The Center for Irish Music

The Center for Irish Music Non-profit Irish music school located in St. Paul’s Hamline Midway neighborhood in the Celtic Junction. Paul’s Hamline-Midway neighborhood.

We have 26 teaching artists offering culturally-unique, year-round irish music instruction for students of all ages. The Center for Irish Music (CIM) is a thriving music school based in St. The CIM is dedicated to handing down traditional Irish music to the next generation of musicians in our community. Through private lessons, group classes, traditional music sessions, and events featuring world-

class artists, the CIM aims to inspire and support the traditional Irish music community in the Twin Cities, throughout the Midwest, and Canada. In just 16 years, the CIM has grown into Minnesota’s leading gathering place for professional artists, students dedicated to learning the music, and community volunteers who are passionate about traditional Irish arts. Founded by Kate and Jode Dowling in 2004, the school was originally hosted by the St. Paul Conservatory of Music. Due to overwhelming interest and community support, it quickly evolved into its own music school, becoming a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in 2008. In 2009, the CIM moved to its permanent home at the Celtic Junction Arts Center, an Irish cultural center that hosts a consortium of Irish cultural groups. Our beautiful permanent space inside the Celtic Junction has helped to make our programs more accessible to a core audience of Irish music lovers and has enabled us to grow and engage a wider audience across the region.

It's been a great day of workshops at the MN Irish Music Weekend. Join us tonight at 7:30pm for the 2026 Master Artist C...
06/13/2026

It's been a great day of workshops at the MN Irish Music Weekend. Join us tonight at 7:30pm for the 2026 Master Artist Concert!

This year's concert will feature the dynamic husband-and-wife duo Draoicht—Michael Rooney (harp, concertina) and Sligo flute player June McCormack—alongside an exceptional lineup of artists, including award-winning uilleann piper and flutist Louise Mulcahy, Macdara Ó Faoláin (fiddle, bouzouki, song), accordion virtuoso Diarmuid Ó Meachair, Shane Mulchrone (tenor banjo), and Laura Feddersen (fiddle).

Tickets available at the door. $35 for adults, under 18 are free!

Join us for workshops, lectures, events, and concerts happening throughout the weekend. For details, visit www.centerforirishmusic.org/mim

The workshops of the Minnesota Irish Music weekend have begun... As has the puzzling in the lobby... Join us for worksh...
06/12/2026

The workshops of the Minnesota Irish Music weekend have begun... As has the puzzling in the lobby...

Join us for workshops, lectures, events, and concerts happening throughout the weekend. For details, visit www.centerforirishmusic.org/mim

The Kickoff Celebration of the Minnesota Irish Music Weekend last night was a blast! So fun to see our alumni, and congr...
06/12/2026

The Kickoff Celebration of the Minnesota Irish Music Weekend last night was a blast! So fun to see our alumni, and congratulations to the Fitz scholarship winners. We're looking forward to a weekend of learning tunes and songs and tapping into the deep roots of traditional Irish music with these amazing artists!

Join us for workshops, lectures, events, and concerts happening throughout the weekend. For details, visit www.centerforirishmusic.org/mim

Photos by Tim Van Cleave

Thank you Womenfolk Radio for the Minnesota Irish Music Weekend, feature on this week's show!
06/10/2026

Thank you Womenfolk Radio for the Minnesota Irish Music Weekend, feature on this week's show!

🇮🇪 Tune in as we talk with The Center for Irish Music’s Norah Rendell about this week’s Minnesota Irish Music Weekend and feature some of the artists who will be performing. 🌈 Plus new releases from Allison Russell, Crys Matthews, Dani Larkin, Valerie June & Susan O'Neill! 🎟️ AND a chance to win tickets to see Wren + Wilde 6/25 at 318 Cafe!

🎧 Wed 8-10 am CDT KFAI - Fresh Air Community Radio
Sat 10 am-12 pm CDT Folk Music Notebook
Sun 4-6 pm EDT WHCP Radio

06/10/2026

Calling dancers of all ages! This Friday, Jun 12th, 7:30pm at the Great Session Experience & Céilí, we're hosting a ceili dance. We've gathered a fabulous crew of musicians for your dancing pleasure, organized by CIM alum Morien McBurnie. Calling by Justin O'Carrick. This FREE event is part of our Minnesota Irish Music Weekend, 2026 at the Celtic Junction Arts Center. No prior dancing experience needed! Enjoy this video from Ceol agus Craic in January.

Last Friday, our Advanced Youth Ensemble had the opportunity to play at the Breizh Fest, a celebration of the culture of...
06/08/2026

Last Friday, our Advanced Youth Ensemble had the opportunity to play at the Breizh Fest, a celebration of the culture of Brittany, France - which has some celtic roots! The evening was lovely - the music, dance, and, of course, crepes, were top-notch. Thanks Breizh fest for including us in the celebration - we had a blast!

🎶 Getting out in the community! 🎶We had a fantastic time filling Grand Avenue with the sweet sounds of Irish traditional...
06/08/2026

🎶 Getting out in the community! 🎶

We had a fantastic time filling Grand Avenue with the sweet sounds of Irish traditional music yesterday at Moloney's Irish Imports on Grand Old Day. It was a joy to share the day alongside Rince na Chroi Irish Dancers, Twin Cities Irish Fest, and Twin Cities Robert Emmets Hurling and Camogie.

A huge thank you to our students and families for coming out to play, to Brian Miller for organizing, and to James & Emma at Moloney's Irish Imports for hosting so graciously. We loved bringing Irish music to the streets and celebrating with so many friends from the local Irish community!

Thanks Brian Miller for putting together this special edition of the Shamrock Shore! Tune into Jazz88 tomorrow, Saturday...
06/05/2026

Thanks Brian Miller for putting together this special edition of the Shamrock Shore! Tune into Jazz88 tomorrow, Saturday, from 12-1pm to take a deep dive into the music of the 2026 MN Irish Music Weekend visiting artists! CIM director Norah Rendell says this is required listening for everyone coming to MIM next weekend😄 - Enjoy the show and get excited!

Tomorrow 12-1 on The Shamrock Shore on Jazz88 we'll listen to the amazing lineup coming for this year's Minnesota Irish Music Weekend put on by The Center for Irish Music: June McCormack, Michael Rooney, Dáithí Sproule, Victoria Adiiye, Louise Mulcahy, Macdara Ó Faoláin, Diarmuid Ó Meachair, Shane Mulchrone and Laura Feddersen.

Address

836 Prior Avenue N, Suite #400
Saint Paul, MN
55104

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 9pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 9pm
Wednesday 11am - 9pm
Thursday 9:30am - 9pm
Friday 9:30am - 3pm

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