Ring of Kerry

Irish Dancers

Labor Day 2023

2023 End of Year Ceili

Us
Irish folk dance classes in Montgomery County, Maryland are taught by the Ring of Kerry Irish Dancers. A great recreational activity, Irish dancing provides aerobic exercise in a welcoming social setting. For prospective new members, the first class is free!
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Calendar of EventsCalendar Notice

Our list of what's going on in the Maryland Irish set and ceili dance scene, plus a little more.

Quick Steps

Blackthorn Halloween 2023 Ceili

Once again it was held at beautiful McCathran Hall, with lively music supplied  by Joe DeZarn,Tina Eck, and Zan McLeod, and Marilyn Moore's expert calling. Obie O'Brien organized this can't-miss event. The video's highlights include the High Cauled Cap, Walls of Limerick and the Merchant Set.


If you'd like to join us but aren't interested in going to dance class, download our annual membership form below. Please fill in the first page and mail it to us with a check for your dues. But ... if you want to join either of our two semesters of classes, offered during the Fall and Winter/Spring seasons, complete the entire form and bring it to class for registration. Thank you! More about membership and classes.

m e m b e r s h i p
F O R M

Dances for the Fall 2023 Semester



  Main Class
done High Cauled Cap  video
done Connemara Reel  video
done Corofin  video
done Waltz Cotillion
done Walls of Limerick  video
done Merchant  video
done Antrim Square  video
done Clare Lancers  video
done Haymaker's Jig  video
done North Kerry  video
done Rakes of Mallow
Pride of Erin  video
Labasheeda  video
done Fairy Reel  video
done Harvest Time Jig  video

Book Discussions

Every member who is interested in participating may sign up for this group. Contact Sonja via her email as listed in our membership directory. Discussion sessions will be conducted via Zoom on designated Wednesdays; see our events calendar. Registrants will get an email from Tom O. with connection instructions shortly before each discussion date. There will also be an outline of ideas to talk about. You have to acquire the books on your own; we'll display the videos when books aren't on tap. On the soon-to-review agenda is:

 

Upcoming Readings and Viewings (click here)

Reading  List

Murder at an Irish Christmas
by Carlene O’Connor
Date: Saturday December 16, 2023
Time: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Place: Connie's place - see your RKIDs directory.
SPECIAL EVENT: Discussion will take place at a tea in Frederick. By invitation only.
Contact: Sonja
More About This: Only active members of the Book Club will be invited due to space limitations.
Tis: A Memoir
by Frank McCourt
Date: Wednesday January 24, 2024
Time: 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Place: Zoom
Questions will be coming out at a later date. This would be a great book to listen to via Hoopla. Frank McCourt, with his lovely Irish accent, will have you laughing and crying as he recounts his escapades as a teacher in the US. No one contacted me about i>Hoopla so we won't be having a learning session.
Contact: Sonja
The Irish Boarding House
by Sandy Taylor
Date: Wednesday February 28, 2024
Time: 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Place: Zoom
Heart-warming Irish historical fiction
Alternative book is The Lost Girls of Ireland by Susanne O’Leary, Heart-warming story about an Irish family
Contact: Sonja
Raise the Titanic
by Clive Cussler
Date: Wednesday March 27, 2024
Time: 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Place: Zoom
Written before the Titanic was found.
Contact: Sonja
Factory Girls
by Michelle Gallen
Date: Wednesday May 22, 2024
Time: 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Place: Zoom
Setting: Northern Ireland, 1994
Contact: Sonja
Northern Spy
by Flynn Berry
Date: Wednesday June 26, 2024
Time: 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Place: Zoom
Two sisters in Belfast during the Troubles
Contact: Sonja
The Rose Code
by Kate Quinn
Date: Wednesday September 25, 2024
Time: 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Place: Zoom
Women decipher codes during WWII
Contact: Sonja

Recommended Readings

Books endorsed by our discussion club members, ordered by title, author and who recommends it. You might find you like them, too.

Big, We Mean Big!

Rundown of Other Major Club Events

A quick look at some of our larger-scale activities.


The dances we practice are selected from popular MD-DC-VA ceili and set dance group lists as well as other sources. Learn more about us.