History

The troupe started performing as part of a charity roadshow in 1998, so far it has helped raised over £78,000 for charity. After the roadshows it started performing SELL OUT shows in theatres. Below is a brief history of those shows;

'Cead Mile Failte'

The Celtic millennium Irish Music & Dance show that celebrates
the last thousand years of Irish culture.

featuring
the president of the dance,
World Irish Dancing Champion
James Keegan
and
British National Champion
Melissa McDonnell

Starting with Gaelic songs sung in the ancient sean-nos style right through to contemporary tributes to Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, The Titanic, Ronan Keating, Boyzone & The Corrs.

History
'cead mile failte' has it's origins in a show formulated to launch the 1998 Manchester Irish Festival for the right honourable Dr Mo Mowlam, secretary of state for Northern Ireland.

The troupe received a standing ovation from the V.I.P. audience and was one of the highlights of the 1998 and 1999 festival. They performed on three consecutive weekends in the Manchester Arndale Centre, attracting over 15,000 people.

They later performed with world famous flautist James Galway and Phil Coulter at the prestigious Irish Abroad charitable trust dinner. The VIP audience which included such dignitaries as Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson and chairman Martin Edwards gave the troupe their seal of approval.

During 1999 the troupe created its own show called 'cead mile failte' (one hundred thousand Irish welcomes). It's world premiere during com.art.99 was a sell out, as was its appearance during the Manchester Irish Festival 2000 and the BBC Music Live Festival at the Bridgewater Hall.

The new show will be the première of the Young Gifted & Green Irish Music & Dance Show at the Francis House Charity Concert
at the Bridgewater Hall on Monday 12th March 2001 at 7.30pm

Live Performances

March 2002
Irish Festival Launch
Manchester Town Hall

October 2001
BBC Children in Need Palace Levenshulme SOLD OUT

March 2001
Bridgewater Hall
SOLD OUT

March 2001
Launch of Manchester Irish Festival for the President of Ireland

22nd July 2000
Royal Albert Hall London SOLD OUT

29th May 2000
Blue Peter Family Concert
Bridgewater Hall
with the BBC Philharmonic
SOLD OUT

12th March 2000
Manchester Irish Festival Manchester Town Hall
Sold Out

Oct 1999
Com.art.99
world premiere of
'Cead mile failte'
Palace, Levenshulme
Sold Out

27th Feb-6th March 1999 Manchester Arndale Centre

22nd February
Press Launch 1999 Manchester Irish Festival

October 1998
Irish Abroad Charitable Trust Dinner accompanying James Galway and Phil Coulter

6th March 1998
The launch for the 1998 Manchester Irish Festival in the great hall at Manchester Town Hall for the right honourable Dr Mo Mowlam Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

27th Feb-6th March 1998 Manchester Arndale Centre