Acclaimed Traditional Irish Musical Group, Danu, Brings A Christmas Gathering: Feile Na Nollag to the MAC Dec. 6

The critically acclaimed traditional Irish musical group, Danú, comes to the McAninch Arts Center (MAC) for A Christmas Gathering: Féile Na Nollag Saturday, Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. For this concert, Danú will perform a mix of heartwarming and high energy traditional holiday music, such as “The Wexford Carol,” one of the oldest extant Christmas carols in the European tradition; “Miss Fogarty’s Christmas Cake,” a humorous 19th century song; “Oiche Chiuin” (“Silent Night”) and more.

Christmas in Ireland is one of the most important holidays for families and friends, as many Irish people living abroad come home to gather in celebration. Local community choirs singing traditional songs for Christmas and Wrens Day (Dec. 26) are a common sight throughout Ireland each December. Music and dance gatherings in urban and rural communities often combine to offer a great variety of songs, music, and stories at this time. Danú—A Christmas Gathering: Féile Na Nollag offers a taste of these extraordinary events, which have been a holiday tradition in Ireland for centuries.

Hailing from County Waterford, Kerry, Dublin and Donegal in Ireland, Danú is one of the leading traditional Irish musical groups today. Their standing-room-only concerts throughout Ireland are mesmerizing shows often featuring a mix of ancient Irish music and new work from their repertoire. The Washington Post hails them as a musical group as, “a vibrant mix of virtuosity, energy and empathy.”

Danú is composed of Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh (lead vocals, flute and whistle), Benny McCarthy (button accordion), Dónal Clancy (guitar and vocals), Oisín McAuley (fiddle and backing vocals),

Éamon Doorley (Irish bouzouki and backing vocals) and Martin O’Neill (bodhran and piano). Based in the city of Waterford, Ireland and named for the ancient Celtic goddess of fertility and wisdom, Danú has released seven records since forming in 1994 and is scheduled to release a new album in

January 2015. Danú has been voted Best Overall Traditional Act by Dublin’s magazine Irish Music and twice voted Best Traditional Group in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Danú has toured throughout Europe and North America with stops at The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and Symphony Space in New York City. Their live performances have been broadcast on NPR, the CBC, and the BBC.

Joining Danú on stage during the concert will be dancers from Chicagoland’s own McNulty Irish Dancers. From beginnings in Naperville Illinois, the McNulty School of Irish Dance has grown into one of the largest, most active dance schools in the Midwest offering Irish dance lessons throughout the Chicago suburban area, in Bloomington and Rockford Ill.; Dubuque, Iowa and Twin Lakes, Wisc. For more information about McNulty Irish Dancers visit mcnultyirishdancers.com.

Danú—A Christmas Gathering: Féile Na Nollag comes to the McAninch Arts Center located on the campus of College of DuPage (425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, Ill.) Saturday, Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40-$60. For tickets or more information, visit AtTheMAC.org or call 630-942-4000.