By RYAN SKAITH
Celebrated Irish traditional band Téada will bring its 25th-anniversary tour to The United on Sunday, March 15, for an authentic St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
The 3:00 p.m. performance at 602 Felix St. marks a return to St. Joseph for the five-piece ensemble, which last appeared locally in 2019. Known for a dynamic, deeply rooted approach to traditional music, the group has headlined major festivals across North America, Europe, Africa, and Australia.
The performance features a diverse array of traditional instruments, including the fiddle, piano, flute, uilleann pipes, accordion, and bodhrán. The group is led by founding member Oisín Mac Diarmada, a Trinity College Dublin graduate described by The Irish Echo as "one of the most gifted and creative traditional fiddlers playing today."
Adding to the spectacle, award-winning step dancer Samantha Harvey will perform alongside the band. Harvey is also an accomplished pianist and accordion player.
The festivities begin at 2:00 p.m. with a special whiskey reception hosted by St. Joseph resident Shane McDonald. A certified Whiskey Ambassador with a certificate from the Edinburgh Whisky Academy, McDonald will lead a tasting featuring styles from the Midleton Distillery in County Cork, Ireland.
"This tasting provides wonderful examples of the most often-enjoyed styles of Irish whiskey," McDonald said.
Attendees must be 21 or older to access the cash bar. Pricing for the event is as follows:
- Premium Ticket (Reception + Concert): $60 (Advance purchase required).
- General Admission (Concert Only): $30 in advance; $35 at the door.
- Note: Processing fees will be calculated at the time of sale.
Téada’s latest album on the Gael Linn label features guest appearances by actor John C. Reilly and the late Séamus Begley, further cementing the band's status as a premier ambassador of Irish culture.