Songs and Stories of Ireland

Event Details

Event type: All Ages / Licensed

Internationally Acclaimed Irish Entertainer Declan O'Sullivan is visiting The Sanctuary on March 14 with Irish Dance group "Brenyo Irish Dancers" and special guests Grace Louise and Bill Craig. Enjoy a night filled with Irish music and dancing. Doors open at 7 pm. show starts at 7:30 pm. This is a fully seated event (General Admission). Tickets are only available on www.ticketscene.ca. Please email thesanctuaryarts@gmail.com for any questions.

Songs and Stories of Ireland is presented by Irish Music Niagara and made possibly by support from Tourism Partnership of Niagara and the government of Ontario.

PADDYMAN – BIO

Paddyman (Declan O’Sullivan) is an internationally acclaimed Irish entertainer known for his powerful vocal delivery, commanding stage presence, and rare ability to transform a concert into a shared cultural experience.

Born in County Kildare, Ireland, he began performing in pubs at fifteen alongside his father, where he learned the craft of building a repertoire that connects instantly with an audience. More than 25 years later, that instinct has carried him across Canada, the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia — performing live to audiences exceeding one million people worldwide.

He has shared stages with some of Ireland’s most respected acts, including The Wolfe Tones, Damien Dempsey, Sharon Shannon, The Saw Doctors, Altan, and Beoga, and has headlined international festivals and major theatre productions. His acclaimed concert series aboard Dubai’s iconic QE2 sold out multiple seasons, while his candlelight performances in Niagara have earned a reputation for emotional depth and standing ovations.

Blending traditional Irish ballads, contemporary favourites, original material, storytelling, and sharp Irish humour, Paddyman creates performances that are both intimate and electrifying. Audiences don’t simply attend his shows — they sing, laugh, and become part of them.

Bill Craig Bio

Bill Craig is an Irish-born guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter whose career spans more than five decades across Ireland, Canada, the United States, and Europe. Originally performing in Ireland in the late 1960s as a vocalist in rock ’n’ roll bands, Bill brought his passion for music to Canada in 1974, where he quickly established himself as a respected figure in the folk and acoustic music scene.

Blending traditional Irish roots with contemporary acoustic storytelling, Bill’s performances are known for their warmth, musicianship, and authenticity. In 1977, he formed Foggy Duo with Canadian multi-instrumentalist Don Garbutt, further expanding his reach and repertoire.

Throughout his career, Bill has shared festival stages with internationally acclaimed artists including Eric Bogle, Andy Irvine, Dougie MacLean, Battlefield Band, and Mary Black. In 1987, he performed at Denmark’s renowned Roskilde Festival alongside Van Morrison, Paul Brady, and Moving Hearts. His festival appearances also include the Glasgow Festival, Skagen Festival (Denmark), and Canada’s legendary Mariposa Folk Festival.

Bill has toured extensively across Canada and the United States, performing in major cities such as Buffalo, Chicago, Atlanta, Phoenix, San Diego, and Washington, D.C. He has appeared live on PBS radio in the U.S., including performances connected to the Cleveland Poetry Project and Kent State University.

He has also toured with the iconic Irish group The Irish Rovers, further cementing his place within the international Irish folk community. Now based in the Niagara region of Ontario, Bill continues to perform regularly, including appearances at the Niagara Irish Festival, where his music resonates strongly with audiences celebrating Irish heritage.

With numerous albums recorded over the course of his career and a substantial streaming presence on Spotify, Bill Craig’s catalogue reflects a lifetime dedicated to songcraft, tradition, and live performance. His recordings and performances capture the spirit of Ireland while embracing the global folk tradition, making him a timeless and enduring voice in Celtic and acoustic music.

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