The Sean-nós Northwest Festival is a unique event aimed at celebrating and promoting three aspects of deep Irish cultural practice: sean-nós singing, sean-nós dancing, and the Irish language. These cultural treasures are incredibly rare to find outside of Ireland. We endeavor to sustain a vibrant community for these and other Irish cultural practices (including storytelling, poetry, and craft) throughout the Pacific Northwest through our festival programming.

Schedule of Events:

May 1, 2025

6:30-9:30 pm - Community Concert

Location: Alberta House 5131 NE 23rd Ave, Portland OR USA

May 2, 2025

6:30-9:30 pm - All-Sets Ceili

Location: Alberta House 5131 NE 23rd Ave, Portland OR USA

May 3, 2025

4:30-6:30pm - Halfdoor & Barrel Dancing Exhibition

Location: Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub 112 SW 2nd Ave, Downtown Portland

Workshop Schedule

Check-in & Tea/Coee 9:00-9:30 am
9:00 am - 9:30 am - Check-in at the desk, grab a cuppa, and head to the auditorum for welcome! (Sponsored by Gaeilge Northwest)
9:30 am - 11:00 am - Workshop 1
Gaeilge: Features of Donegal Irish with Scot O Muilleora
Singing: Songs from the Donegal Tradition with Gearóidín Breathnach
Dance: Set Dancing with Jackie O'Riley (Boyne Set & W. Kerry Set (time permitting))
Music: Introduction to Donegal Fiddle Tradtions with Danny Diamond
11:00 am - 12:30 pm - Workshop 2
Gaeilge: Topics in Irish Gaelic with Brian O hAirt
Singing: Basic Songs in Irish & English with Dáithí Sproule
Dance: Topics in Sean-nós Dancing with Anna Lethert (Int/Adv)
Music: Mazurkas, Highlands, & Scottiches with Preston Howard-Wilde
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm - Lunch on your own
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm - Workshop 3
Gaeilge: Comhrá agus Caint le Scot O Muilleora
Singing: Derry-Donegal Connection with Dáithí Sproule
Dance: Beginning Sean-nós Dancing with Anna Lethert
Music: Irish Fiddle Techniques & Repertoire^ with Danny Diamond
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm - Break
4:30 pm - 6:30 pm - Halfdoor & Barrel Dancing Exhibition (Sponsored by Maldon Meehan Dance)
Kells Irish Restaurant 112 SW 2nd Ave. Downtown Portland
From 6:30 pm onward - Dinnéar, craic, ceol, is damhsa!

Location: Alberta Abbey, 126 NE Alberta St

May 4, 2025

4:30-6:30 pm - The Big Sing

Location: T.C. O'Leary's Pub 2926 NE Alberta St, Portland

Workshop Schedule

Check-in & Tea/Coee 9:00-9:30 am

9:00 am - 9:30 am - Check-in, grab a cuppa, chat, and head to your workshop! (Sponsored by Gaeilge Northwest)
9:30 am - 11:00 am - Workshop 4
Gaeilge: Topics in Irish Gaelic with Niall O Murchú
Singing: Songs of Skara Brae with Dáithí Sproule
Dance: The Steps of Brigid Tunney (the Maggie Pickens) with Jackie O'Riley
Music: The Long Road to Glenties (Johnny Doherty) with Danny Diamond
11:00 am - 12:30 pm - Workshop 5
Gaeilge: Comhrá agus Caint le Scot O Muilleora
Singing: Introduction to Irish Storytelling with David Ingerson
Dance: Vernacular Dance Traditions of Ulster with Jonathan McCloy (facilitator: O'Riley)
Music: Irish Technique & Repertoire with Danny Diamond
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm - Lunch on your own
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm - Workshop 6
Gaeilge: Topics in Irish Gaelic with Scot O Muilleora
Singing: Rare & Gorgeous Songs with Dáithí Sproule
Dance: Two-Handed Kitchen Dances from Donegal with Anna Lethert
Music: The Gaelic Harp Tradition of Ireland with Aran Adams
3:35 pm - 4:30 pm - Break
4:30 pm - 6:30 pm - The Big Sing (Sponsored by Oíche na nAmhrán | Night of Song)
T.C. O'Leary's Pub 2926 NE Alberta St.
From 6:30 pm onward - Dinnéar, craic, ceol, is damhsa agus slán abhaile! (Until next year)

Location: Alberta Abbey, 126 NE Alberta St

Date: May 1-4, 2025

Location:
Historic Alberta House, 5131 NE 23rd Portland, OR 97211
Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub 112 SW 2nd Ave, Downtown Portland
T.C. O'Leary's Pub 2926 NE Alberta St, Portland
Alberta Abbey 126 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR 97211

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