Kate (left) and Kiara (right), dancers from the Celtic Academy Canada performed the opening act at the Emerald Isle and Friends event, a Bruce County Playhouse and Celtic Academy Canada fundraiser, on St Patrick’s Day in Southampton.

Hub Staff

The Southampton Town Hall was transported to the Emerald Isle on St Patrick’s Day, Sunday, March 17. The luck of the Irish was with those in attendance as they were dazzled by the young dancers from Mary Foley’s Celtic Academy Canada and several local singing groups.

The event was to raise money for Bruce County Playhouse and Celtic Academy Canada while celebrating the Irish culture through music and dance. Leslie McNamara, Promotional Director at the Bruce County Playhouse, expressed her gratitude to all the performers who had donated their time for the cause.

Mary Foley, who is Irish born, was in her element as she shared her Irish roots through the upbeat Celtic music and the racing feet of her students. The audience was thrilled as the dancers graced the stage, dressed the part with tartan kilts and bouncing curls. The many hours these girls commit to their art was apparent in the speed and accuracy of their movements.

The women of the A Cappella Chamber Choir brought a more mellow, but no less entertaining act to the event. Former conductor and founder of the choir, Jeanette Steeves, led the singers through the melodic highs and lows of love with several traditional Irish tunes.

Guests were also treated to a beautifully sweet sounding trio, Aria, comprised of Christina Edwards, Elizabeth Coates and Megan De Jager. Aria serenaded the crowd with their harmonious and gentle crooning voices.

Next, the men of the A Cappella Chamber Choir had their turn to charm the audience with solos from John De Jager and Tim Salmon. The women returned to the stage to unite this choir and end their performance on a spectacularly, robust note.

Another local group, Melodies and Memories, took the stage, each with a sparkling green hat, a gleam in their eye and joy in their voices. They surprised the guests as they each pulled out a kazoo to finish their act with a bit 'o fun.

The Celtic dancers continued to captivate the audience with their buoyant dances as all 16 performers graced the stage for an outstanding finale that had everybody clapping their hands and tapping their toes.

The younger ‘fairies’ from the Celtic Academy Canada. From left to right: Isabella, Lily, Evelyn, Eva, Ariya and Brya.

The women of the A Cappella Chamber Choir, introduced by founder and former conductor Jeanette Steeves.

Trio Aria, from left, Elizabeth Coates, Christina Edwards and Meghan De Jager.

The men of the Port Elgin A Cappella Chamber Choir.

Leslie McNamara, Promotional Director Bruce County Playhouse (left) and Mary Foley, Celtic Academy Canada.

Melodies and Memories singing at the St Patrick’s Day celebration, a Bruce County Playhouse and Celtic Academy Canada fundraiser, at the Southampton Town Hall.

A stellar performance from the Irish dancers of the Celtic Academy Canada March 17 in Southampton.

All 16 dancers from the Celtic Academy Canada took to the stage for the grand finale performance at the Bruce County Playhouse and Celtic Academy fundraiser March 17.