Three concerts, offering Celtic music, dancing, gifts and holiday hors d'oeuvres, will be featured as part of the Celtic Christmas in Doe Run Holiday Concert Series. Three separate concerts will be offered on Saturday, Dec. 2; Sunday, Dec. 3; and Sunday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. at St. Malachi's of Doe Run, 76 St. Malachi Road, Cochranville.

The Dec. 2 concert will feature Cormorant's Fancy Celtic band, Janet Witman and Margaret Love of the Brandywine Harp Orchestra, Irish step dancer Allyson Folkemer and dancers from the Paloma School of Irish Dance.

Performing at the Dec. 3 concert will be Across the Pond, a Celtic band; The Sasanach - Keith Engle, an Irish fiddler; and Irish step dancers from the McHugh School of Irish Dance.

The concert on Dec. 10 will feature the Fire in the Glen Celtic band, Irish folksinger Gerry Timlin and Irish step dancers from the Cara School of Irish Dance.

Piper Eric Schott will also be featured at each of the three concerts.

The concert series was started at St. Malachi's, which is the "mother church" of Our Lady of Consolation (OCC) Parish in Parkesburg, to honor the legacy of the early Celtic immigrants who came from northern Ireland and settled in West Fallowfield and East Fallowfield.

"We did these concerts annually for a number of years," said Kathleen Hood, event organizer. "Because this is the 185th anniversary of (St. Malachi's), which was built in 1838 by Irish immigrants, we decided to reinstate it."

The concerts will take place in the church's candlelit sanctuary. "It's absolutely magical," said Hood, noting that refreshments will follow the concerts. "When the concert has ended, everyone comes out to enjoy the incredible holiday delectables."

Outdoors, concert goers will be able to shop from local vendors, including a crafter selling Irish tote bags, Bewley Irish Imports of West Chester, Brandywine Conservancy and Spring House Spirits, which has produced a Malachi rum for the occasion.

Hood added that the concert series is an ideal time for people who have never visited St. Malachi's to view its interior and learn about its history. "(It is interesting) from an historical aspect. The church has lasted 185 years, and the building is still in operation," she said.

Prior to the construction of the church building, the property was used for Sunday Mass. "Services were conducted by a circuit-riding priest," Hood noted. "People would come from the Susquehanna River (area) to the field and barn on the property, and that's where the services were conducted before the building was constructed."

Tickets for the upcoming concerts will be available at the door, or they may be reserved in advance at http://www.eventbrite.com by searching for "A Celtic Christmas in Doe Run Concert Series." A link to order tickets is also available at http://www.olcchurch.org

There will be separate prices for adults and children age 6 and over. Children under age 6 will be admitted for free. For more information, contact Hood at kadaholo@verizon.net.