The Aisling Irish Centre Ceili band and ballad group and the Dawn Doherty Academy of
Irish Music & Singing are, simply put, a tour de force in traditional Irish music. The Ceili
band and ballad group Established in 2019, the group has gone from strength to strength in
a remarkably short period of time and has seen unprecedented success. The Ceili band and
ballad group, comprised of 18 and 15 members respectively, provide a uniquely Irish
musical experience to an ever-evolving Irish-American audience . Established from the
outset as non-competitive, the band was instead created as a celebration of Irish music in
New York, who perform to showcase their exceptional talent and to pay tribute to their
Irish heritage. They are also proud to represent the Aisling Irish Community Center, an
Irish immigrant resource center based in Yonkers, and an invaluable asset to the Irish-
American community of New York.
Under the careful guidance of esteemed music directors All Ireland champion Dawn
Doherty (winner of the 2020 Irish Echo Top Irish 40 Under 40 award, recipient of the 2022
Irish American Community Service Award and 2023 Mayo Woman of The Year Award)
along with All-Ireland champion Frankie McCormick, the talents of the community’s youth
have been nurtured and honed to produce a professional, skillful set of musicians who
consistently impress with their confidence and musical prowess. Based in Yonkers, New
York, the Ceili band and ballad group are fortunately positioned to play on some of the most
prestigious stages New York City has to offer, such as the Irish Consulate and at Scor na nOg
on Broadway.
The month of March was to see a jam-packed schedule for the band and group, with
performances lined up at the AOH Saint Patrick’s Celebration, the NY GAA Minor Board
Dinner Dance the Eastchester Saint Patrick’s Day parade, the Yonkers Saint Patrick’s Day
parade, the White Plains Parade and the Westchester Country Club – to name a few. Many
of the members of the Aisling Irish Center Ceili Band and Ballad Group are students of The
Dawn Doherty Academy of Irish Music and singing who traveled to Mayo last year to
perform on stage with Sean Keane and Matt Molloy at the Home to Mayo Event in Castlebar.
They have just returned from performing outside on the grounds of the Grand Ole Opry in
Nashville and are preparing to perform in Carnegie Hall on June 5 th .
For more information or to book a performance, please contact Dawn Doherty
at dawndoherty2@gmail.com, Frankie McCormick at mccormickfip@aol.com,
Dawn Doherty 914-882-6655
We would greatly appreciate any exposure that you could give to this talented group of
Irish-American youth.