CARTHAGE — Irish-born artists Aoife Clancy and Robbie O’Connell and virtuoso accordion player Jimmy Keane will perform a Celtic Christmas concert on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center.
They will also take the stage at Unity College Center for the Performing Arts in Unity on Thursday, Dec. 15.
The concert program extends from little-known Kilmore carols of Wexford to the Irish-American vaudeville stage. The three artists will explore Christian and pagan traditions surrounding the winter solstice in a mixture of songs, poetry and instrumental pieces. They will also share stories of family Christmases while growing up in Ireland along with songs that were passed down to them.
Clancy comes from the small town of Carrick-on-Suir in Co Tipperary Ireland, where her musical career began at an early age. Her father, Bobby Clancy of the legendary Clancy Brothers, placed a guitar in her hands when she was 10. By age 14, she was playing with him in nearby folk clubs. In 1992, she moved to the States and toured for six years with the acclaimed group Cherish the Ladies, performing more than 200 dates a year.
Clancy has also been a featured soloist with the Boston Pops and has three solo recordings along with a CD, “The Clancy Legacy,” with cousins O’Connell and Donal Clancy.
O’Connell, who grew up in Co Tipperary, was asked in 1977 to join his uncles, The Clancy Brothers, with whom he has recorded three albums. He is also a prolific songwriter and has had many artists record hit material, including award-winning Irish vocalist Sean Keane. Every May, he runs a successful tour to Ireland with Celtica tours. He teaches songwriting workshops all over the United States and Europe.
Keane was born in London of Irish-speaking parents from Connemara. He has won five consecutive All-Ireland titles on the piano accordion. He has been an avid collector and arranger of old tunes and is becoming increasingly known for his original compositions. He has also recorded and produced numerous albums and, in 2011, was honored as the “Male Musician of the decade” by Live Ireland and by the Irish American news.
Curtain is at 7 p.m. at Skye, 7:30 p.m. at Unity. There will be jam sessions one hour prior to show. Tickets are $15 at the door. For reservations, call Skye at 562-4445 or UCCPA at 948-7469. Skye Theater is at 2 Highland Drive off Winter Hill Road and U.S. Route 2. UCCPA is at 42 Depot St., Unity.
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