Next Srùbag No. 59 – Cèilidh Seinn na Gàidhlig – Gaelic Song Ceilidh – Friday 23 or 30 October 2026 7.30-9.30pm UK / Ireland time.
We are delighted to invite you to our next and 59th Srùbag. Our special Guest is Christine Lawless, who will sing songs in Irish. As well, we will have the usual participatory singaround – songs in Scottish and Irish Gaelic, Welsh and Breton please! All are welcome to join us to sing a song or to listen!
Dr. Christine Lawless has had a career performing as soloist, and/or choir member for a number of Chicago-area churches, including Holy Name Cathedral, St Francis Xavier in LaGrange, and Mary Queen of Heaven in Elmhurst. Christine began a life-long interest in singing Irish traditional songs as principal soloist in a series of Irish historical plays (Celtic Tracery) at St. Thomas More Church in the 1980s. She won her first Midwest Fleadh in 1988 in Ladies English Ballads and was a finalist in the All-Ireland singing competition that same year in Kilkenny. In 2025, she won all 3 singing disciplines (English Singing, Irish Singing, Lilting) at the Midwest Fleadh. Now, Christine teaches traditional Irish Singing to group classes at Chicago’s two Irish Cultural Centers, and to private students via Zoom. She has coached 9 students over the past 2 years to win the Midwest Fleadh, and qualify for the All-Ireland. Dr. Lawless created the Chicago Irish Singers performance team in 2024, and serves as its Executive Director. The team performs at cultural centers, Irish Fests, libraries, pubs, schools, fundraisers, retirement homes, and private events.
When not singing, Dr. Lawless has had a distinguished career as a cardiologist.
For more information about Srùbag see the section on the Projects page https://linnphippsfolk.co.uk/current-projects-and-performances/ . Srùbag image by kind permission of Alex NicDhòmhnaill, An Lanntair, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Western Isles: https://lanntair.com.
