Richmond, VA – Has anyone told ye Danny Boy that December is the season to be Irish? Give me a Fa La La La La, and a La La La! On December 21, 2025, at The National in Richmond, VA it was indeed a night to be jolly with A Taste of Ireland‘s A Celtic Christmas… pint optional.
The evening started with a silhouette of a dancer, violin, guitar, and a tender at the bar, and a fine Irish suiter on a ‘quiet’ Irish Christmas Eve. It was not quiet for long, as the motion and music quickly escalated, delivering a large batch of Christmas cheer.
Over the years I have covered some modern dance and a lot of ballet. I have never, other than some performances at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, really taken in an Irish dance performance. I was amazed at the choreography as well as the synchronization of the dancers. Even more amazing was to see the control as the style, an Irish Step Dance, requires extreme foot and leg motion while maintaining a quiet upper body. Merry Christmas!!
One of the main themes of the dance was courtship with a little competition thrown in for good measure. The men competing for the women, the women competing for the men, and each trying to prove to each other than they were the most deserving in the courtship battle… all while celebrating an Irish Christmas.
Sure, the dancing alone would have made for a great performance and a great start to the final week of the Christmas season, but there was more. Between dances, sometimes during the dances, and almost always with the Irish Pub in the background, A Taste of Ireland delivered a few renditions of various carols… pints not included. I have to say, I think my fave was their version of the 12 Days of Christmas.
The evening ended with quite a fanfare of dance and song… and costume that would make any connoisseur of festive regalia jealous. A Celtic Christmas was a blast and exactly what was needed to begin the final week into Christmas!
A Taste of Ireland’s Celtic Christmas Gallery
Gavin Shevlin – Principal & Head Dance Captain, Mitchell O’Hara – Soloist & Dance Captain, Cian Walsh – Soloist, Liam Fitzgerald – Demi Soloist & Dance Captain, Callum O’Neill – Demi Soloist & Dance Captain, Isaac Loxley – Senior Ensemble, Dan McCormick – Senior Ensemble, Dillon D’Amore – Ensemble, Michael Roberson – Ensemble, Enda Keane – Ensemble, Caleb Grignon – Ensemble, Ciaran Bagley – Ensemble
Brittany Pymm – Principal Dancer, Julia O’Rourke – Lead Dancer, Meagan Urbanek – Understudy, Fiona Shanley – Ensemble, Natalie Wagner – Ensemble, Emily Grace – Ensemble, Jess Miller – Ensemble, Caitlin Ward – Ensemble
Show Date: December 21, 2025
