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Embracing their Celtic spirit, students on the New England campus filled Tracy Student Center with Céilí dancing and Gaelic music this past Saturday evening for an early celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. Blanketed in garlands and imbued with shamrocks, Tracy Student Center was transformed into a verdant wonderland where students performed traditional Irish compositions with much élan and sparkle.

“Playing the fiddle seemed like it brought us closer in union with Ireland,” shared Thaddeus Gotcher (‘25), who played with an ensemble of fellow students. “I felt as if we were actually in Ireland.” In keeping the Irish tradition, a few students entered a soda-bread baking competition. “I’ve always loved soda bread,” said Martin O’Heir (‘25), one of the judges for the competition. “One of the breads reminded me of my mother’s.”

After the students delighted in the baked goods, they spent the rest of the evening jig-dancing and swing dancing.