222 E Congress St. It is across the street from the Ronstadt Bus Terminal, next to the Marble store.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007 Read More →
Tucson Dancers Do Well at Old Pueblo Feis
193 dancers, representing 29 Irish dance schools, competed at the inaugural Old Pueblo Feis Irish dance competition held in Tucson on September 8th. Our local dancers did very well. Open Championship winners were: Anna Louise Martin, Tir Conaill Academy of Irish Dance, Under 13 Open Set Dance; Kyren Lynch, Maguire Academy of Irish Dance, Under 15 Open Championship and Under 15 Open Hard Shoe; and Christine Solinsky, Scoil Rince Ui...
Monday, September 10, 2007 Read More →
Tir Conaill Dancers on Tucson 12
The Tir Conaill Academy of Irish Dance will be featured this month on a segment of the program REC365 on Tucson 12 on Cox Cable (Comcast 75). The program will start Monday Sept. 10 and air daily at various times through October 8th. REC365 airs Thursdays & Saturdays @ 8pm. For a complete schedule of times and video on demand log on to www.tucson12.tv.
Friday, September 7, 2007 Read More →
Round the House Best in Tammies Again
Round the House has again done well in the 2007 Tucson Area Music Awards (TAMMIES), the Tucson Weekly readers poll. For the sixth year in a row they won Best in the Traditional/ethnic category. Mark Robertson-Tessi won best acoustic guitar and runner-up for best string player. Dave Firestine won best string player. Claire Zucker won best female vocalist, The band was first runner up for best new release for their CD...
Friday, August 24, 2007 Read More →
We're back
Well, you may have wondered where the web site went. Our web host’s server was hacked, and we were just able to get back up. The technical webmaster (“OpalCat”) is taking steps to prevent this from happening again, especially since all of the many sites she hosts were down for several weeks.
Saturday, August 11, 2007 Read More →
Slow House Seisiun Changes
Starting in September, on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7 pm there will a Ceoiltais (Traditional Irish tune-seisiun) at a private home in the Wilmot/Grant area. For further information call 722-9485.
Saturday, August 11, 2007 Read More →
New Irish Dance Competition
Irish Stepdancers of Tucson and Tir Conaill Academy of Irish Dance will be holding their inaugural Irish stepdance competition, Old Pueblo Feis, September 8th at the Tucson Convention Center. This provides a nice fall bookend to the May feis, Feile Rince Tucson, put on by The Celtic Academy of Tucson and The Maguire Academy of Irish Dance. If you have never seen stepdance competitions, this is a great time...
Tuesday, June 19, 2007 Read More →
Darren Maguire Obtains ADCRG
Darren Maguire, who retired as lead dancer of Riverdance to start The Maguire Academy of Irish Dance in Tucson last summer, has added another feather to his cap. In addition to having obtained his TCRG, the certification required to teach competitive Irish dance under the rules of the Dublin, Ireland-based An Coímísíun le Ríncí Gaelacha, he has now been awarded the ADCRG certification, which qualifies him to adjudicate at Irish dance competitions....
Friday, March 16, 2007 Read More →
Learn Irish Music
Come play in a “ceoiltais” (traditional Irish tune-learning night).
Monday, December 11, 2006 Read More →
English and Scottish Country Dancing on Thursday evenings
Seven Pipers & Tucson Friends of Traditional Music, together with other Tucsonans interested in folk dancing, have planned some live music social dances on Thursday evenings which will include English country dancing and Scottish country dancing to begin with and maybe some Irish ceili dancing later on.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006 Read More →
New Irish Session Web Site
Tucson has a new web site dedicated to providing information on Tucson’s Irish music sessions, particulalry the seisiun at The Auld Dubliner.
Monday, November 20, 2006 Read More →
Tucson Dancers at Oireachtas
This weekend a number of Tucson’s Irish step dancers competed at the Western Region Oireachtas in Portland, Oregon.
Monday, October 23, 2006 Read More →
2006 Phoenix Feis Results
Tucson’s two Irish dance schools were well represented at the Phoenix Feis, held October 20-22, 2006.
Monday, October 23, 2006 Read More →
New Irish Pub in Town
The Auld Dubliner is a new Irish pub opening August 28th at 800 East University Blvd., near the University of Arizona main gate.
Thursday, August 24, 2006 Read More →
New Dance School in Tucson
August 1st was the first day of classes for the new Tucson-based Maguire Academy of Irish Dance. Headed by Darren Maguire, TCRG, the new school is currently offering classes for students aged from 4 through adult, at skill levels from absolute beginner to championship, at two studios in metro Tucson…
Wednesday, August 2, 2006 Read More →
