Spending an Irish Christmas at The Barclay
By Helena Danovich
Christmas at Irvine Barclay Theatre begins in November. Thanksgiving revelries give way to magical storytelling and beloved Christmas carols…and the Barclay stage comes alive with all things Christmas—Irish Christmas, that is.
An Irish Christmas event at The Barclaycaptures the very heartbeat of a traditional Irish Christmas celebration. The jubilant atmosphere reverberates with the infectious rhythm of Irish dance and the ethereal beauty of the music—its joyful harmonies flooded with the sounds of Irish flutes, fiddles and beautiful singing voices.
Many have made An Irish Christmas at The Barclay a family tradition.
“Sometimes we have family groups of up to 15 at our shows,” says Margaret O’Carroll, president of Kerry Irish Productions, the producer of the show. “It’s a total joy-ride for families—from children to seniors—the age range at our shows is across the board.”
Wren Hunt Dance
First presented at The Barclay in 2007, An Irish Christmas has featured countless award-winning Irish dancers and musicians throughout its seven previous sold-out showings at the theatre. This year’s cast includes Caterina Coyne (principal dancer of Riverdance) and world champion dancers Tyler Schwartz and Connor Reider, along with a host of additional world-class singers, dancers and musicians.
Along with showcasing established Irish music and dance stars, O’Carroll says she enjoys guiding and mentoring the next generation of local young talent.
“One of the most satisfying moments is when we can take one of these young dancers and highlight them in the show,” she says.
Drawing upon hundreds of years of Irish history, An Irish Christmas honors this festive time of year with glorious music and dance (the footwork is awe-inspiring), bringing a bounty of smiling faces and holiday memories. All that’s missing is the lush green countryside. You’ll have to travel to Ireland for that!