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Included with paid museum admission; free for members
Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day at MIM with energetic performances of Irish music and step dance, engaging Celtic harp and céilí folk dance workshops, and a Celtic knot keychain craft.
Sponsored by APS Supported by Four Peaks Irish Arts, the Irish Cultural Center and McClelland Library, and Phoenix Sister Cities Ennis Committee
Irish Gifts Available for Purchase 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. The Museum Store will feature a beautiful selection of crafts from Irish designers, Irish instruments including bodhrans and tin whistles, and an interesting assortment of books and CDs.
Celtic Knot Keychain Craft 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Celtic knots have origins in the plaited designs found on Roman mosaic floors from the third and fourth centuries CE. Most commonly associated with Celtic lands, variations of these intricate designs can be seen on carpets, stone mosaics, churches, and religious art dating as far back as the seventh century and are still incredibly popular today. Try tying your own at our Celtic knot keychain craft!
Photo Booth 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Have your picture taken with fun musical props at MIM’s custom photo booth, and instantly get your own copy to take home.
Traditional Irish Music Performance 10:30–11:15 a.m. Pull up your suspenders and put on your scally cap! Stilicho will perform at MIM this Saint Patrick’s weekend with their accordion, upright bass, guitar, and banjo in tow. Aptly named in honor of their heroic Irish forefathers, Stilicho exudes a sense of nostalgia and longing for Ireland that will have you doing a jig in no time at all!
Face Painting 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Add a touch of whimsy to your Saint Patrick’s Day look! Have your face painted with a colorful design by the artists of Hello Face Paint.
Celtic Harp Workshop 11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m. (Saturday) Have you always wanted to play the harp or learn more about its origins? Local harpist Jocelyn Obermeyer will present an informative and interactive workshop on the Celtic harp. Join in for strumming, plucking, creating, and laughing—no prior musical experience necessary.
Irish-Inspired Lunch Menu Available for Purchase 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Stop by MIM’s café for a taste of Ireland! The weekend menu features delicious Irish favorites such as bangers and mash, potato soup, corned beef, Irish soda bread, and a chocolate mousse with Bailey’s whipped cream.
Céilí Music and Dance 12:15–1:30 p.m. (Sunday) Join the Irish Cultural Center’s resident band and callers to learn the basics of Irish céilí, a social folk dance popular in Ireland. Jim and Anne Daugherty have been teaching and hosting dances for over a decade together with live music from Dé Máirt Ceól. Get your dancing shoes ready!
Irish Pub Music Performance 12:45–1:30 p.m. (Saturday) Don’t miss Trotters Wake as they perform a lively mix of Irish pub songs, rebel songs, ballads, and traditional instrumental tunes. This Saint Patrick’s Day marks the band’s thirteenth anniversary of bringing the spirited sounds of Ireland’s musical culture to Arizona.
Curator Talk: “Pipes, Fiddles, and Flutes: Instruments and Sounds of Ireland” 2:15–3:00 p.m. Irish music enjoys a devoted audience both within and outside of the Emerald Isle, and generations of performers have established its enduring appeal. With an emphasis on emblematic instruments and their makers and players, MIM curator Richard Walter, PhD, will discuss the ways in which Irish traditional music contributes to a vivid national identity while influencing musicians worldwide.
Irish Step Dance Performance 3:15–4:00 p.m. Experience the joy and fun of Irish dancing! See the Michael Patrick Gallagher School of Irish Dance perform traditional Irish step dances. The school’s founder and namesake, Michael Patrick Gallagher, is an award-winning professional Irish dancer and former lead male dancer for Riverdance, holding All-Ireland and World Championship titles and having danced the most lead Riverdance performances given by any male principal in the history of the show. Now based in Phoenix, Gallagher encourages his students to connect with the rich cultural tradition of Irish dancing. Their high kicks and rhythmic steps are sure to leave you eager to join!