Dear Editor,

“Have you ever tried your hand (or feet) at traditional Irish Ceili dancing — or watched others try? Dancers from the Lexington Ceili Academy promise some audience participation when they take the stage in the newly renovated Weisiger “Plaza” from 7:30 to 8:15 this Thursday evening.

There will be live music by the talented “Nathan Link & Friends” before and after the dancers, beginning at 7 p.m. Four visiting Irish artists from Carrickfergus, our Sister City, will be performing at six downtown restaurants from 6:15 to 7 p.m. and from 8:45 to 9:30 p.m. that evening.  

These are exciting times for the Danville Sister Cities Commission. In late March, we entertained Carrickfergus Mayor Audrey Wales MBE in Danville for a  week; in late May, Mayor Wales hosted a breakfast for 108 Centre football players and coaches in the Carrickfergus Town Hall before they toured the 12th-century Norman castle across the street; the Irish UPLIFT group is now doing two week-long workshops at the West T. Hill Community Theatre; ‘tweens at the Boyle County Public Library are now working on a post card project with their Carrickfergus counterparts; and the coming year will see our fourth Danville/Carrickfergus extended exchange.

Come downtown to celebrate the Irish in all of us this Thursday evening, almost exactly one-third of way to the next St. Patrick’s Day!

Milton Reigelman

Chair, Danville Sister Cities Commission