Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 01/12/2026
(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- Grunin Center for the Arts presents Cherish the Ladies on Friday, February 27, 2026 at 7:00pm. Celebrating the incredible milestone of 40 years as one of planet's most heralded Irish music ensembles, Cherish the Ladies have won the hearts of audiences worldwide for their exhilarating blend of traditional Irish music, breathtaking vocals, and propulsive Irish step dancing, they have won the hearts of fans and critics alike.
This is a rescheduled date from December 14, 2025. Tickets will go back on sale to the general public on Friday, January 16th at noon. Those with tickets for December 14th should check their emails for an update.
Since their founding in 1985, this Grammy-nominated group has forged a path for women in the male-dominated Irish music scene, leaving a lasting legacy with 18 critically acclaimed albums and thousands of performances—from prestigious concert halls to the Olympics and the White House.
Led by charismatic flute and whistle virtuoso Joanie Madden—National Heritage Fellow of the National Endowment for the Arts—Cherish the Ladies delivers a spectacular blend of virtuosic instrumental talent, beautiful vocals, engaging arrangements, and breathtaking step dancing. This tour features an all-star lineup including Mary Coogan (guitar), Mirella Murray (accordion), Nollaig Casey (fiddle), Kate Purcell (lead vocals, guitar), and Hannah Collins (piano). Joining them on stage are world-champion dancers Tyler Schwartz, Joe Harrison, and Nathan Pilatzke, bringing electrifying rhythm and energy to an unforgettable evening.
Praised by The New York Times for their “passionate, tender, and rambunctious” sound and hailed by The Washington Post for their “astonishing array of virtuosity,” Cherish the Ladies has earned international acclaim. Honored as BBC’s Best Musical Group of the Year and Top North American Celtic Group at the Irish Music Awards, they have collaborated with the Boston Pops Symphony, Vince Gill, Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Nanci Griffith, The Chieftains, and The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem. As the most celebrated Celtic Pops act in history, they have performed over 300 nights with leading symphony orchestras.
Cherish the Ladies have amassed a long, impressive list of awards in America and in Ireland, including being forever immortalized with a street named in their honor on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx, NY, “Joanie Madden and Cherish the Ladies”.
No matter how far from home, their continued success as one of the best-loved Irish groups rests on their blend of virtuoso instrumentals, beautiful vocals, traditional and original arrangements along with stunning step dancing — all presented with extraordinary talent, creativity, and humor.
The Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts, located on the campus of Ocean County College, is a performing arts center that celebrates the arts of dance, theater, music, and visual art.
Featuring acts from across the globe, the Grunin Center’s intimate venue allows visitors to experience once-in-a-lifetime performances at our multi-venue complex, which includes the Main Stage, the Gia Maione Prima Foundation Studio Theater, the OCC Black Box Theatre, and a brand-new Art Gallery.
The Grunin Center also hosts young performers from various educational organizations, including Ocean County College students from the performing arts and fine arts programs, students from the Grunin Performing Arts Academy, and Ocean County public high school students at the Ocean County Teen Arts Festival.
For 60 years, Ocean County College, a public two-year community college sponsored by Ocean County and the State of New Jersey, has provided area residents with the opportunity to benefit from higher education. OCC is an innovative academic leader offering affordable, student-centered, high-quality educational experiences that empower diverse learners to achieve their goals while enriching the communities they serve.
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