Annual Community Ceili

Recap of the 2020 Community Ceili

The March 2020 Community Ceili was held right before DHMs in Lincoln caused the cancellation of such events.  There was live music by Rivertown String Band.  Susan Ritta, long time Irish dancer and promoter of Irish/Celtic music through Thunder on the Plains, a Sunday evening program on KZUM radio, was the “caller.”  A caller coaches dancers on the moves to standard Irish social dances (ceili, pronounce cay-lee).

Lincoln Irish Dancers would like to extend a sincere THANK YOU to those who provided goods and services for the Raffle and/or the Irish Market at the 2020 March Annual Community Irish Social Dance (Ceili)!

Raffle donations by:

  • Moran Liquor Works, 3400 A St, Lincoln, NE 68510
  • Lied Center for the Performing Arts – https://www.liedcenter.org/
  • Champions Fun Center  –  Games galore such as miniature golf, batting cages & a 3-story maze, plus pizza & finger foods.  1555 Yolande Ave, Lincoln, NE 68521
  • Wahoo Knits (Anne Marie Hart) – https://wahooknits.wixsite.com/website
  • Garden Flag Set (member donation)
  • Ceili Bear – Suzi Kruce

Irish Market donations by:

  • Sandra Stark
  • Edie Skelton
  • Marianne Woeppel

A special thanks to:

  • Sandra Stark who sewed the lovely tablecloth used at the registration table from previous Lincoln Irish Dancer costume sashes. 
  • Edie Skelton who organized and ran the Raffle and Irish Market.
  • Marianne Woeppel who managed the Irish Market table.
  • LID members who brought snacks to share.
  • Performers who danced in the ‘half time show’
  • Laura Nettland, instructor, who choreographed the ‘half time show’
  • All members who helped:  assisting attendees with dancing, helping take fees, set-up, clean-up, publicity distribution both before and that day

If anyone was inadvertently left off since the world has been so crazy since March, please contact info@lincolnirishdancers.org and we’ll note your special contribution.

Celebrate all things Irish

Broom Dance
Broom Dance

On Sunday March 8, 2020 from 6:30-9:00 pm the Rivertown String Band played at the Lincoln Irish Dancers Annual Community Ceili. The dances were called by Susan Ritta.

The Annual Ceili was held at St. Patrick’s Church 6111 Morrill Avenue in Havelock. A raffle, refreshment and dance demo took place. Some of the raffle items are below. The beverages require the person to be of legal age of 21 or older.

Ceili Bear Celtic Fire March 17 tickets decorator rug
Irish music Baileys raffle age 21 or older aran sweater
decorator pillow Guinnes raffle age 21 or older jackets

To know more about the Rivertown String Band, see http://www.rivertownstringband.com/ They are a traditional acoustic folk music band from Omaha, Nebraska.

Rivertown String Band
Rivertown String Band located in Omaha, Nebraska

Ceili, in the Irish language, simply means gathering or party – when villagers would get together in a home or pub to play music and dance. In Ireland they will take an intermission with tea and scones.  We serve an assortment of baked goods such as cookies, soda bread, brownies, cupcakes, etc.

We have been told by past dance callers who were from Ireland  that our Ceili dance reminds them of the authentic Ceili’s that they attended when they were growing up.  We are proud to carry on the tradition of Ireland’s public social dance, the Ceili to celebrate the St. Patrick’s Day season.

Irish Ceili Dance Party

Ceili Event
Ceili Event

May your troubles be less, And your blessings be more. And nothing but happiness come through your door.