Friday's Schedule

Celtic-infused, Americana-inspired, Folk Rock performed with unbridled passion, infectious enthusiasm, electrifying energy, and technical finesse. The Hounds of Finn are engaging entertainers who leave audiences tapping their toes, clapping their hands, stomping their feet, and wanting more. Learn more about The Hounds of Finn!

Leslie Rich grew up in Northern Ireland, listening to a mix of indie rock, acoustic songwriters and traditional Celtic music. Inspired by artists like Luka Bloom and Throwing Muses, Leslie became the principal songwriter, singer and guitarist for bands such as Emily Ryder, A Little Of The Ready and the Celtic folk band Hounds of Finn, recording on various labels including Immortal Recordings, Time To Be Proud Records, New Folk Records and Loud Folk Records. He founded the Rocket Soul Choir in 1994, mainly as an acoustic response to the heavy, guitar-driven, Irish bands cropping up at that time. Even while Leslie recorded solo albums, played in other projects and relocated to Minneapolis, the Rocket Soul Choir continued in various configurations over the years--always with the mission to create stripped-down rock. The band has released four albums, including the 2016 EP Kidder's Son, which received high praise on both sides of the pond, and their new album The Butcher Boy--the first featuring the current lineup. When not making music, Leslie loves to bake and cook and claims his best songs have come from picking up a guitar while waiting on a cheesecake to come out of the oven. He released new solo record that is filled with family stories and a childhood in Northern Ireland. Learn more about Leslie Rich.

Wild Colonial Bhoys—The Irish-American band from Minnesota. Their sound is a blending of old Irish traditions handed down through the generations, with modern American rock that inspired them to make music from the time they were just wee lads. Celtic Rock that Rocks!  Learn more about the Wild Colonial Bhoys.

When virtuoso Irish playing jumps the pond running naked through the wide open fields of bluegrass/Americana JigJam is born. Bluegrass and American Folk music originated from their homes and now JigJam are here to take it back! Learn more about  JigJam.

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! Learn more about Jim McGowan.

Rúpálaí (Roo-Pul-Lee) is an uncommonly traditional quartet featuring songs in Irish, English and Breton, along with driving dance tunes and more. With Siobhán Dugan on vocals, Buddy Ferrari on vocals and bouzouki, Rosa Wells on fiddle and Chad McAnally on Gaelic harp, flute and vocals.

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. Learn more about Rince na Chroi irish Dancers.

Justin O'Carrick will be calling the dances. 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! 

This year's performance would be of the debut album of Adrienne O'Shea, a singer accompanied by Brian Miller (potentially) on guitar and bouzouki and Danny Diamond (potentially) on fiddle. They perform traditional Irish songs collected and arranged by Adrienne and Brian, that center on women in traditional stories, combining tradition with a new young voice.

For over 15 years Locklin Road has played their unique blend of Irish, original and Americana music in venues from pubs to church services and on five CDs. Guitars, mandolin, fiddle and bodhran accompany full vocal harmonies on songs ranging from pub songs to soaring ballads. Learn more about Locklin Road.

Pete McCauley and Tim Cheesebrow are an acoustic duo from St Paul, offering a unique spin on traditional and contemporary Celtic material - as well as offering up original material that evokes the past. Learn more about Mac and Cheese.

Release the Craicen is a 7-piece Folk Rock band consisting of a standard rock-instruments featuring accordion and fiddle, specializing in Paddy Rock style covers. Their style is very similar to Flogging Molly and the Pogues with a handful of traditionals and originals added. They've played the Irish Fair 3 times and are often at The Dubliner. Learn more about Release the Craicen.

Join us for 15 minutes at the Dublin Stage to hear from our Board Chair, Tom Whelan, meet members of the Board, Mr. Pat and Miss Shamrock, members of the Consulate General of Ireland's office, and our 2023 Curtin Conway award winner.  Every year, we give an award to a person/persons within the Irish community who have consistently gone above and beyond over time to promote and perpertuate Irish culture.  These award winners are tireless and generous and deserving of your attention for this brief ceremony. 

Raise ‘em up. Drink ‘em down. Gaelic Storm brings an energetic mix of Irish and Scottish traditional fare – including some drinking songs – and bring so much more to audiences everywhere. Country music fans adore their storytelling, Bluegrass fans love the instrumentals, Celtic fans love their devotion to tradition, and rock fans simply relish the passion they have for their instruments and the energy they bring to stage each night. Learn more about Gaelic Storm.

The Wild Rose Cloggers are a fun group of ladies aged 18 to 70-something who love to dance to all kinds of music, but especially Irish! Clogging is a traditional form of American dance, with roots leading back to all countries, including Ireland. They are not only all ages but also of all abilities. They have diverse backgrounds, different strengths and weaknesses, and dance at different levels of difficulty. Some of them love being on stage, and some can’t wait until the show is done. The Wild Rose Cloggers share a love of the dance, the great exercise clogging affords, and the fun they have together. The best news of all is anyone can be a clogger and enjoy this form of dance and performance for a lifetime. Learn more about the WIld Rose Cloggers.

Onórach Mulhern Geraghty School of Irish Dance is one of the only international Irish dance schools in the world. Studio locations in Eden Prairie, Chicago, and Dublin. They teach beginners through world championship levels and enjoy performing in their communities as well! Learn more about Onórach Mulhern Geraghty School of Irish Dance.

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. 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. Learn more about Clare Cunningham.

This show is for mature audiences and is NOT family-friendly!

Comedy comes to Irish Fair! Irish comedians, Katie Boyle, Sean Finnerty and Mick Thomas will be taking the stage on Friday and Saturday nights. Catch these hilarious voices of modern Ireland, accents included.

From Longford, Ireland, Sean Finnerty decided to move stateside where a series of mature decisions that he failed to make led him to stand-up comedy. Recently he was rewarded for his efforts as he became the first ever Irish comedian to perform on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Spending his first number of years in comedy based out of Orlando, Sean was selected for Comedy Central’s Up Next competition, made his television debut as co-host of Season 9 of Fireball Run on Amazon Prime. He has also performed at several festivals including Laugh Your Asheville Off, Edinburgh Fringe, and Electric Picnic, along with making it to the semi finals of the nationwide talent search Stand Up NBC. A keen eye for detail Sean has also developed a reputation as a Roaster and is currently the number 1 ranked roast comic in New York City. 

Born and raised in Wexford, it wasn’t until moving to New York that Mick Thomas's stand-up comedy career was born. A natural performer and insightful writer, in a few short years Mick has blown away one club owner after the next with his honest and genuinely original takes on American society and life as a young and dedicated family man. Mick Thomas entertains audiences regularly all across Long Island and Manhattan, and is swiftly becoming one of the most sought after acts in Clubs and Casinos up and down the East Coast. Mick has performed with the biggest names in comedy including Dom Irrera, Norm Macdonald, Jim Breuer, Carl LaBove, John Pinette, and Greg Giraldo.

New to the Irish Fair, Katie Boyle is an Irish comedian living in NYC. She performs daily all over NYC and has been seen regularly at New York Comedy Club, Stand Up NY, Eastville many other amazing clubs and shows. She runs a podcast The Shift where she and guests talk about sex and dating from an Irish perspective. She runs a monthly show; Transplants Comedy at QED and Comedy at The Dead Rabbit Irish Comedy. She recorded her debut album and special, 'I'll do it myself' with Pinch records and New York Comedy Club which is out on all streaming services and hit no.1 on iTunes. She has headlined amazing clubs around the country and brought her hour to two sold out shows in Dublin this year. She was featured in NY Funniest showcase for the New York Comedy Festival 2022. She has also been featured in Laughing Skull, Women in Comedy, Kanas City Irish Fest and on Sirius XM. Generally she talks extensively about her journey through American culture, dating, and shame!

Learn more about the Real Irish Comedy Tour.

Students from the Center for Irish Music Open Sky Ensemble will present traditional tunes and songs on a variety of traditional instruments in the Hospitality Area immediately following Mass.

The Center for Irish Music is a thriving nonprofit community music school based in St. Paul’s Hamline-Midway neighborhood inside the Celtic Junction building.  The Center for Irish Music is dedicated to handing down traditional Irish music to the next generation of musicians in our community. Through private lessons, group classes, sessions and events featuring world-class artists, the Center for Irish Music aims to inspire and support the traditional Irish music community in the Twin Cities, throughout the Midwest, and Canada. 

Also performing as Singleton Street, Kindred blends Celtic and Americana music on whistle, bouzouki, nyckelharpa, string bass, and three-part harmonies. Nominated for best band at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival and winners of the Duet Championship at the State Fair. Learn more about Kindred.

Hudson Irish Dance Academy is a premier Irish Dancing School located in Wayzata. They specialize in competitive and performance dance. Their owner and director Corey Hudson was one of the Irish Dance Magazine Global Excellence in Teaching Award Winners in 2022. Learn more about Hudson Irish Dance Academy.