Elmhurst’s Bethel United Church of Christ will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on Sunday, March 16th, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. as part of the church’s Music@Bethel concert series. Chicagoland’s best-loved Irish duo The Galway Gals will take to the stage to perform traditional Irish folk music, songs by modern Irish pop artists, jigs and reels, as well as Irish sentimental classics. 

Artists include classically trained guitarist Liz Berg McNichols and classically trained violinist Anna Gillan, who have been performing together since March 2020. 

Both artists participate in other musical groups, including the 80s band The Jolly Ringwalds, and the delightful Saddle Shoe Sisters, a 40s, 50s and 60s song and dance group. But guitarist Berg McNichols says she has been surprised with how deeply audiences connect to Irish music. 

“Even up-tempo, fast songs, people are crying and telling us that their grandfather used to play it, or, ‘That song was sung at my grandmother’s funeral.’ People have [very] deep emotional connections to some of these sentimental Irish tunes,” Berg McNichols said. “We just thought, ‘We’re putting on a good show. We’re going to sing in tune, we’re going to have some good harmonies, we’re going to have great dynamics.’ But we did not expect the emotional connection to the crowd,” she said.

This will be a family-friendly event suitable for concertgoers of all ages. A reception will follow.

Tickets are available on Eventbrite or at the door.Ticket prices are adults $25, with preferred seating $35. Students are free. Parking is free and the church is accessible. Enter through Sandburg Middle School from St. Charles Road, or from Huntington off Poplar Street. For more information see www.musicatbethel.com or call 630-279-4040.