WHAT A YEAR! Thank you to all our Performers and Demonstrators for a GREAT year!
Albannach
Albannach is Scots-Gaelic for “Scottish” or “Scotsman”. That’s exactly what they are. Albannach is comprised of two Scotsmen and one Scottish lass, all born and bred in Scotland! Plus one American born Scot and an Irishman. Their main purpose in life is to share their intriguing culture, history and heritage by means of their music.
Albannach is not just another Scottish ‘Pipes & Drums’ band, their primal drumming and precise piping stirs the soul of anyone who hears them – young and old! With a champion piper, the unique sounds and talents of a didgeridoo player, and the tribal style bass drumming, Albannach’s music isn’t for the faint of heart! It’s aggressive, like a Celtic punch to the face! These folks ARE Highlanders! Scottish Warriors to the Core! We couldn’t be more thrilled to bring them to Mississippi for the first time!
Founded in 2005, this Pipes & Drum band has taken the USA by storm. Their unique style, charismatic stage performance, and love for all things Scottish has drawn crowds from coast to coast. A MUST SEE! Not just another Scottish Pipes & Drums band!
With 5 CDs, 1 Documentary (Scotumentary), Multiple Fan Tours to Scotland, Canada and the open sea; the Nach Army is 43k and growing! These Celtic Rock Stars are as charismatic off stage as they are on. Being charming, intelligent, funny AND Scottish make all the right ingredients for a great time!
Bass Drummer, Vocalist
Piper
Bass(Rhythm) Drummer, Vocalist
Lead Drummer
Didgeridoo
Seán Heely Celtic Band
With a powerful blend of ancient melodies from Scotland and Ireland, vibrant rhythms from Galicia and Brittany, and original modern compositions, SHCB creates a rich musical journey through the Celtic world. Their groove and drive will have audiences of all ages tapping their feet and dancing in their seats.
The band’s performances are woven with engaging historical narratives, creating a deep connection to the traditions they celebrate. Featuring powerful vocal harmonies and an ever-growing repertoire, their songs include Scots Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ballads, sea shanties, pub songs, and more—bringing the timeless spirit of Celtic folk music to life. Led by U.S National Scottish Fiddle and Gàidhlig singing champion Seán Heely, acclaimed multi-instrumentalist & All-Ireland singing champion Kevin Elam, bouzouki & bass player Beth Patterson, acclaimed percussionist Lucas Ashby, piper Tom Cangelosi and percussive dancer Agi Kovacs, They have performed in venues such as the Kennedy Center, Strathmore Music center, Hylton Performing Arts Center, headliners at Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, Virginia Scottish Games, and the Niel Gow Festival in Scotland.
Kinnfolk
KINNFOLK – the husband and wife duo of Josh and Julie Kinn – weave octave mandolin, bodhrán (Irish drum), and smooth vocal harmonies into their Celtic folk music from the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. From sea shanties and working songs, to trad tunes and Old Time favorites, Kinnfolk’s fresh take on classics blends seamlessly with their original compositions. They share stories as enduring as tartan, spinning yarns steeped in Appalachian charm and enjoying playful banter with the audience. Their shows feel like a kitchen party, where everyone is family, and there’s always room for a dancer. Kinnfolk is rooted in tradition, lore and ancestry – and began with a story of love and romance in the misty mountains of their home in Roanoke, Virginia. After meeting over a shared passion for folk music at an Irish music session, Josh and Julie found a harmony of the heart. They began making music together, and soon after became kin – and Kinn (with two Ns!)
Since forming Kinnfolk in late 2018, the pair have played at festivals and listening rooms with a quickly growing following across Canada and the United States. In 2023 Kinnfolk won the Robinson Emerging Artist Showcase, earning them a Main Stage appearance at Canada’s premiere Celtic event, the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival. They have been featured on the cover of the largest traditional music magazine in the world — Irish Music Magazine — and named one of the top Celtic folk bands to watch in 2025 by The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. In 2022, Kinnfolk received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and the City of Roanoke to create a body of work exploring the history, geography, and folk legends of their town. The resulting project, “Star Above the Mountain,” debuted to a live audience on June 30, 2023.
Kinnfolk’s self-titled debut album (2020) received much airplay and launched them into the international Celtic music scene. Their second album, “The Knotted Circle” (2022), was lauded as “authentic…with a subtle contemporary seasoning” by Music Connection Magazine. Now they’ve released “Star Above the Mountain” (2025), their third album consisting of 8 original tracks and two trad favorites. The release will coincide with a 2025 North American tour and we’re delighted to introduce them to you at CelticFest Mississippi!
Sean McComiskey & Sarah Collins & Richard Osban
Sean McComiskey is among the most innovative young performers on the button accordion, with a unique harmonic style that has earned him a spot in the pantheon of Irish accordionists far beyond his native Baltimore. As the son of legendary button accordion player and National Heritage Fellow Billy McComiskey, Sean has been surrounded by Irish Traditional music his entire life and has developed a deep appreciation for the tradition of which he is a part. This has helped Sean establish a reputation as a highly regarded teacher and promulgator of Irish music and earned him teaching positions with the Catskills Irish Arts Week, the Augusta Heritage Center’s Irish Arts Week, the Chris Langan Traditional Irish Music Weekend in Toronto, the CCE Musical Arts and Dance (MAD) Week in Washington, DC, the Baltimore Irish Trad Fest, and the Spanish Peaks International Celtic Music Festival. In addition to being a highly regarded teacher, Sean has performed throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. He was recently honored as a silver medalist in the Senior All-Ireland Melodeon competition. He’s recorded albums and toured with groups including NicGaviskey and the Old Bay Ceili Band. In 2014, Sean formed the Baltimore-based acoustic roots group, Charm City Junction, with Patrick McAvinue on bluegrass fiddle, Brad Kolodner on Appalachian old-time clawhammer banjo, and Alex Lacquement on upright bass. In 2015, they released their self-titled debut album and in 2016 were nominated for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Band Momentum Award. This collaboration has enabled Sean to bring his unique style of Irish button accordion to the old-time and bluegrass music communities as a featured performed at venues including the Grand Ole Opry, the Kennedy Center, the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, the National Folk Festival, and numerous other folk and acoustic music festivals, concerts, and performing arts centers around the country. They released their third studio album, “Salt Box,” in 2024 which hit number one on the Billboard Bluegrass Charts the week of its release. When Sean isn’t playing the button accordion, he is the owner and clinic director of a private practice physical therapy office in Baltimore City called Birch Tree Physical Therapy and Wellness. In his work as a PT, one of his areas of special interest is the treatment and rehabilitation of injured musicians and artists suffering from repetitive stress injuries.
Sarah Collins is a fiddle player based in the Baltimore/DC area with deep roots in the Boston traditional music community. After spending part of her childhood in Edinburgh, she grew up immersed in the Scottish music scene, and her playing today blends influences from Irish and Old-Time fiddle styles.
Sarah has taught at a number of fiddle camps, including Hanneke Cassel’s Pure Dead Brilliant Fiddle Weekend, Katie McNally’s Boston States Fiddle Camp, and the CCE Musical Arts and Dance (MAD) Weekend in Washington, DC. She will also join the faculty for Baltimore’s Irish Trad Fest in April 2025. Sarah regularly hosts Irish sessions in both DC and Baltimore, creating spaces for musicians to gather and share tunes.
Sarah currently performs with two bands: an Irish trio with David McKindley-Ward and Marty Frye, and a duo with 5-string banjo player Jonathan Vocke. She also joined the Scottish band Old Blind Dogs for a U.S. tour in March 2025. She has collaborated with many talented musicians over the years, including Eamon Sefton, Conor Hearn, Maura Shawn Scanlin, Calum Bell, and Kate Gregory. You can find videos of some of those collaborations on her YouTube page.
In response to the isolation of the pandemic, Sarah co-founded the Ministry of Folk, a project dedicated to keeping folk music alive through community engagement. She also co-produces monthly concerts for the Baltimore Folk Club with Richard Osban, supporting Baltimore’s local folk scene.
With a passion for both music and community, Sarah continues to make her mark in the folk and traditional music world.
Richard Osban is a driving and dynamic guitarist, mandolin and tenor banjo player based in Baltimore, Maryland. He cut his teeth on Irish traditional music while living in Europe, and has toured internationally with several Irish and Scottish music projects, including Billy McComiskey, Steph Geremia, Sarah Collins, Breaking Strings, and Scottish duo Jocelyn Pettit and Ellen Gira. He is currently touring regularly with his trio, the East Coasters..
Richard has performed on festival stages and been an instructor at many teaching festivals & international workshops, including Folksounds Elmstein (Germany), Celtic Folk Weekend Regensburg (Germany), the O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat (Texas), the Riley School (Cincinnati), MAD Week (DC) and the annual Irish weekend in Ismaning (Germany).
Richard serves as the director of the Baltimore Irish Music School, where he teaches tenor banjo and guitar accompaniment, and organizer of the Baltimore Irish Tenor Banjo Summit and the Baltimore Trad Fest.
Trip Over The Mountain
Trip Over the Mountain are an exciting new ensemble from western North Carolina
Don Penzien has long been a top-flight performer of Irish traditional music. He frequently is on the road playing concerts and festivals with Haley Richardson, Gailfean,Brian Conway, Gerry O’Connor, Randal Bays, and The Máirtín de Cógáin Project, and he has served as accompanist for numerous other well-known performers (e.g., Seán Gavin, John Whelan, Liz Hanley, Nuala Kennedy, Tim Britton, John Williams, Pat Broaders, Gabe Donohue, Tony DeMarco, Billy McComiskey). Widely recognized for his reserved backing style, Don’s dexterous work on DADGAD-tuned guitar provides solid, driving rhythms to traditional tunes as well as perceptive and sensitive accompaniments to songs and airs.
Steven Payne, a life-long partisan of home-made acoustic music, plays harmonica and whistles in his own unique yet traditional style. He appears on stage with well-known Trad Irish performers (e.g., Haley Richardson, The Máirtín de Cógáin Project, Donie Carroll & Dan Neely). As an avid supporter of trad Celtic music festivals and events and well known in the Trad community nationwide, Steven can be found at most such events within a few days’ drive of his home in Mississippi.
Joseph Marino: While a relative newcomer to traditional Irish music scene, Joseph is an experienced, accomplished, and versatile musician and performer. After spending most of his musical life studying and performing Jazz (upright bass), Joseph has recently and wholeheartedly devoted himself to Irish music and the wooden flute. Hailing from Pennsylvania, Joseph now resides in Asheville, NC, where he is a fixture in its vibrant Irish music scene.
Special Guest: Cailen Campbell is a North Carolina fiddler and multi-instrumentalist steeped in the traditions of Irish and American Old-Time music. For nearly two decades he toured nationally playing contra and square dances with the String Beings, the Rocket Boys, and Contraversial (with David Brown of Rising Appalachia). He toured nationally with The Greasy Beans, an Asheville area bluegrass band, performing Shindig—the NC Dance Theater’s acclaimed “bluegrass ballet.” Said the Washington Post of their Kennedy Center Performance…”The steps were fairly 19th century, whirled into hyperdrive and sent soaring on the mighty fiddling of Cailen Campbell.” He has
contributed to numerous recordings—his own and those of many local and national recording artists including Peia, Rising Appalachia, Don Gato, Samara Jade. For the last decade, Cailen’s passion has been Irish traditional music, playing fiddle, tinwhistle, bouzouki, and concertina. When not making music, he raises fruit trees with his young son on their farmstead north of Asheville.
Doon The Brae with Andy Kruspe & John Melick
Based in Nashville, Tennessee
Patrick D’Arcy– Uilleann Pipes Patrick D’Arcy hails from Dublin, Ireland and has spent most of his musical life plying his craft in California but now transplanted to beautiful Nashville, Tennessee! He hosts an online uilleann pipe specific talk show called PIPER SUNDAY for the So Cal Pipers Club. He has written music for TV and has recorded and performed with bands and producers in Los Angeles while also participating in online recording sessions with artists all around the world. He enjoys teaching the Uilleann pipes & whistle at home as well as at tionóil (gatherings) around the country and also online to a world wide student body. In his early days of playing the Uilleann pipes he would venture to the County Clare where he found a firm footing by attending the legendary Willie Clancy Summer School in Milltown Malbay, named after one of Ireland’s most influential pipers. Before that guitar was his main instrument with ventures into the mandolin which brought him to play for three years with L.A. / Irish punk band “Flogging Molly”.
Olivia Dunn- Fiddle Olivia has been playing Irish fiddle since she was eight years old. Originally from Nashville, she has been fortunate to study under many incredible instructors, primarily the world renowned fiddlemaster and All-Ireland champion Brian Conway. As a performer, Olivia has played for many different festivals in the southeast, including the Middle Tennessee Highland Games, Downtown St. Paddy’s Festival, and Piping on the Green. She also is the director of the Clubhouse Series, hosting sessions, concerts, and more. Olivia’s approach to teaching is rooted in the oral tradition, emulating the sounds of the Irish fiddle greats. She counts Michael Coleman, Kevin Burke, Martin Hayes, James Kelly, and Paddy Cronin as some of her biggest influences. She was the recipient of the inaugural Bill Verdier Scholarship in 2023.
Taylor Dunn- Fiddle Taylor Dunn grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina surrounded by a rich heritage of old time and traditional country music. After hearing the recordings of Kevin Burke and Mícheál Ó Domhnaill, along with those of The Bothy Band, Taylor began learning traditional Irish fiddle in Kevin Burke’s distinct Sligo stylings. Out of college, Dunn played an international folk festival in Portugal and spent several months immersed in Irish music in Doolin and the Dingle Bay area. In 1985, Dunn moved to Nashville to pursue his love of songwriting, and throughout his career, he has had songs recorded by Paul Overstreet, Marie Osmond, Rhett Akins, Charlie Louvin, Shawn Camp, Tracy Byrd, The Malpass Brothers, and Garth Brooks, among many others. Dunn’s renewed love of Irish music led him back to Ireland where he was able to spend personal time with Kevin Burke. Taylor currently plays fiddle in the Irish band Doon the Brae and is a staple of the Traditional Irish scene in and around Nashville. He hosts a monthly session at the iconic Brown’s Diner.
Karl Kersey- Mandolin, Guitar Karl has played and taught professionally for over 35 years across many genres, including rock, blues, bluegrass, and country. He is a proponent of the mandolin in Celtic music. Karl has studied with Rose Flanagan, Brian McNeill, John Doyle, and Liz Carroll. He teaches at several Irish Music Camps and leads sessions in Nashville, TN. He attended Musician’s Institute (GIT) in Los Angeles, and is a graduate of IBMA’s “Leadership Bluegrass Academy.”
Andy Kruspe – Bodhrán Andy is a freelance percussion instructor and bodhrán player from Huntsville, Alabama. He has performed with several groups throughout the southeastern United States, including Black Market Haggis, Mithril, David Coe and Friends, SlipJig, Candace Corrigan, the Liminal Duo, and 2nd Breakfast. Andy is also active as a bodhrán teacher and clinician. He has taught at several workshops and clinics in the United States and Ireland, including The O’Flaherty’s Irish Music Retreat (Midlothian, Texas, USA), The Fiddle and Pick Irish Music Weekend (Pegram, Tennessee, USA), and Craiceann (Inis Oírr, Ireland). Andy has also written four method books for the drum- First Steps: A Beginner’s Guide to the Bodhrán, The Bodhrán Primer, Playing the Tune: Techniques for Accompanying Irish Traditional Music on the Bodhrán, and In Session + One (with Scottish bodhrán player Martin O’Neill).
John Melick – vocals, guitar
John is a stirring singer and energetic multi-instrumentalist with a passion for sharing Irish traditional music. Based in Nashville, TN, John performs, composes, and teaches in various folk music and classical genres, in recent years focusing on Irish ballads and work songs. Whether on stage or in a session, he loves to facilitate the sharing of stories, connection, and meaning through music.
Chambless & Muse with Jack Vogt & Dan Vogt
For more than 25 years, Alabama natives Jil Chambless and Scooter Muse have been performing the music of Scotland, Ireland and America with various ensembles in a wide variety of venues, from simple house concerts to festivals and concert halls.
Jil and Scooter have been fortunate to work alongside many of the finest artists in Celtic music, resulting in many spontaneous collaborations.
In 2010, Chambless & Muse began performing as a duo to promote their individual solo projects. Since then they have released several CDs, The Laverock Sang (2011), Passing Tales & Glories (2014), Live @ NTIF with John Taylor (2016), and The Lang Awa’ Ships (2017). Joined by Jack Vogt on drums and Dan Vogt on guitar, bouzouki & vocals.
Tír Chonaill Trio
Pronounced approximately as Cheer Hone-ell, Tír Chonaill is an Irish name for County Donegal, specifically referencing the western part of the county which still has strong ties to traditional music and language.
Members of the critically acclaimed The Gaulway Ramblers band together once again to bring the best of Irish traditional music to the forefront.
C.J. Alexander (bodhrán, cajón), CJ is a composer and skilled percussionist having trained at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
UPDATE– CJ won’t be with us this year. He is an in demand composer and has a conflict.
Nathan Glazier (guitar, banjo), a luthier by trade, has experience with an enormous variety of music with an emphasis on Midwestern Old-Time and Irish.
Scott Miller (flute,uilleann pipes) Scott is an accomplished, multi=instrumentalist with his main instrument being Flute. He got his Old Style playing from Seán Gavin and recently acquired a mint 175 year old flute that he looks forward to playing a celticfest with the intention of melting your face off! Irish by heritage, Scott is fluent in Gaeilge and will be teaching a free Intro to Irish workshop at CelticFest.
Emerald Accent
This well-rounded Mississippi band is equally at home playing for festivals, dances, weddings and concerts. Creating a beautiful wall of sound the band includes founding member Clark Lowery (DADGAD guitar, banjo, bouzouki, vocals), Allison Talley (Low and high whistle, flute, keyboard, vocals), Porter Lowery (bodhran) and Temperance Babcock (fiddle, vocals).
With backgrounds in Irish, Bluegrass, Blues and Classical, the band brings freshness to the genre while priding itself in showcasing the Irish and Scottish traditional styles. Formed in 2010 in Hattiesburg, MS, Emerald Accent has had a few different lineups over the years including past members performing at CelticFest 2025 with other bands, Steve Payne with Trip Over The Mountain, Brian Kreiser with Celtic Crossroads and Tom McCandlish who will be leading our Kindred Spirits Scotch & Whiskey Tasting!
Emerald Accent has produced four CD’s, its most recent in 2023 entitled “All of Us”.
St. Brigid’s
St. Brigid’s is named for the fifth-century Irish saint who is credited with turning her bath water into beer. While we hope that you don’t expect quite the same degree of miracles out of our group, we think this makes her quite an inspiration!
Members Catherine Bishop, Margaret Cupples, Julia Weems, and Rebecca Wilkinson have a variety of musical experience, but we share with our patron saint a love of a great tune, a hot bath, and a well-poured pint.
Our repertoire is inspired by and drawn from the traditional songs of Ireland and the British Isles, with a few modern favorites thrown in for good measure and with a couple that are just there to make you smile. Many of our arrangements feature the multi-part vocal harmony beloved by our founding member, the much missed Susan Wellman.
Celtic Crossroads
Celtic Crossroads is a traditional Celtic folk band from Mississippi specializing in lively dance tunes and humorous songs. They have performed with various configurations of musicians over the years but they are currently operating as a family band consisting of Debbie Kreiser on tin whistle and vocals and Brian Kreiser on guitar and bodhran (Irish drum).
When available, their daughter Erin joins them on fiddle and vocals.
Mind The Dresser
The band’s name pays homage to a time before the rise of public dance halls in the 1930s when neighbors would gather in a cottage for an evening of dancing and revelry into the wee hours. The furniture was pushed aside to make room for the dancers. The musicians would often stand on the kitchen table, which remained in the center of the one-room cottage. As space was at a premium, the dancers would need to “mind the dresser” as they whirled “round the house.”
The band features the quintessential melodies of fiddle, flute, whistle and accordion accompanied by piano, a combination of instruments that creates the classic ceili band sound first heard in the 1920s.
Steve Whitlow (flute/whistles) and Karen Whitlow (accordion/piano) were founding members of Last Night’s Fun and Spirits of the House. They began playing at Fenian’s Irish Pub in 1996 and were soon performing at festivals and pubs all over the South.
Melissa Thorson (fiddle) has played traditional music for nearly two decades. As a member of The Orchard Band, she was a regular fixture at Fenian’s Irish Pub for several years. She is also a performing member of Jackson Irish Dancers.
Yet the band might never have come to be if not for the efforts of Sarah Anne Waters (Celtic harp). While teaching music at Belhaven University, Sarah has long held a keen interest in Irish traditional music and was instrumental in reviving a monthly local session, where we all met in the spring of 2024. That session was kismet, perhaps. A new band to continue the improbable tradition of a Jackson-based Celtic band. Hup!
Catherine Koehler
Catherine Koehler has been singing and performing for over 50 years. Her piano teacher first recognized that her voice was preferred over her piano playing ability and therefore her singing debut was at the age of 6…at her piano recital. The songs she grew up with as well as the stories she has adapted from contemporary and traditional sources have delighted audiences of all ages throughout the southeast and beyond. Catherine has performed as a balladeer and storyteller at festivals, schools, senior communities, and all manner of other places such as pastures, piney woods, stairwells, and anywhere else with great acoustics. She has won numerous awards as both a bard and a balladeer and has presented workshops on a variety of Irish topics throughout the United States. She is a 2-time winner of the Kathleen O’Connell Memorial Bardic Award.
N.O. Quarter Shanty Krewe
Formed in 2002, the NO Quarter Shanty Krewe is a group of sea music enthusiasts from the New Orleans area. Each member shares a love of sea shanties and also shares our mission to keep alive the songs and traditions of sailors from the great age of sail. Shanties once rang out over the docks and wharves of port cities such as New Orleans, making them a part of fabric of the city. Songs of the sea and of the rolling rivers, songs of the heart and the spirit—all are part of the Shanty Krewe’s song bag. The group sings in a rousing a cappella style, occasionally with instrumental accompaniment. Each song, is an invitation for the audience to sing along, clap in time or just stamp their feet to the music. The Krewe has a repertoire that spans the ocean and set lists to delight one and all.
Stan Rogers, the “Mary Ellen Carter “
“And you, to whom adversity has dealt the final blow
With smiling bastards lying to you everywhere you go
Turn to, and put out all your strength of arm and heart and brain
And like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again.
Rise again, rise again – though your heart it be broken
And life about to end
No matter what you’ve lost, be it a home, a love, a friend.
Like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again”
The Old Ways
A harp tune that will move you to tears, a pub song that will have you drinking and singing along, a rebel song that will have you itching to fight, or a haunting melody that will make you see spirits—this is the music of The Old Ways.
Bringing together the multi-instrumentalist talents of Greg Johnson and vocalist/percussionist Shaundi Wall, this husband and wife duo blend their passion for Celtic music through tunes and songs both ancient and modern. They’ve performed throughout the United States, including the Philly Folk Festival in Pennsylvania.
Jackson Irish Dancers
Since 1998, Jackson Irish Dancers has brought classes, performances, and Irish dance events to Mississippi and beyond.
Under the direction of Catherine Sherer Bishop, MFA, TCRG, JID performs, teaches, and has also competed in the past but mostly JID is comprised of adults who do it for the craic – in Irish, the good fun of it all.
Members of JID enjoy all kinds of Irish dancing, from the up-on-your-toes Riverdance-style solo dance to the casual fun of céilí dancing, sets, and sean-nós (old-style) dance.
New Orleans Irish Set Dancers
New Orleans Irish Set Dancers is a group born of a shared love of Irish Set Dancing. Taught by veteran set dancer Debbie Cornett, they meet for weekly classes at Muggivan School of Irish Dance in MidCity New Orleans and for the occasional céilí at various locations around the city.
New Orleans Irish Set Dancers on Facebook
Thistle Dancers & Pipers
The Thistle Dancers and Pipers is a group of talented young people who perform the traditional Highland dances and music of Scotland. The Thistle Dancers and Pipers are located in Natchitoches, LA. and are under the direction of Susan Hyams.
Niall O’Leary School of Irish Dance
The Niall O’Leary School of Irish Dance has been training champions since 1995 and currently has locations in Florida, Mississippi, New York, Pennsylvania, and Mexico. At their D’Iberville, Mississippi location they offer classes for all levels, ages 5 and up including adults. In addition to teaching Irish dance steps, technique, and posture, they focus on building a strong dance foundation which includes strengthening, injury prevention, stretching, and musicality. They also coach dancers in mindset, professional behavior, and teamwork to produce well-rounded dancers. The school fosters a team-like environment filled with support, constructive criticism, accountability, and kindness.
Niall O’Leary, TCRG, ADCRG Niall is a former All-Ireland and World Champion dancer from Dublin, Ireland. Based in New York City for over twenty years, O’Leary performs regularly as a solo artist and with his professional company The Niall O’Leary Irish Dance Troupe. He is in constant demand across the USA, Canada, Ireland, and Asia as a performer, choreographer, master instructor and adjudicator in Irish Dance
Amy Bowman, Location Director & Teaching Assistant. Amy is a preliminary champion who has been teaching for over 15 years. Originally from Idaho, she ran a performance-only Irish dance school for 6 years before eventually moving to Mississippi and joining Niall O’Leary in 2020. Being experienced in business management and marketing, she quickly grew the Biloxi location and has brought the Niall O’Leary brand to the attention of locals along the coast of Mississippi. https://niallolearyms.com
Workshop Presenter- Julie Black, Maccrossan School of Irish Dance
Maccrossan School of Irish Dance is a Traditional Irish dance school bringing Irish dancing to the MS Gulf Coast since Jan 2001. Taught by international dance soloist, Julie Ann Black, the school accepts students age 4 & up. Classes are held in Ocean Springs and Mobile, Alabama.
For information about classes, email MacCrossanirishdance@yahoo.com
Hub City Highlanders Pipes & Drums
Hub City Highlanders is a traditional Scottish bagpipes and drums band in Hattiesburg Mississippi. Hattiesburg is known as the ‘Hub City’ because it is centrally located between Jackson and Gulfport, Meridian and New Orleans, and Natchez and Mobile. HCH serves as the only full pipe band in the state of Mississippi. Born from a high school pipe band, more interest from the community led to independency. All volunteers, HCH performs locally and regionally, representing our city and state across the Southeast USA.
Kilts of Many Colours
Kilts of Many Colours Pipe Band started out as one guy learning how to play the bagpipes in 1996. He became proficient, and was asked to play at several local functions. In 2000, another guy wanted to learn how, but couldn’t find a teacher. So, he called the police. No, really, the guy asked the police if they knew of any bagpipers in the area. They told him a piper would be playing the next day for Police Memorial Week in Covington, La. The guy went to the event and convinced the piper to teach him how to play the bagpipes. From there, word of mouth (along with some pressure from family and friends) caused others to join in the fun.
Two decades+ later Kilts of Many Colours Pipe Band now has many more pipers and several drummers, and during Mardi Gras can boast some world class talent that joins us for the parades extending our numbers. Our local group has nationally rated members who compete individually in bagpipe and drum competitions across the United States. Our Pipe Major, Steven Brownlee, is an awarding winning piper who has played for royalty, both New Orleans Mardi Gras and British….
Kilts of Many Colours Pipes and Drums is available for Mardi Gras parades, civic events; and can offer smaller groups for individual functions like block parties, social clubs, film extras, weddings, military functions, funerals and other events that would benefit from the distinctive sound of pipes. Check out our events page to see where we have played – we’d love to add your event to the list.
The group meets regularly for practice and fun in the Mandeville area. Anyone interested in the Great Highland bagpipes or Scottish style drumming is encouraged to contact us, either to join us or to hire us.
RAW Primal Performance Troupe
Cool Creek Farm
Highland Cows
Located in Fannin, Mississippi just down the road from CelticFest, Cool Creek Farm is owned by the Edwards Family whose passion is to preserve heritage breeds.
Southern Border Collies Sheepdog Herding
Tiffany Menard of Southern Border Collies will be doing sheepdog herding demos on Saturday as well as horse rides and will offer a small Group Herding Clinic all day Sunday for dog owners interested in learning the art of herding.
This Clinic is $95 and includes weekend admission to the Festival. Tickets are available through our ticket link.
Shire of iron ox Medieval Encampment & Armored Fighting Demos
Mission Statement: The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) is an international non-profit volunteer educational organization. The SCA is devoted to the research and re-creation of pre-seventeenth century skills, arts, combat, culture, and employing knowledge of history to enrich the lives of participants through events, demonstrations, and other educational presentations and activities.
Well, if they did it, somebody in the SCA does it! The Society for Creative Anachronism, or SCA, time period is between the fall of the Western Roman Empire – 476 to the end of the Tudors – 1603, and the area centers mostly on Eurasia (including the British Isles) and lands bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Arts and Sciences (A&S) is the study of how everything people needed to live, work, and play during that time was grown, created, or performed. As with all the other aspects of the SCA, we learn by doing.
The SCA’s major venue for recreation is the event, which is a general term for a gathering which everyone dresses in clothing based on styles worn pre-1600s. They come together at a site (usually a campground) to share what they have learned and to have a good time with friends. There are usually martial arts tournaments, artistic displays, classes, a feast, court and dancing!
The SCA divides the Known World into regions called Kingdoms which are then divided into principalities, shires, baronies or cantons. You are currently in the Kingdom of Gleann Abhann in the Shire of Iron Ox. https://www.ironox.org/ https://www.facebook.com/ShireofIronOx https://www.instagram.com/shireofironox/
