2025 Performers
Cherish the Ladies
For over 39 years, Cherish the Ladies, one of America’s most heralded Irish music ensembles, has won the hearts of audiences worldwide with their rousing blend of traditional music, captivating vocals, and propulsive step dancing. To quote The Boston Globe: “It is simply impossible to imagine an audience that wouldn’t enjoy what they do”, speaking of this Grammy-nominated Irish American super group that formed in New York City in 1985 to celebrate the rise of women in what had been a male-dominated Irish music scene. Since their inception, they have toured the world performing thousands of concerts from the White House to the Olympics, recorded 18 critically acclaimed albums and an Emmy award winning PBS television program, “An Irish Homecoming”.
Under the leadership of Joanie Madden, the 2021 National Heritage Fellowship Award winner and All-Ireland flute and whistle champion, these extremely gifted women create an incredible moving experience brimming with sheer talent and exuberant entertainment. Their group includes All-Ireland champions Mirella Murray (accordion) and Nollaig Casey (fiddle) along with the nimble finger-work of Mary Coogan (guitar), the beautiful vocals of County Clare songstress Kate Purcell (lead vocals, guitar) and the extremely talented County Galway native, Catherine McHugh on piano. World champion Irish step-dancers will add their magical footwork to the performances.
The New York Times calls their music “passionate, tender, and rambunctious,” and The Washington Post praises their “astonishing array of virtuosity.” They won recognition as the BBC’s Best Musical Group of the Year and were named Top North American Celtic Group at the Irish Music Awards. They have collaborated with such musicians as Vince Gill, Nanci Griffith, The Boston Pops Orchestra, Pete Seeger, The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, the Chieftains, Don Henley and Arlo Guthrie as well as being the most successful Celtic Pops act in history with over 300 performances with leading symphony orchestras.
Madden and her band have amassed a long, impressive list of awards at home and in Ireland, including being forever immortalized with a street named in their honor on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx, NY. No matter how far from home, their continued success as one of the best-loved Irish groups rests on their blend of virtuoso instrumentals, beautiful vocals, traditional and original arrangements along with stunning step dancing — all presented with extraordinary talent, creativity, and humor
Bruce Foley
Bruce Foley was born and raised in upstate New York and is the 6th of 12 children. After 2 years at college he dropped out to travel on the road with 3 musicians from Ireland in a group known as Carolan's Kind. He continued to tour for more than 5 years with various Irish musicians throughout the northeastern United States, gaining a broad repertoire of tunes and ballads along the way, including short tours as a piper and whistle player with Tommy Sands of Rostrevor, Co. Down. The highlight of their performances was at Madison Square Gardens in NYC playing for Pete Seeger’s 90th birthday in front of 25,000 people. Other performers at that 4 hour event included Kris Kristofferson, Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez, and Arlo Guthrie, to name a few - all singing “Goodnight Irene” together at the end of the concert. Bruce is self-taught on guitar and whistle. He regularly travels to Ireland and takes pleasure in performing with local musicians there and also performs periodically with Cherish The Ladies.
Our Masters of Ceremonies:
Ray Werner
Ray had a good run in the advertising business and was elected into the Ad Federation Hall of Fame. He then turned to his first love, playwriting, with a dozen or more plays produced. His musical Shantytown, The Ballad of Fr. James Cox, will premiere this fall. Ray is a Board Member of Move a Mountain Missions, which moves mountains for the most vulnerable. He is also on the advisory board for Bro. Andre’s Cafe, which is staffed by amazing and talented young people with IDD. He and Susan are proud their 3 sons graduated from Central Catholic and were good friends of Brendan Foley, who continues to inspire Irish Night.