Even though we’re a brand new Irish dance school in Lexington, Bluegrass Ceili Academy has deep roots in the community. Through our partnership with Artworks at the Carver School and Lexington Parks and Recreation, Bluegrass Ceili Academy is investing in our community and its residents. We invite you to join us!
What does it mean to be a community-based program? Here are a few things we think you should know.
The Carver School
Built in the 1930s through funds from the Works Progress Administration, the George Washington Carver Elementary school served students and families in the local community from 1934 until 1972. In 1976, the Carver Community Center opened on the site. Today, the Carver School is the home to Artworks.
As an arts and cultural center, Artworks at the Carver School’s mission is to educate, inspire artistic creativity and enrich the lives of participants by providing opportunities and resources to people of all ages and abilities. It’s a perfect match for our Irish dance school in Lexington, which is dedicated to promoting traditional Irish dance by providing a supportive learning environment for dancers of all ages and skill levels.
The Downtown Neighborhood
The Carver School is nestled in downtown Lexington, near Rupp Arena and convenient to restaurants, local activities and the University of Kentucky campus. It’s also just a short walk away from a little known street that parallels West Maxwell Street, Moloney Alley.
The street is named after Academy director Megan Moloney’s great-grandfather, Richard Patrick Moloney, who as a Lexington police officer in the 1890s and early 1900s walked that very neighborhood on his daily beat.
Keeping downtown vibrant is something to which Bluegrass Ceili Academy is dedicated. Every month, we partner with downtown businesses to host an evening on the town — shopping, dining and a free Irish dance class. Check out our events calendar or our Facebook events page for the latest info on our Irish dance classes at the Spiders Well.
Lexington’s Irish Community
You’ll also find that our Irish dance school in Lexington is invested in the local Irish community, too.
Our friends at Failte Irish Import Shop and McCarthy’s Irish Bar help make our monthly free Irish dance class possible. We’re also supporters of the Kentucky Rose of Tralee Center, which selects a local candidate to participate in the Rose of Tralee International Festival each August in Ireland.
A fifth-generation Lexingtonian, Megan’s Irish ancestors William Moloney and Catherine Corcoran emigrated from Ireland in the 1850s. They married in Lexington in 1855 and the family has been in the city ever since.
Today, our Irish dance school in Lexington honors that heritage by keeping the traditions of Irish dance alive.
Megan also serves as vice president of the Bluegrass Irish Society, and, in that role, coordinates communications for the Lexington St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival. The St. Patrick’s Day parade is the longest-running citywide civic event in Lexington. We’re looking forward this year to seeing our Bluegrass Ceili Academy students and families in the parade.
Be a part of our Irish dance school in Lexington
If you’d like to be a part of our community-based Irish dance school in Lexington, sign up for classes today or join us for a free Irish dance class every second Wednesday of the month.