Traditional Irish Music & Dance Event Set for January 4

By Katie McFadden

As an early notice, save the date for Rockaway St. Patrick’s Day, coming Saturday, March 7. But you don’t have to wait to celebrate Irish culture, when there’s still time to celebrate an Irish Christmas. Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Éireann’s Traditional Irish Music and Dance Event is coming back to the Knights of Columbus on Sunday, January 4.

Relive the days when Rockaway was the Irish Riviera or share a bit of it with your younger family members, as the Killoran-Clancy-Whelan and Mulligan-Quinn branches of Comhaltas host another event that gives a taste of Irish music, traditional dance and language as part of  Nollaig na mBan, or Women’s Christmas, a day celebrated in Ireland on January 6, giving women a much-needed break after the rush of the holiday season, while the men take on the responsibilities. But this event is open to all, as after all, the ladies are going to need a dance partner.

The event, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on January 4, encourages participation, as there will be opportunities to sing along to the traditional tunes played by Danny Burke, Annmarie Acosta Williams, Ursula Ocampo and others, learn a few Gaelic words, and learn group céilí dances or traditional Irish dance moves. That means all levels are welcome, including first timers.

“There’s no experience necessary,” event organizer Annmarie Acosta Williams said. “There’s something for everybody to do and they don’t have to feel any pressure about not having tried Irish dance before. This is the right place to be if they’ve never been exposed to it, so it’s the perfect chance to give it a whirl.”

There will also be lunch food to give people energy, a cash bar to give people courage, and for a chance at the luck of the Irish, plenty of raffles, thanks to generous local businesses and individuals who donated, so bring cash for those raffle tickets.

Annmarie Acosta Williams, chairperson for the mid-Atlantic region for Comhaltas, who provides Irish dance and music lessons locally, spearheaded the first event last year to raise awareness for the more than 50-year-old worldwide organization, Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Éireann, that strives to promote traditional Irish music, dance, song and language across the world, raise funds for their musicians and dancers to compete, and to reinvigorate the spark for Irish culture that was more prominent in Rockaway just a few decades ago.

But if last year’s turnout proved anything, it’s that Irish eyes are ready to smile and embrace cultural events again. “Last year, I didn’t know what to expect. But I loved it. It was really reassuring to see the turnout and it gave us insight that the people in the community do want these things happening locally,” Acosta Williams said. “It was jam packed. One of the priorities I had was to make it a positive experience for people of all ages, whether they have experience of not, and last year, we did it. We have people that were senior citizens, families with 3-year-olds, singles, couples. They were all willing to get up and participate and I felt reassured by last year’s support.”

That’s why she wanted to do it all again, and like the Rockaway St. Patrick’s Day Parade and its related events and the Rockaway Irish Festival, Acosta Williams hopes to make this a winter tradition that many look forward to year after year. “It was hard to get it started but my instinct is to keep it consistent and like anything else, it will become a fixture on everyone’s annual calendar, and they can look forward to it,” she said. “There’s a lot of hustle and bustle during the holidays and during the school break, so let’s have something to fill the calendar to get a day out with the family during vacation, before reality hits again.”

While the turnout exceeded expectations, Acosta Williams hopes this year, it will draw the interest of other local Irish culture organizations, so more events can grow. “To make stuff like this happen, we need more people to become involved. I’d love to see the Ancient Order of Hibernian groups, the men and the women, to come out, and we can work together to try to increase Irish culture and prolong and preserve it here. Maybe we can collaborate more often,” she said.

But with that said, for anyone who wants to come, Acosta Williams encourages folks to get their tickets early, and there’s even an incentive for doing so. Tickets are $30 per adult through Christmas Day, December 25. As of December 26, tickets go up to $40. Tickets for kids ages 14 and under are $15. There’s no guarantee that tickets will be available at the door, and those who wish to sit with friends or family at a table are especially encouraged to purchase tickets early.  To get tickets in advance, scan the QR code or reach out to Annmarie at 917-692-1332. Those interested in donating raffle prizes can also contact Annmarie.

“Come out and enjoy yourself and meet friends old and new,” Acosta Williams said We can’t wait to see everyone on January 4!”