Music and Dance Organizations

Circle of Friends
Meet friends old and new while enjoying set and ceili dancing to music provided by John Shields. Hosted by John Shields and Cass Tinney. Admission $10 during the summer months on 4th Friday’s, $5 every Wednesday start in the fall.

See our calendar for times and dates.

The Cummins School of Dance
The school teaches Irish dancing to children at the Irish Center. They practice on Wednesday evenings. See their website for more information on the lessons provided.

The Philadelphia Ceili Group
The Ceili sponsors regular music and dance events on the last Friday of every month and much more–including its annual festival every September.

The Philadelphia Emerald Society Pipe Band
The award-winning band holds practice every Wednesday evening from 7:30 p.m. in the Commodore Barry Ballroom. Information is available on their website.

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Societies

Derry Society of Philadelphia (Facebook page)
A social society for those living in the Delaware Valley from Derry, and with Derry roots. Meetings held every other month at the Irish Center.

The Donegal Association of Philadelphia
Founded in 1888, described as a “Beneficial, Social, Charitable and Patriotic Association.”

The Galway Association of Philadelphia (Facebook page)
On a Sunday afternoon in March 1909, a group of eleven immigrants met in Carpenters Hall in Philadelphia to form an Irish society. The purpose according to record, “To cultivate more intimately the generous impulses of the human heart and bring into closer communion the men who have memories to refresh, purposes to declare and objects to accomplish.” This was the beginning of The Galway Society of Philadelphia.

Mayo Association of Philadelphia
An association drawn from descendents of County Mayo, Ireland. Founded in 1905.