October 3, 2025
Since opening our beautifully renovated, expanded space in 2023, we’ve been excited to explore new ways to use our accessible gathering spaces for community events. One such gathering took place on Saturday, September 20th: the inaugural Ceol agus Craic.
Pronounced ky-ohl agus crack and meaning “Music and Fun,” the event brought together nearly 40 students, instructors, and community members in the Scanlan Music Hall and lower lobby for a lively afternoon of workshops in music and sean-nós dance, followed by a community session complete with fresh tea and biscuits.
Executive Artistic Director Norah Rendell envisioned the program with two goals in mind. The first was to rekindle the spirit of the impromptu gatherings that defined CIM’s early years at the Celtic Junction in 2009. “In those days, we hosted more impromptu sessions—gatherings where we first met many of the students, parents, and supporters who are now deeply involved in our community,” she reflected.
The second inspiration was to highlight how Irish traditional music and dance naturally intertwine. “For me, the magic is in how social dancing and music weave together to create an intergenerational community experience” Rendell explained.
Looking ahead, CIM hopes to grow Ceol agus Craic as both a cultural experience and a source of sustainable program income for the music school.
We invite you to join us for the next Ceol agus Craic on Saturday, January 24th—an unforgettable afternoon of traditional Irish music, featuring hands-on workshops, an open session, and plenty of opportunities to learn, play, and connect.
A heartfelt thank you to the 39 workshop participants, our dedicated instructors, volunteers, session leaders, Karen Cieminski’s sean-nós dancers, fiddler Will Cramer, and photographer Danny Diamond for making the very first Ceol agus Craic such a joyful success!