Cherish the Ladies: Celtic Christmas

For four decades, Cherish the Ladies has been one of the world’s most celebrated Irish music ensembles, captivating audiences across the globe with their exhilarating blend of traditional Irish music, engaging vocals, and dynamic step dancing. As The Boston Globe raves, “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 performed worldwide, and over 300 appearances with symphony orchestras.

Led by the charismatic Joanie Madden—flute and whistle virtuoso and recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship—Cherish the Ladies delivers a spectacular showcase of virtuosic musicianship, stunning vocals, and world-class dancing. Their success as one of the top Celtic ensembles in the world stems from their ability to seamlessly blend the best of Irish traditional music, song, and dance into a vibrant, heartwarming experience.

This holiday season, Cherish the Ladies presents their beloved Celtic Christmas program—a festive, family-friendly concert featuring their signature sound on classic carols such as “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “The First Noel,” and “Silent Night.” Each piece is beautifully arranged to highlight their Celtic instrumentation, lush harmonies, and dazzling step dancing.

This cherished holiday tradition has inspired four acclaimed albums: “On Christmas Night” (chosen by the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe and USA Today as one of the top Christmas Albums of the year), “A Star in the East”, “Christmas in Ireland”, and “Christmas Live from County Clare”.

The concert features an outstanding lineup of world-champion musicians, including Joanie Madden on flute, whistles, and vocals; Mirella Murray on accordion; Nollaig Casey on fiddle; Hannah Collins on piano; Mary Coogan on guitar; and Cheryl Prashker on percussion. Joining them on lead vocals and guitar are the mesmerizing vocals of Kate Purcell, Don Stiffe, and Bruce Foley—each adding their own unique artistry to the group’s rich tapestry of sound.

Adding to the magic, extraordinary step dancers bring the stage to life with their athleticism and artistry. This year's lineup includes World Champion James Greenan, Principal Lead Dancer of Riverdance; two-time World Champion Tyler Schwartz; and Joe Harrison, an alumnus of Riverdance and Lord of the Dance.

Together, they create an unforgettable evening of music, song, and dance—a joyful celebration of the season guaranteed to lift your spirits and fill your heart with the magic of the season.

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Host or Publisher Irish American Heritage Center