You don't let St. Patrick's Day go by in Sudbury without dancing to the jigs and reels. That's why the Sudbury Irish Arts Association held a ceili, a traditional Irish social gathering with singing, dancing and storytelling, on Sunday.
Lou Hayden, chair of the association, said she was delighted there was a sold-out crowd of 100 participants at the Moose Lodge on Frood Road.
Hayden said celebrating culture is always important, but it is especially so on March 17.
"It's our biggest event for St. Patrick's, of course, because everybody comes along,” said Hayden. “So it's just a wonderful art form where people get together, all ages, all abilities, and they have a good time.
"And they listen to some fantastic music, and maybe they get inspired to take up an instrument. Maybe they get inspired to take a step dancing class. But the main thing is that everybody's together, doing the same thing and just having fun."
Hayden also acted as the "caller" for the various dances, hollering out instructions to the crowd on when to turn left, turn right and weave in and out among the other dancers. She was laughing and smiling as much as she was giving directions.
Hayden said she was especially pleased the Sunday event included live music by guest musicians Julie Schryer and Pat O’Gorman from AlgomaTrad, along with several other talented musicians, including Canadian Grand Master Fiddle Champion Paul Lemelin.
"I think the main thing is that it's just a wonderful chance for people to come together, and of all ages, any members of the family, everybody can have a part," said Hayden.
"It doesn't matter if you're tiny or you've got a bad leg. Usually, we can adapt the steps. It doesn't happen very often, but these traditional dance forms and music forms, it's wonderful for bringing the community together.”
Len Gillis is a reporter at Sudbury.com.