Ho! Ho! Ho! ‘Tis the season! Get your festive spirit in gear with this Christmas show at the National Arts Centre. As The Irish Descendants’ song Hooray for Christmas says: “Well, the season is upon us now, scented candles, holly boughs, no time for cares we do avow, with Christmas coming on!”

Enjoy festive tunes, tales and merriment in The Irish Descendants Christmas 2024, starring multi-award-winning Newfoundland folk group The Irish Descendants, with longtime frontman Con O’Brien. The group will be joined by Mark Manning and Aaron Collis of the popular Newfoundland folk band Rum Ragged, creating a powerful ensemble that will tour throughout Atlantic Canada and Ontario! 

The Irish Descendants played a pivotal role in introducing traditional Newfoundland music to a broader Canadian audience during the early 1990s, sharing the stage with other iconic bands like Great Big Sea. Their authentic renditions of timeless tunes from the East Coast, blended with an Irish twist, have made them a cherished part of Canada’s folk music scene.

Their popularity soared to such heights that they were chosen as the official band for Newfoundland and Labrador’s 500th-anniversary celebrations, where they had the honour of performing for Her Majesty the Queen. This landmark event marked a turning point for the band.