News & Updates

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Coming to Rockford on May 23, The Fitzgeralds are a family group of fiddling and step dancing siblings from just outside of Canada’s renowned Ottowa Valley. Tom, Kerry & Julie Fitzgerald were raised in a musical household and grew up touring with their family band “Everything Fitz“. These performers combine their background in Canadian Old Time Fiddling with modern styles of fiddle and dance for a unique experience you’ll never forget. The Fitzgeralds’ act features 3-time Canadian Grandmaster Fiddle Champions and Ontario Open Step Dance champions on one stage for a high-calibre, action packed show with all-ages appeal. High-energy fiddling and mind-blowing step dancing combine inRead More →

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Rockford PaddyFest Saturday, March 16 from 4-8pm at the Prairie Street Brewing Company, 200 Prairie St., Rockford, IL This is the event you don’t want to miss if you love Irish and Celtic culture and you live in or visit the Greater Rockford area. 5 stages of continuous entertainment featuring Irish and Celtic music, pipers, and dancers. Get your Irish cuisine fix with Authentic Irish and Irish American food. There is something for the whole family including a children’s area so bring the whole family and reconnect with friends of Irish music and culture. $10 admission, 12 and under free. For moreRead More →

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Stateline Celtic favorites Danny’s Gone Rogue and Trinadora are teaming up for a one-of-a-kind concert that will feature sing-along treasures, audience dancing opportunities, and surprise guests. Warm your soul with Celtic music and dance! Brilliant guests including Emerald Wind and accomplished dancers will join in the fun. Visit our Facebook Event to watch the details unfold. This event is co-sponsored by The Center for the Arts and Spirituality and the Irish Marching Society of Rockford. Admission is free; listeners will have an opportunity to make free-will offerings directly to the musicians and purchase their CDs. Light refreshments will be available. Free off-street parking is availableRead More →

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The Noble Call is that age-old Irish tradition, where, in the ‘wee’ small hours of the morning when everyone gets a chance to sing a song or tell a story. This Noble Call tradition is very popular at Christmas time in Ireland, as families gather together to welcome home their sons and daughters from distant shores and to share in the festivities. Join us on Saturday, December 8th at 7 pm for a night of music with Irish Tenor Paddy Homan & The Noble Call with special guest dancer Brian Cunningham.Read More →

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Bring your friends and join Rockford’s Irish Marching Society at Owly Oop Sports Pub for a special evening on October 18th. Guest bartenders will be Rockford’s own mayor, Tom McNamara and Police Chief Dan O’Shea! Live Irish music from Trinadora and Emerald Wind Music will keep the company lively, and a Kilt Contest will make this one night you won’t want to miss! Visit our Facebook event to RSVP and invite your friends. Do You Have The Best Legs In Rockford?  Read More →

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This story was originally posted by Chuck Sweeny on February 22, 2016 in the Rockford Register Star newspaper. The Irish Marching Society needs your help covering costs of having the parade in Rockford because the city charges $2,200 to march in the Forest City. I’m not sure how long the Irish Marching Society has sponsored the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Rockford, but it’s been a long time. Because the parade typically takes place just days before the Illinois primary in even-numbered years, and two weeks away from municipal elections in odd-numbered years, it often features political candidates battling for one office or another. That’sRead More →

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The Irish Marching Society (IMS) was founded in 1977 by a group of individuals who wanted to come together to celebrate the Irish Heritage in the city of Rockford, Illinois. The organization plans and stages, with the help and support of the city of Rockford, the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. They also hold an annual St. Patrick’s Day Party now called PaddyFest. IMS History The first party was originally planned for a small Rockford Faust Hotel meeting room, but as word spread of the celebration, the party was moved to the Grand Ballroom. By 1984, the party had outgrown the Faust Hotel, and itRead More →