Annapolis is Goin’ Green for Shamrock the Dock

Each year on March 17th – regardless of Irish heritage – Americans love celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. Leprechaun traps, green beads, corned beef and cabbage, and green beer are some of the popular traditions. Because my daughter is an Irish dancer, the first half of March is performance season. She and her fellow dancers love performing at local pubs, parades, and festivals.

Who can Irish dance?

Irish dance evolved from traditional Irish culture but there is no requirement for being Irish to learn. My daughter’s school, McGrath Morgan Academy of Irish Dance, has dancers from many different backgrounds. (Our family has some Irish heritage, but just a bit!)

What is Irish dance?

Most people associate the style of Irish dance with never using your arms, and for many of the individual dances, this is true. Irish dancers do high kicks and spins all while their arms remain at their sides. It’s way harder than it looks to kick like that without using your arms, in fact, Irish dancers have incredible core muscles. But there are many forms of Irish dance that involve the use of arms, such as Ceili dances, which are group dances.

While dancers often perform wearing simple outfits, the costuming of Irish dance has evolved over the past decades and competition costumes are loaded with intricate embroidery and crystals. Dancers also wear wigs which may or may not match their natural hair color. My daughter has light brown hair, but when she dances, her wig is jet black.

Where to see Irish dance in Annapolis

The weekend of March 15th-17th, Naptown Events is hosting several Irish celebrations. Although the Friday night Hooley is sold out, you can still obtain tickets for Shamrock the Dock – a two-day music festival held in tents at the Annapolis Dock – where several local Irish dance schools (including my daughter’s) will perform. There will also be Irish musical acts including local favorites Scythian and Carbon Leaf as well as Skerryvore, who are traveling all the way from Scotland.

On Sunday, March 17th, the annual Annapolis St. Patrick’s Day Parade will begin at 1 p.m.. The parade starts at the intersection of West Street and Amos Garrett and ends at City Dock. Parking downtown is always tricky on this day, but free shuttle buses from Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium make attending the parade much easier. Parking at Navy Stadium is $20 for the day and you can pre purchase tickets here.

Both Shamrock the Dock and the Annapolis St. Patrick’s Day Parade are wonderful community events, and we hope to see you there!