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.

Thanks to the Open Sky Ensemble for sharing their music at the Bald Eagle Lake Art Crawl this Saturday and spreading the...
09/16/2026

Thanks to the Open Sky Ensemble for sharing their music at the Bald Eagle Lake Art Crawl this Saturday and spreading the word about the Center for Irish Music! What a gorgeous day!

We're looking forward to Celtic Cuties starting in just a few weeks! Is your little one registered yet?Class details & r...
09/16/2026

We're looking forward to Celtic Cuties starting in just a few weeks! Is your little one registered yet?

Class details & registration link in our course catalog, viewable at www.centerforirishmusic.org/programming

Singing Sweeties starts October 3rd! Register now for this super fun & educational Irish song class for 4-7 year-olds wi...
09/14/2026

Singing Sweeties starts October 3rd! Register now for this super fun & educational Irish song class for 4-7 year-olds with Alisa Mee. **In this drop-off class, children will explore traditional Irish music and learn fundamental music concepts through songs, rhymes, movement, instrument play, and listening exercises. Parents and caregivers are welcome to participate for the first two sessions.** Saturdays, 11:30am (30 minutes). The class runs 10/3-11/21. https://centerforirishmusic.asapconnected.com/ =3067467

We’re excited to welcome world-class East Clare fiddler Sorcha Costello, a 2025 Minnesota Irish Music Weekend artist, ba...
09/14/2026

We’re excited to welcome world-class East Clare fiddler Sorcha Costello, a 2025 Minnesota Irish Music Weekend artist, back to town in just one month for a week-long residency! While she’s here October 14-20th, Sorcha will be teaching workshops, performing a concert, coaching our youth ensembles, and so much more…

To sign up for her workshops and lecture and purchase concert tickets, visit our website at www.centerforirishmusic.org/calendar/sorcha-costello-artist-in-residence/ Sorcha Costello

We're really excited to offer this 3-session class called Driving the Dance: How to Play for Social Dancers, led by Nor...
09/09/2026

We're really excited to offer this 3-session class called Driving the Dance: How to Play for Social Dancers, led by Norah Rendell, Kate Wade, Alex Aavang, and Justin O'Carrick! This class is for Irish musicians (melody players) who would like the experience of playing for dancers and also have an opportunity to learn some easy social dances. The final class will end in a céili with members of the Twin Cities Céili band.

The first class is coming up Saturday afternoon, September 26th! Register now at www.centerforirishmusic.org/programming

Learn directly from legendary DADGAD guitar player Dáithí Sproule, who has been exploring this tuning for over half a ce...
09/07/2026

Learn directly from legendary DADGAD guitar player Dáithí Sproule, who has been exploring this tuning for over half a century! From his time playing with Skara Brae, Trian, Altan and Fingal and individual greats such as Tommy Peoples, Liz Carroll, James Kelly and Paddy O’Brien, and even Dolly Parton, Dáithí has found DADGAD tuning to be a versatile avenue to interesting and beautiful guitar accompaniment.

Join him for a class exploring the endless possibilities of DADGAD tuning, starting Tuesday, September 15th! More details in the course catalog, viewable at www.centerforirishmusic.org/programming

Get ready to explore the world of Irish myths and legends with Dáithí Sproule in this fascinating online class! Dáithí i...
09/02/2026

Get ready to explore the world of Irish myths and legends with Dáithí Sproule in this fascinating online class!

Dáithí is one of the pioneers of guitar in Irish music, as well as a teacher of Irish language, mythology, and Celtic culture. Join Dáithí in reading translations of old myths and legends, and take part in some scintillating discussions about what they could have to say about the present!

Register now at www.centerforirishmusic.org/programming

What a fun Open House we had yesterday!
08/31/2026

What a fun Open House we had yesterday!

Fall is around the corner... Register today for Irish music and movement class for your little one! Join instructor Alis...
08/27/2026

Fall is around the corner... Register today for Irish music and movement class for your little one! Join instructor Alisa Mee to learn the Fall collection of Celtic Cuties rhymes, finger plays, and songs in this interactive class, designed to introduce children ages birth to five and their families to traditional Irish music. Classes start Friday, October 2nd - there are both Friday and Saturday morning sessions!

View our exciting fall class offerings and register at https://www.centerforirishmusic.org/programming/

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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