Main Street News
A Taste of Ireland – The Irish Music & Dance Sensation returns to Massachusetts in September
Above: The critically acclaimed “A Taste of Ireland—The Irish Music & Dance Sensation,” features a cast of world champion Irish dancers. Seen here is “Fincencore” featuring Cian Walsh and the ensemble. Photo by Chris Hardy.
A Taste of Ireland – The Irish Music & Dance Sensation will be returning to Massachusetts this September. Hailed as one of the world’s top Irish dance shows and fresh off its West End debut in London, A Taste of Ireland will come to The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield on Friday, September 19, and to the Symphony Hall Springfield in Springfield on Saturday, September 27.
About the show
The production originally debuted in the United States in 2024 with wildly successful off-Broadway engagement, followed by sensational runs around the world. Featuring an acclaimed cast of world champion Irish dancers, musicians, and contemporary vocalists, A Taste of Ireland transports the audience through the story of Ireland’s tumultuous history, delivered with “a pint of Irish wit.”
The show features revamped versions of Irish classics such as “Danny Boy,” “Tell Me Ma,” “Wild Rover,” and many more well known songs. A Taste of Ireland merges cultural traditions, modern flair, and craic galore to deliver a performance that “has been leaving audiences across the globe jigging on their feet for the last decade.”
On stage at A Taste of Ireland, you can expect to see Irish dancers including Gavin Shevlin (two-time world champion, formerly of “Lord of the Dance” and “Riverdance”), Callum O’Neill (world champion, formerly of “Riverdance”), Cian Walsh (world championship runner-up), and fiddle player Megan McGinley (Patrick O’Keeffe Young Musician of the Year, featured in the film TRAD, and formerly of “Lord of the Dance”). They are set to perform amongst other world-class Irish dancers and performers.
“A Taste of Ireland blends cultural traditions with modern flair and plenty of ‘craic,’ creating a performance that has had audiences across the globe leaping to their feet for an immersive experience that captures the essence of Irish culture,” the show’s site states. The show combines storytelling with modern Irish dance, tap, and contemporary dance to create a memorable and dynamic performance that bridges traditional and contemporary Irish art forms.
Bringing Irish dance to the USA
The show’s producer and director Brent Pace said, “This show offers audiences an adventure through the heart and soul of Ireland, where the every beat of music and every step of Irish dance shares a captivating journey. Each narrative is interwoven with dramatic lighting, breathtaking visual scenery, and performances that express the depth of these stories, so that audiences can appreciate Ireland’s rich history through movement, music, and dance.”
Pace has over 20 years of experience in Irish dance. He previously trained with top dancers in London, Dublin, Australia, and the United States, and his career highlights include becoming a world medalist, a six-time national champion, and earning top placements in major competitions worldwide.
After joining “The Rhythms of Ireland” in 2009, Pace became the show’s youngest lead dancer by 2011 and later performed as principal dancer. Now a theatrical producer and director, Pace continues to specialize in Celtic productions and trains at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney, Australia.
Ceili Moore, the producer for A Taste of Ireland, began dancing at just three years old. Throughout her competitive Irish dance career, she took home titles including Australian National, North American National, All Ireland, and World Champion. She began her professional career at age 18, performing in “Riverdance” and “Lord of the Dance” across the globe.
Since 2016, Moore has been a producer and choreographer with A Taste of Ireland, working alongside Pace on the continuous development of Pace Live Productions and touring globally.
For more information about A Taste of Ireland – The Irish Music & Dance Sensation or to purchase tickets, visit the show’s official website atasteofirelandshow.com. Tickets are $49-$73 (plus applicable fees) for the 7:30pm showing on Friday, September 19, 2025 at the Colonial Theatre at 111 South Street, Pittsfield, MA, and $49-$90 (plus applicable fees) for the 7:30pm showing on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at Symphony Hall at 34 Court Street in Springfield.
The critically acclaimed “A Taste of Ireland—The Irish Music & Dance Sensation,” features a cast of world champion Irish dancers. Seen here is “Vikings” with Ella Giammichele. Photo by Chris Hardy.
