Get the Full Entertainment Schedule HERE!

Ally The Piper

Ally is a multi-instrumentalist out of New York. She specializes in celtic instrumentation, such as the Highland Bagpipe, Scottish Smallpipe, Irish whistles, and vocals. At age 16 Ally became a world champion performing on the Highland Bagpipe, and holds several domestic and international titles. Ally has a Bachelor’s Degree in music from Penn West, where she triple focused in Bagpipe, Vocal, and Piano performance. She performs professionally, and virtually through her various social media platforms where she has amassed over two million followers, making her the most followed bagpiper on the internet.

https://www.instagram.com/piper.ally/

The Bow Tides

The Bow Tides is a powerhouse Celtic ensemble led by three Irish fiddlers: Ellery Klein, Jessie Burns and Katie Grennan. These dynamic women are veterans of the stage and studio, with a collective 15 years as the fiddlers with the Irish-American supergroup Gaelic Storm.

In summer of pandemic 2020, the world over was feeling lost and in much need of connection, inspiration and community.  Jessie, Katie and Ellery, located in three different states, received an invitation to create an online performance for the Spanish Peaks International Celtic Festival. They decided this was the perfect opportunity to join their mighty creative forces. Grammy-nominated bassist Eric Thorin and guitarist Jeff Lindblade were enlisted to hold down the low end, and the ideas started flowing-  and they haven’t stopped. Drawing from decades of playing traditional Irish fiddle, bonded by their love of composition and rich harmonic arrangements, and a deep creative, calling, the five set to work. The Bow Tides was born – an unexpected silver lining, and they haven’t looked back since.

After the success of their first all-online collaboration, they were invited by Pittsburgh Irish Festival to produce another performance. Garnering rave reviews, one year later they all met in person at last, hitting the main stage at the 2021 Pittsburgh Irish Festival with the debut of their unique collaboration of stunning original compositions, rich harmonies and driving traditional tunes, songs featuring the rich baritone of Jeff Lindblade and Katie Grennan’s Irish dance. Summer 2022 saw The Bow Tides inspiring audiences to standing ovations at festivals nationwide, evoking tears with their beautiful slow compositions, and raucous cheers and hollers for their high-energy reels and jigs.

Their debut recording, Sailing On, is packed full of gorgeous original compositions as well as a breadth of uniquely arranged traditional tunes from Ireland, Scotland and Galicia. The Bow Tides is a band that celebrates community and collaboration, delivering uplifting music that evokes joy, with a feel and sound unlike anything else out there.

thebowtides.com

The Brigideens

The Brigideens, a brand-new powerhouse, fiery female band came together as a group of talented musicians and singers from the Celtic and Americana traditions to perform in honor of St. Brigid, the beloved patron and mother saint of Ireland. The name Brigid means “fiery arrow” and this ensemble takes inspiration from her.

Led by Grammy awarded, Emmy-nominated, 9-time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion, Eileen Ivers, Eileen formed the group to showcase the mighty dimension of talent in today’s female artists. Native New Yorkers, Caitlin Maloney is featured on lead vocals, and Hilary Hawke on 5-string banjo, bass, clarinet, spoons and background vocals. Hilary was featured in the Tony award winning Broadway musical, “Oklahoma”. Anna Colliton, a Chicago native, is a master of the bodhran, the traditional Irish frame drum. Anna teaches nationwide and has performed with many top traditional music groups including Cherish the Ladies. Rounding out the ensemble from Maryland is guitarist and vocalist, Colin Forhan, who also plays tenor banjo and concertina. Colin performs double duty as a member of Eileen Ivers and Universal Roots.

www.eileenivers.com

Dennis Doyle

Dennis Doyle is a Celtic harpist who has been featured at the Pittsburgh Irish Fest for over twenty years.  His delightful program of traditional Irish harp music, stories, songs, bits of history and jokes have been performed all over North America, Japan and Ireland. Teachers and musicians run in his family which originally hails from County Wicklow, Ireland.

Dennis has produced over ten recordings and has two published books on Celtic and liturgical music.  The most recent recording is Swift River.  In addition to playing on the show stages, he also helps organize and perform in the festival liturgy each year.

Though based in California, Dennis has deep personal roots in Fayette County, Pennsylvania where his grandfather William Doyle worked the mines around Uniontown.  His own father, Mark Doyle, was born in Connellsville before the post-war family exodus to Los Angeles in 1949.

http://english.glendale.cc.ca.us/doyle.a.html

Eileen Ivers

Grammy awarded, Emmy nominated, London Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, guest starred with over 50 orchestras, original Musical Star of Riverdance, Nine Time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion, Sting, Hall and Oates, The Chieftains, ‘Fiddlers 3’ with Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg and Regina Carter, Patti Smith, Al Di Meola, Steve Gadd, founding member of Cherish the Ladies, movie soundtracks including “Gangs of New York”, performed for Presidents and Royalty worldwide…this is a short list of accomplishments, headliners, tours, and affiliations. Fiddler Eileen Ivers has established herself as the pre-eminent exponent of the Irish fiddle in the world today.

www.eileenivers.com

Enda Reilly

Enda Reilly learned his trade as a folk singer and songwriter from playing in the pubs of his hometown, Dublin, Ireland. Enda is an IMRO Christy Hennessy Songwriting Competition winner and co-wrote many songs with Aoife Scott including “All Along The Wild Atlantic Way”, which got to no.1 in Ireland and the title track from her current album “Homebird”. As a singer and guitarist Enda has his own albums including his “New Songs in Irish”, “Whorls” songs created from the poetry of WB Yeats, songs about the environment, and he has fresh arrangements of some of the classics. Enda has performed with many of Ireland’s foremost gaelic poets and shared the stage with John Spillane, Liam O Maonlaí, Kila, Sive, InniK, Aoife Scott, Shane Hennessey, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh (Altan), Séamus Begley, Tristan Rosenstock (Téada) among others. The Enda Reilly Live Stream has kept folks in Ireland, the US and beyond entertained on Saturdays for over a year now. More at www.endareilly.com

Gaelic Storm

It’s hard to imagine a band just coming into their own after 20 years of success, but that’s exactly what makes a true anomaly. This multi-national, Celtic juggernaut grows stronger with each live performance, and as you can imagine, after two decades and over 2000 shows, it is a true force to be reckoned with. With their latest release, Go Climb a Tree, their music has never sounded more representative of themselves as musicians and as live performers.

The band attributes their continued success to their fanatic audience, and it’s a well-diversified crowd for sure. The country-music folks adore the storytelling, the bluegrass-heads love the instrumentals, Celtic fans love their devotion to tradition, and the rockers simply relish the passion they play their instruments with. Each band member, in their own way, expresses a deep gratitude for their fans, but it’s best summed up in the words of Patrick Murphy: “The fans are the ones that have given us this life. We’re here for them.”

On Go Climb a Tree, co-founders of Gaelic Storm, Steve Twigger and Patrick Murphy, along with longtime friend and co-writer Steve Wehmever, are again at the helm of song-writing duties. The album has everything—party drinking songs  (“The Beer Song”), patriotic anthems (“Green, White and Orange”), beautiful folk songs (“Monday Morning Girl”), spritely instrumentals “”The Night of Tomfoolery”), perfectly poppy songs (“Shine On”), and even a raucous pirate song (“Shanghai Kelly”). When speaking of the overall concept of the album, Patrick Murphy gives some insight: “With all the craziness and division in the world, we wanted to make an album about ‘contemplative escapism.’ Go Climb a Tree certainly isn’t about dropping out of the conversation, it’s just about taking a short hiatus to recharge the batteries before you take on the world again.”

Gaelic Storm takes a true blue-collar, hard-nose approach to touring, consistently traveling the US and internationally over 200 days a year, forging a unique path in the Celtic music world. “You have to see us live. We are the true working-mans’ band,” says Ryan Lacey, who joined the lineup in 2003. “We still, and most likely always will, tour most of the year, and that’s how we constantly hone our craft.”

The dedication to live shows date all the way back to the mid-1990s, when Gaelic Storm kicked off its career as a pub band in Santa Monica, California. Due to their discovery at the pub, by the end of the decade, the musicians had appeared in the blockbuster film Titanic (where they performed “Irish Party in Third Class”). This laid the groundwork for a career that would eventually find them topping the Billboard World Chart six times, making appearances at mainstream music festivals, and regularly headlining the largest Irish Festivals across the country, all the while gaining a reputation as a genre-bending Irish rock band, whose songs mix Celtic traditions with something uniquely creative.

Looking to the future, Gaelic Storm is excited about what lies ahead. In 2022, they were excited to welcome Natalya Kay, an incredible fiddler hailing from Western Massachusetts, but living now in Music City, Nashville, TN. Natalya’s energy and presence on stage has been a force to be reckoned with.

https://www.gaelicstorm.com/

Mick Thomas, Comedian

Born and raised in Wexford, Ireland, it wasn’t until moving to New York that Mick Thomas’ stand-up comedy career began. 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 entertains audiences regularly across the country from LA to NY. He 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. Get ready for a hilarious night of comedy with one of the industry’s best new talents!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4p_s5DLQflmM-MnfrfhJJA

RUNA

Celebrating 13 years together as a band, Celtic-American Roots music “super group”, RUNA, continues to push the boundaries of Irish folk music into the Americana and roots music formats. Interweaving the haunting melodies and exuberant tunes of Ireland and Scotland with the lush harmonies and intoxicating rhythms of jazz, bluegrass, flamenco and blues, they offer a thrilling and redefining take on traditional music.

RUNA will be collecting socks at the entertainer merchandise tent during their performances in support of the RUNA‘s Rockin’ Sock Collection. All of the collected socks go to local shelters and organizations supporting families and individuals with housing insecurities and financial difficulties.

Ryan Young

2022 BBC ALBA ‘Musician of The Year’ nominee Ryan Young brings new and exciting ideas to traditional Scottish music, receiving international praise for his spell-binding interpretations on the fiddle. Focussing on traditional Scottish music, Ryan brings new life to very old, often forgotten tunes by playing them in his own unique way. His fiddle playing is brimming with fresh melodic ideas, an uplifting rhythmic drive and a great depth of dynamics and precision. His sound is very distinctive and takes the listener on an emotional and adventurous journey in any performance.
‘….Being a fiddler myself I have heard many, many up and coming fiddlers from Scotland, but I am blown away by this singular musician Ryan, I feel, is a musician with a great gift. He has followed down a path that is his alone with the music. His playing is unique and soulful. I’ve heard him in concert and can only liken the experience to being lifted and taken on a journey. His playing is at once moving and thrilling, and he sweeps the audience along with him.’ – Liz Caroll

Sean Finnerty, Comedian

After 21 years of growing up in Longford, Ireland, Sean Finnerty decided to move stateside where a series of mature decisions 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. He has also appeared on Comedy Central Up Next, Stand Up NBC, Stand Up Live from Nashville on Peacock and as the host of Fireball Run on Amazon Prime.

Screaming Orphans

Screaming Orphans, an all-sister band from Bundoran, Co. Donegal, Ireland, are one of the most sought-after Celtic bands with a powerful, award-winning sound combining their original melodic pop songs with a unique take on traditional Irish music and song. The band first came to prominence when Sinéad O’Connor asked them to tour with her as her back up vocalists and opening act.

The band is renowned for their trademark spine-tingling four-part harmony which led them to many collaborations with artists such as Sinéad O’Connor, Joni Mitchell, The Chieftains, Baaba Maal, the Afro Celt Sound system, Eileen Ivers and Martin Furey.

Screaming Orphans’ 2019 pop album, Life in a Carnival, produced by internationally distinguished producer John Reynolds, charted No. 24 in the iTunes Pop Music charts (U.S.), No. 7 in the Billboard World Albums charts, No. 1 in the iTunes Singer/Songwriter charts (IE), and No. 3 in the overall iTunes music charts (IE). The new album follows 2017’s critically acclaimed folk album Taproom which also charted at the top of iTunes and Billboard charts and was voted Folk/Pop/Rock Album of The Year.

As of this year, the band has released 14 albums of both original pop and Folk/Irish music.

http://www.screamingorphans.com

Abbots Cross

Abbots Cross is a Celtic music duo made up of Alan Booth and Mike Clancy. The combination of Alan Booth’s rich vocals and Mike Clancy’s jazz background makes for an exciting musical experience. Their influences range from The Wolfe Tones to John Coltrane. Booth and Clancy’s set list includes traditional and modern Celtic music as well as original instrumentals combined with jigs and reels inspired by Brian Finnegan and Michael McGoldrick. Over the past couple of years, Abbots Cross has been featured at The Three Rivers Arts Festival, The Pittsburgh Irish Festival, and The West Moreland Arts and Heritage Festival. In October, 2016, Alan and Mike debuted their Celtic Christmas CD, “Christmas Visions,” at the very popular Christmas In The Woods Festival, in Ohio. This instrumental CD features traditional jigs and reels paired with Christmas classics.

http://www.abbotscross.com/

Alan Irvine

For years, Alan’s ghost stories and humorous tales kept everyone huddled close to the campfire. In time, his repertoire of stories grew to include folktales and legends, as well as his own fantasy tales. He moved north to Pittsburgh in 1984, and continued to expand his repertoire and to hone his craft. In addition to performing, Alan teaches workshops and classes on storytelling. In 1988, he help found the storytelling group StorySwap, and has often served as its president. He has produced numerous storytelling shows, and was the chair of the 2006 National Storytellers Conference. Alan has numerous recordings, several of which have won Storytelling World and NAPPA awards. www.alanirvine.com

Bastard Bearded  Irishmen

Pittsburgh-based Bastard Bearded Irishmen is one of the most entertaining and energetic live shows around. Their sound is an original, ferocious blend of traditional and contemporary Celtic music, mixed with punk, gypsy and high-energy rock n’ roll.

https://bastardbeardedirishmen.com/

Bealtaine

With uilleann pipes, bouzouki, bodhrán, and other instruments you’ve never heard of and can’t pronounce, Bealtaine plays music from Ireland, Scotland, and beyond, bringing together young and old for a good time at the pub, a party, and everywhere else
George White – Bouzouki, Mandocello, Banjo, Vocals
Conor Freeland – Uilleann Pipes, Whistles, Vocals
Bill Buchko – Bodhrán, Cajon
Andy Morrison – Mandolin, Banjo, Guitar, Vocals
Dylan Rooke – Guitar, Vocals

https://bealtaine.band/

Bell School of Irish Dance

At the Bell School, Irish dancing is their passion and they are very serious about it. Since their inception in 1999, it has been their mission to inspire the same passion for Irish dancing in each and every one of their students. They do this through an uncompromising commitment to excellence in the instruction they provide, their relentless drive to succeed in competition, and by fostering an environment that is positive, encouraging, and welcoming to all regardless of age or skill level. http://www.bellschool.com

The Pittsburgh Irish Festival Ceili

The Pittsburgh Irish Festival Ceili Band are several Pittsburgh-based fellow travelers who play for Irish ceili dancing. This year’s group consist of: Bruce Molyneaux, Jim Guay, Richard Withers, and Mike Hurley. Ceili on! Learn more.

Cahal Dunne

Cahal Dunne, “Ireland’s Happy Man”, possesses that certain magical quality known in show business as “it.” “It” transcends talent. “It” comes from deep within a great entertainer and washes over an audience, captivating them. This native of County Cork has a following of loyal admirers and friends that is unique in the rich history of Pittsburgh entertainment, and continues to make new friends with each appearance.

Mr. Dunne is the nephew of the former Prime Minister of Ireland, Jack Lynch. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University College of Cork. In that same year he won first prize in the Castlebar Song Contest with his own song, “Shalom.” He represented Ireland in the Yamaha World Song Contest in Tokyo with another of his own songs, “Lover, Not Just a Wife.”

Mr. Dunne credits his winning of Ireland’s National Song Contest as his biggest break. With his winning song, “Happy Man”, he earned the right to represent Ireland at the International Eurovision Music Contest in Israel. The song became number one in Europe and Ireland with record sales topping the 250,000 mark. Cahal Dunne is a composer, pianist, comedian, story teller, and television personality. His style is rich and deep, reflecting the many strands in his distinguished career. Sit back and enjoy this entertainer extraordinaire.

County Mayo

County Mayo is one of the premiere Irish Bands in Northeast Ohio and Northwest PA and has been pleasing audiences for over 30 years. Their performances are lively, engaging and feature a high level of audience participation. The band specializes in Irish ballads but their song bag includes plenty of Scottish, Australian, and Canadian songs as well as familiar Irish-American favorites and American folk tunes. County Mayo was formed in the early 1980’s and is named for the county in the West of Ireland where two of the members have roots. The musicians entertain at festivals, pubs, concerts, conventions, schools, parties and family events including Irish weddings and wakes. http://www.countymayoirishband.com

Devilish Merry

Devilish Merry fuses improvisation with traditional and contemporary forms of Appalachian and Celtic music. The band has created a dynamic, layered and driving brand of music that bridges cultural roots and produces a totally unique sound. Current members include Sue Powers (banjo/vocals), Jeff Berman (lap dulcimer/percussion), Jan Hamilton (fiddle), Burr Beard (hammered dulcimer/vocals), Kip Ruefle (bodhran), L.E. McCullough (tinwhistle/flute/harmonica). www.devilishmerry.com

Donnie Irish

Donnie Irish is a band from the Pittsburgh area and they play a mix of Traditional Celtic Rock, Irish, Scottish, and American cover tunes. They also play a wide variety of cover tunes and put some much needed drive behind some fantastic traditional Irish ballads.

Fitzpatrick School of Dance PGH

The Fitzpatrick School of Irish Dance- Pittsburgh is a new Irish dance school, located right in downtown Pittsburgh. Lessons are held on Monday evenings at Brother Andre’s Cafe, under Epiphany Catholic Church. The school is run by Siobhan Gallagher, T.C.R.G.  Before opening the Pittsburgh branch of this school, Siobhan ran the Sellersville branch of the Fitzpatrick School of Irish Dance, in Bucks County for many years. For more information about this school, please visit www.fitzpatrickschoolofirishdancepgh.com

The Low Kings

As Pittsburgh’s premier Celtic rock band, The Low Kings have opened for international acts like Gaelic Storm, The Rumjacks, Young Dubliners, Red Hot Chilli Pipers and Screaming Orphans; have headlined festi-vals like Ligonier Highland Games, Horse Trading Days and the Mahoning Valley Irish Festival; and have appeared regularly at the Pittsburgh Irish Festival, Crafthouse Stage & Grill, Jergel’s Rhythm Grille, and more. Specializing in 6-piece high-energy rock shows, performances contain a mix of originals, rock takes on traditional pub tunes, and Celtic rock standards. facebook.com/thelowkings

The Macdonald Pipe Band of Pittsburgh All Stars

The Macdonald Pipe Band of Pittsburgh All Stars perform traditional Irish and Scottish tunes on the Highland pipes and drums. The performers have over 100 years combined history at their craft. Audiences will be treated to favorites like Wearing o’ the Green, Scotland the Brave and Amazing Grace, along with various marches, hornpipes and jigs, strathspeys and reels, and slow airs. The members enjoy audience interaction and are willing to answer questions about their instruments, music, and what it’s like to play in the full Macdonald band. Members are: pipers Betsy Bethel-McFarland, Sean McCarthy and Palmer Shonk, snare drummer Adam Smith and bass drummer Rich Czapko.

Mark Guiser

One of Pittsburgh’s best known Irish entertainers! Mark has been a staple, playing at Pittsburgh’s most popular Irish venues for over 20 years. His pleasing and powerful voice allows him to deliver everything, from the most solemn Irish ballad, to the most upbeat Celtic rock song, as well as many favorite humorous tales. Mark’s strong Irish connection, through his wife, and best friend Fiona, has allowed him to travel regularly between Pittsburgh and Sligo. These experiences have given him his unique perspective on Irish music that many Irish American singers do not have. Stop by to catch Mark’s performance. You are sure to walk away with a smile on your face and in your heart.

Mike Flaherty

Mike Flaherty, Folk Singer and Balladeer is from Pittsburgh’s South Hills. His influences include The Irish Tenors, Tommy Makem, The Dubliners, and the music of Celtic Thunder. His interpretations of “Danny Boy”, “Grace”, and “Galway Girl” have been fan-favorites wherever he performs. www.facebook.com/mplflaherty

Mike Gallagher

Known primarily for performing Irish and Scottish folk, native Pittsburgher Mike Gallagher has been a constant musical presence throughout the tri-state area. Mike also specializes in contemporary acoustic music and performs a number of original selections, backing his clear tenor voice with sensitivity and versatility on the 12-string guitar. His original works draw on the influences of American roots music and Celtic traditions. Master of the Irish ballad as well as haunting love songs, Mike has established himself as an entertainer who brings emotion, humor and spirit to every performance. www.mike-gallagher.com/

Pittsburgh Ceili Club

The Pittsburgh Ceili Club is celebrating 25 years of promoting Irish culture through music and dance. The Dance Ensemble of the club was formed in 1991 to perform for various community groups, at various cultural events and at regional facilities. Our program consists of various social dances from Ireland, including “set” dances, “ceili” or figure dances and two hand dances. We strive to give our audiences a “taste” of Ireland by including stories about the dances and having fun. Those dancing are dedicated volunteers who give of their time and talent to practice and perform. The Pittsburgh Ceili Club holds monthly “Ceilis” from October through May and hold dance instructions every Tuesday prior to a ceili at Mullaney’s Harp and Fiddle. More information about the Pittsburgh Ceili Club can be found on our website: www.pittsburghceiliclub.org.

Rust Town Rounders

A local band kicking the rust off live music in the steel city with interactive stage shows and upbeat tunes!

Sean Patrick Regan

Sean Patrick Regan is a third-generation piper. A student of his father, Patrick Regan, Sean completed a degree in Music Education (Summa Cum Laude) with the Bagpipe and Percussion as dual primary instrumental focuses at Edinboro
University of Pennsylvania. He is the professor of bagpiping at his Alma Mater in addition to teaching privately.

Sean has been at the top of American solo bagpipe competition for many years, and is a former world solo piping champion, having been the highest-placing competitor in the 2012 World Online Piping and Drumming Championships.
He has competed with bands at the Midwest, North American, Canadian, European, and World Pipe Band championships, and led the first Novice Juvenile pipe band from the United States ever to qualify to compete in the final round at the Worlds.

Sean is featured as a soloist and ensemble member on several albums, including “A Band Transformed”(2006), by Steel Thistle Pipes & Drums, “Début”(2011), by The Great Lakes Pipe Band, “An Afternoon on the Pipes”(in post-production), by himself, “Chimera X”(2013), through Edinboro University, “That’s Too Bad”(2018), with Apologetix, and most recently “25… and LIVE!”(2019), with The Rogues. Additionally, Sean is published in “The Voice,” the quarterly publication of the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association, as a correspondent with several articles on bagpipe education. Sean is sponsored in part by Lindsey Bagpipes Company, Lone Star Piper, and the Saint Andrew’s Society of Pittsburgh. www.sprbagpiper.com

Shovlin Academy Irish Dance

Shovlin Academy of Irish Dance offers solo and figure dancing instruction to students ages 5 and up. Participation in the academy provides each student with the opportunity to grow physically and mentally in a supportive environment while developing an appreciation for Irish music and dance. http://www.shovlinacademy.com

Weekend at Blarney’s

Weekend at Blarney’s is an acoustic pub rock duo formed in 2014 by Brad Wagner and Pat Reilly. Influenced by the Pogues, the Dubliners, the Clancy Brothers and the Dropkick Murphy’s, Brad and Pat have combined to spread foot stomping, hand clapping, sing along fun throughout the pubs of Western PA. In addition to playing the pubs, they have made several appearances on KDKA Radio and have played in Market Square for the Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day Parade in both 2015 and 2016. http://www.bradwagnerbarfly.com/

Get the Full Entertainment Schedule HERE!

*Entertainment line-up subject to change