CHERISH THE LADIES CELTIC CHRISTMAS AT SAINT BARNABAS

Welcome to Cherish the Ladies annual Christmas concert at Saint Barnabas High School Auditorium! Join us on Sunday, December 15th at 5PM for a wonderful festive concert which is always a great day in our community!

For four decades, Cherish the Ladies has been one of the world’s most celebrated Irish music ensembles, capturing the hearts of audiences worldwide with their exhilarating blend of traditional Irish music, captivating vocals, and dynamic step dancing. As the Boston Globe puts it: “It is simply impossible to imagine an audience that wouldn’t enjoy what they do!” This Grammy-nominated group has blazed a trail for women in the once male-dominated Irish music scene, leaving an indelible mark with 18 critically acclaimed albums, thousands of concerts across the globe, and over 300 performances with symphony orchestras.

Led by the charismatic flute and whistle virtuoso Joanie Madden—a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Award Winner—Cherish the Ladies showcases a spectacular mix of virtuosic instrumental talent, beautiful vocals, engaging arrangements, and stunning step dancing. Their ongoing success as one of the world’s top Celtic groups is rooted in their ability to seamlessly blend the best of Irish traditional music, song, and dance into a vibrant, entertaining experience.

In their hugely popular Celtic Christmas program, Cherish the Ladies offers a festive, family-friendly performance featuring their signature sound on classic carols like "Angels We Have Heard on High," "The First Noel," and "Silent Night." These songs are beautifully arranged to highlight their unique Celtic instrumentation, lush harmonies, and remarkable step dancing. Celebrating its 25th year, their annual Christmas tour has been complemented by the creation of four critically acclaimed holiday albums: "On Christmas Night," "A Star in the East," "Christmas in Ireland," and "Christmas Live from County Clare."

This concert tour boasts an outstanding lineup of musicians: Joanie Madden on flute, whistles, and vocals; Mary Coogan on guitar and mandolin; Mirella Murray on accordion; Nollaig Casey on fiddle; and Kate Purcell and Don Stiffe on lead vocals and guitar. The piano duties are shared by Kathleen Boyle and Gabriel Donohue, while percussionists Cheryl Prashker and John Madden add rhythmic drive, and Max Morden contributes on brass instruments.

The performance is further elevated by extraordinary step dancers whose athleticism and rhythm bring the show to life. The lineup features five-time World Champion David Geaney, World Champion Tyler Schwartz, Riverdance alumnus Noel Spillane, and Nathan Pilatzke, a four-time Canadian Stepdance Champion and Chieftains alumnus.

Host or Publisher Cherish the Ladies