McHenry County College to host concert celebrating Irish music and dance

McHenry County College will celebrate the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day with an evening of traditional Irish music and dance on Wednesday, March 11. The performance will take place at 7 p.m. in the college’s Luecht Auditorium, 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake.

The concert will feature musicians Pat Gaughan, Nancy Maio, and L.J. Slavin performing a program of traditional Irish ballads, pub songs, and spirited dance tunes.

Audiences will enjoy Gaughan’s expressive vocals and masterful guitar work, Maio’s vibrant fiddle melodies, and Slavin’s dynamic musicianship across multiple instruments, including mandolin, flute, and Irish pennywhistle. Known for their engaging stage presence and seamless blend of talents, the trio delivers an authentic and memorable Irish music experience.

The McNulty Irish Dancers, a group of students from one of the largest, most active dance studios in the Midwest, will open the concert performing some traditional Irish dances.

The concert is free and open to the public.

The St. Patrick’s Day Concert is part of the MCC Concert Series, which features a variety of classical, jazz, and folk musicians from the McHenry County area along with semiannual concerts featuring the MCC concert choir, concert band, and jazz ensemble.

Upcoming performances include Winds off the Lake at 3 p.m. April 12; the Cor Corps Horn Ensemble at 7 p.m. April 18; the MCC Jazz Ensembles at 7 p.m. April 22, and the MCC Concert Band at 3 p.m. April 26.

For more information about the MCC Concert Series, call Michael Hillstrom at (815) 479-7814 or email mhillstrom@mchenry.edu.