Stirring melodies, intricate footwork and the rhythmic step and Ceili (group) dances make Gaelic Gathering a feast of exuberant Irish tunes and dances. Fiddles and flutes accompany hard shoe jigs and hornpipes, soft shoe reels and slipjigs. Led by dancer/choreographer Mire Clerkin, this rousing event features fiddle player and dancer Kira Ott and champion stepdancer Jonathan Presley, with Frank Simpson on flutes and whistles, Patrick DArcy on ancient instruments such as uilleann pipes (elbow bagpipes) and bodhran (drum) and renowned vocalist Alice Ryan, who sings haunting songs and plays accordion. Together they guide the audience on an exploration of Irelands rich cultural heritage.