Irish Entertainment and Events

I will guide you through the process of hosting the best event for you. I will meet you at your venue to discuss what I think would work through my experience. After we have agreed on what will be the service, then a deposit would be required and the balance at the event.
I maintain a philosophy to make this part of your special event the least of your worries!

Instructor: Samuel Carothers Keator, TMRF, (Teastas Múinteoireachta Rince Foirne) Certified by, “An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha”, Dublin, Ireland

In the winter of 1997, a friend of mine, Mike Ambrosini, sent me a motivational card, “101 ways to reduce stress”. Somewhere in the middle of the card, “dance a jig” jumped out at me. I took it to heart and sought out the Irish dance in Portland.

I first danced with the weekly Tír Eóghain Céilí dance class, and since 2001, I have been teaching the class.

After learning my “7’s & 3’s” at the Tír Eóghain Céilí class, I went on to competition. Successfully placing never below second in figures, and competing in the novice category in solos of both hard and soft shoes.

With the guidance of Maureen McTeggart-Hall and Sinead Yeates and knowing that I liked to teach and was a good dancer, I applied for, was accepted and took my teachers examination in January 2005. I had to take a “closed book” test on knowledge of all 30 Irish Céilí dances from the Rince Foirne, and teach two dances of the examiners choice. It was brutal! First written test in over 30 years! I passed with flying colors. I am now a registered teacher with An Coimisíun le Rincí Gaelacha and the US Western Region.

Some of the formal classes I teach including my weekly “The Winds of Donegal” are the Tír Eoghain céilí classes. I have also taught classes for Salem’s Céilí of the Valley Society’s, Stafford Primary Enrichment class, Sherwood Dance Academy, Parks and Recreation of Newberg, West Linn and Wilsonville, Portland Community College, NW Folklife, Art in the Pearl, Oaks Park and Harmony School in Beaverton.

I am also a contract teacher/caller affiliated with some of the best Irish musicians in the Pacific Northwest – including but not limited to: Johnny B Connolly, Cary Novotny, Tom Creegan, Dale Russ, Bob Soper, Eddie Parente, Joe Trump and many more, for organized céilís, private events and wedding receptions. I also do bookings for many of the above musicians. I arrange, teach and call ceilis throughout the year in Oregon & Washington. I employ and work for some of the best Irish musicians in the Pacific Northwest. A quote from Phil Meehan, "... book the top musicians for yourself personally - whether it is a PCS Ceili and All Ireland Ceili, or a dance that you are doing yourself." I invite you and your family to learn and enjoy this great Irish Cultural fun! Plus it will reduce stress. I hope you will consider me to organize your céilís, Irish family reunions, private events, birthdays and wedding receptions.

I have access to book the best quality musicians and dancers, coast to coast. My inventory of sound is not beat by any others in the Irish world; Sound that I provide: Yamaha 16 channel mixer w two separate monitor mixes, 24/14FX w six separate monitor mixes (Board, mains and monitors are Yamaha), Shure Beta 57 and 58’s, AKG C 535 EB, AKG C 1000 S and AKG 214