Big Sky Country Goes Gaelic – The Butte Montana An Ri Ra Mountain Irish Festival

The An Ri Ra Mountain Irish Festival is to be held August 14 – 16 in Butte, Montana.  The festival is sponsored by the Montana Gaelic Cultural Society. The Festival includes workshops in Irish Dancing and seminars on Celtic culture.  The sponsoring organisation describes itself as follows:  “Founded to promote and preserve Gaelic culture in our region through language, music, dance and social gatherings”.  The Society has been the sponsor of Celtic Language Immersion events.

This year’s entertainment line-up includes the Celtic roots band Runa who have been touring the North American Celtic Festival circuit including a recent appearance at the Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival.  Runa have been hailed as rising stars in Celtic Music.  An award winning band, they have won international recognition by gaining the Top Group and Top Traditional Music slots in the Irish Music awards.  “There is truly  mystical quality to their playing.  They create a lyrical sound that is at once unique as well as timeless.” (Loris Murphy – Irish Philadelphia).

Also appearing at this year’s Festival are the Cathie Ryan Band, The Town Pants, Dublin Gulch, The Ne’er Duwels featuring Ken O’Malley, The Irish Trinity Dancers and Kevin Doyle. 

Full details of the Festival offerings can be found on the link below.

·         An Ri Ra Montana Irish Festival

• When: August 14 - 16, 2015
• Where: Original Mine Yard, Butte
• Website: www.mtgaelic.org