World Champion Irish dancers jingle jig into Montana with “Celtic Christmas”

Fans of Irish Dance extravaganzas, such as Riverdance and Lord of the Dance are in for a treat this November as a world-class show is coming to Butte and Bozeman.  The following is a press release from A Taste of Ireland.

BOZEMAN, MT (15 October 2026) — The Irish Christmas show that earned five stars in New York comes to Montana. A Celtic Christmas by A Taste of Ireland, featuring electrifying turns by a star-studded roster of World Champion Irish dancers including stars of Riverdance and Lord of the Dance, performs at Mother Lode Theatre on Friday, November 13, 2026 at 7:30pm and at Emerson Center for the Arts & Culture on Tuesday, November 17, 2026 at 7:30pm, as part of its acclaimed international tour. A follow-up to the company’s worldwide hit A Taste of Ireland, this yuletide extravaganza offers a memorable blend of storytelling, live music, breathtaking dancing, and Irish warmth that invites all ages to join in the spirit of “Nollaig Shona” (Happy Christmas).  Additional information and tickets are available at atasteofirelandshow.com. 

A Taste of Ireland returns for this holiday tour fresh from triumphs in London’s West End, where its production ÉIREANN earned five stars from critics, and last season’s hit run of A Celtic Christmas in New York, which also garnered five stars. In A Celtic Christmas, the curtain rises on a cozy Irish pub at Christmas, where a band strikes up and from the first pint, the audience becomes part of the party. The dance floor explodes as World Champion dancers tear through reels and jigs with an all-star ensemble that “taps with thunderous precision,” offering up a joyful production that “brims with music and mirth” (Theater Pizzazz). Live tap battles ensue, crooners give voice to the great Irish pub ballads, and lighthearted comedy gives way to an Irish sing-along that turns a theatre full of strangers into one enormous Christmas revel. At the heart of this festive treat is a love story between a humble lad from Tyrone and a spirited young woman from a wealthy Athenry family, whose chance meeting under the mistletoe turns into a star-crossed romance beset by trials. All ends well during a lavish Christmas ball, where the lovers reunite in a dramatic finale that captures the joy of the holiday season.

The production has been praised by audiences and critics alike, who have declared that A Celtic Christmas “high-kicks New York City into the Christmas spirit” (Theater Pizzazz), with “truly spectacular Irish dancing” (Australian Arts Review), setting “a new standard for holiday joy (New England Theatre Geek), earning a five-star rating from TheatreLife New York.

The cast features World Champions Mary Conway and Clara Sheppard and six-time World Champion Barry Teague, alongside a full company of champion Irish dancers, singers, and a live band. (NOTE: Casting subject to change.) 

Audiences will also see Gavin Shevlin, two-time World Champion and one of the most talked-about Irish dancers performing today. Reviewing his solo in the company’s West End production, All That Dazzles called it “one of the most accomplished solo dance performances I have ever seen,” and a display that “would even make Fred Astaire look up and take notice.” Musical Theatre Musings named him “A standout. He pulls off astonishing moves I’ve never even seen Flatley perform.” In Boston, New England Theatre Geek hailed, “Shevlin’s crowd work is as charming as it is playful.”

“Most Christmas shows ask you to sit back and watch. Ours pulls up a stool for you at the bar,” said Director and Producer Brent Pace. “We bring forward World Champion dancers at the height of their talents, with all the excitement of live taps, the charm of great pub ballads, some laughs, and a love story. And by the end, the whole theatre is singing. We took this company to the West End and to New York, and now audiences will see what people around the world are raving about.”

“Some half million people follow this company on social media, amazed at what these dancers can do,” said Producer Ceili Moore. “It’s one thing to admire their work on a screen, but there’s nothing like seeing this company live. Sitting beside people you love, with the whole room singing along, and the floor shaking under the dancers’ feet – this is the kind of night that becomes a holiday tradition.”

ABOUT A TASTE OF IRELAND
A Taste of Ireland is an international Irish dance company produced by Pace Live. In 2025, the company toured six countries worldwide, made its debut in London’s West End with its acclaimed production of ÉIREANN, and performed Off-Broadway in New York with A Celtic Christmas. In 2026, the company once again brings its hit productions to theatres across the United States, Canada, and Australia, presenting A Taste of Ireland, A Celtic Christmas, and ÉIREANN. The company is led by Director and Producer Brent Pace and Producer Ceili Moore.