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Irish Christmas in America brings homeland holidays to Cedar Rapids
Evening of Celtic music, dance and stories headed to CSPS stage
Ed Condran
Nov. 23, 2023 6:15 am
For those who can’t make it to Ireland for Christmas, there’s Irish Christmas in America.
Fiddler Oisin Mac Diarmada has the best of both worlds. Mac Diarmada delivers songs with Irish Christmas in America throughout the United States from Friday, Nov. 24, through Dec. 23, and then flies back to Ireland in time for Christmas Eve.
Bono, Glen Hansard and Hozier often busk on Dublin’s Grafton street the night before Christmas.
“It’s something everyone looks forward to,” Mac Diarmada said while calling from his Sligo, Ireland, home. “The only thing is that you never know what time it’s going to happen or what will be played.”
If you go
What: Irish Christmas in America
Where: CSPS Hall, 1103 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids
When: 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, 2023
Tickets: $30 advance, $35 show day; cspshall.org/irish-christmas
Band’s website: irishchristmasinamerica.com/
It’s a different story for Irish Christmas in America, which swings through CSPS Hall in Cedar Rapids on Friday night. The show starts at 8 p.m., featuring traditional Irish tunes, dancing and storytelling.
“We have fun with the anecdotes,” Mac Diarmada said. “The stories are off the cuff, which is the Irish way.”
Launching in C.R.
Many of the tunes showcased will be from “A Long Way from Home,” the ensemble’s latest album. Many of the new songs are old Irish Christmas songs, along with a version of “Silent Night” in Gaelic and English. The album will be released Friday, Nov. 24.
“The first place in America to pick up the album will be at the show in Cedar Rapids,” Mac Diarmada said. “We’re excited about this, since we’re long overdue to put out an album — and the title sums it up for us since we'll be a long way from home when we get to Iowa.”
However, Iowa reminds Mac Diarmada of Ireland because of its agriculture.
“There’s common denominators for certain,” Mac Diarmada said. “Farming is part of it in both places. But Ireland is rockier and has some hills. In Iowa it’s flat and there are so many farms and farmers. I remember standing out in front of the DoubleTree Hotel in Cedar Rapids a few years ago with (accordion player) Seamus (Begley) and we watched hundreds of John Deere tractors on the (rail cars) and we were just in awe.”
A wonderful life
Begley died in January, but Irish Christmas in America continues.
“This is what we love to do,” Mac Diarmada said. “I can’t imagine not being out with this group.”
Irish Christmas in America members -- which also includes vocalist Caitriona Sherlock, Irish harp player Grainne Hambly, Uilleann pipes player and flutist Sean Gavin and pianist/dancer Samantha Harvey -- have been rehearsing for their American tour.
“We can’t wait to get back to America,” Mac Diarmada said. “I enjoy the buildup to Christmas. We do a slow buildup here while you guys start with Thanksgiving, and then it’s a month of such great joy.”
The music they deliver breaks the language barrier.
“Some of the traditional songs we do aren’t in English,” Mac Diarmada said. “You might not understand the words, but the songs are so beautiful that it doesn’t matter. We like to mix up the familiar with the unfamiliar. It’ll be nice playing whatever. We just enjoy performing these songs so much at this time of year.”
When Irish Christmas in America finishes its last gig, the band will return to the homeland.
“It always feels good after the tour ends, since we enjoy America so much,” Mac Diarmada said. “The fans in the U.S. are always so enthusiastic about our music. We all feel so good after we finish over there and come home to Christmas in Ireland.
“There’s no place like Ireland, but there’s no place like America, either. We realize how fortunate we are to be able to play our music in America at this time of year. It’s a wonderful life we're living.”