A high-kicking Celtic Celebration at the ABC hall

Mar 16, 2016

In order to bring the sights, sounds, and tastes of everything Celtic to music lovers in and around Bolingbroke, and to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, Mike Erion organized an afternoon of Scottish and Irish music at the ABC hall on March 12. Erion assists in heading up the regular musical happenings at the ABC Hall.

A lively crowd turned out for the event on Saturday, which offered guests green-tinted punch and shamrock-emblazoned muffins and cakes courtesy of Rob Boyer. It was the first event of its kind at the hall and judging by the turn out, it will not likely be the last.

The afternoon included an impressive line up of local talent that included John and Barb Fife, fiddler Jessica Wedden accompanied by Valerie Wedden and Norm Hearns, and the lively and humorous group known as Celtic Combination.

Guests were also treated to a special performance by the Highland dancers from Shaw's Dance group. Comprised of 13 young ladies aged 6-14 and led by Samantha Shaw, owner and dance teacher at Shaw's Dance in Ferguson's Falls, the group opened with a Scottish sword dance, the well-known battle dance that Scottish soldiers used to perform before and after they went to war.

The dancers also performed the Strasbey Highland Reel, a fun and very lively group dance, and solo performer Brittany danced a very poised version of the Chantreuse. For their final number, which was one of their liveliest, the girls performed the Highland Fling. The dancers often perform at community events as well as at retirement homes.

The Celtic Celebration was a huge success, and left Celtic music lovers in and around Bolingbroke hoping that it will become an annual event.