The Beginning

Mary Seren McNeive (formerly Hedlund) - 1/31/2007

Mooncoin Ceili Dancer and Co-Director 1976 -1986. My grandfather was Michael McNeive from Claremorris, Co. Mayo and I loved his wild Irish spirit. As a young girl I dreamt of going to Ireland when I grew up. Grandpa Mac died when I was thirteen, but the dream did not, and in 1973 I went to Ireland for the first time with my childhood pal, Marie Ladwig.

By the time we returned, the Irish music bug had bitten us. We kept it fed with performances by The Dahills at O'Connell's Pub on Grand Avenue, Sunday night music sessions at O'Gara's Bar & Grill on Snelling Avenue, and ceili's sponsored by Irish Northern Aid. With the help of Andy Vaughn and Scottish dance teacher, Florence Hart, we began learning Irish dances.

As our enthusiasm escalated, we sought out certified Irish dance teacher, Barbara McNaulty, in Chicago, usually traveling to and fro in the same day. Soon we began teaching others through community education programs at Regina High School and Marshall U.

In the summer of 1976 we took dance lessons for eight weeks in Dublin, where we studied for certification with An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha. Marie received the TCRG and I received the TMRF. We returned home and established the Mooncoin Ceili Dancers in November; holding practices in the dining room at our St. Paul apartment at 941 Goodrich -- crawling distance from MacCafferty's Irish Pub. After a few months, Marie left the group and Jenny Bach came on board as co-director. With the addition of Jenny's talent and dedication, we co-directed the Mooncoin Ceili Dancers together for the next ten years.

Mooncoin Members - 1978

Top Row: Pat Vance, Jenny Bach, Sheila Jordan, Nick Lethert, Mary Coy, Roberta Williams, Virginia McBride

Bottom Row: Mary Hedlund, Greg Gross, Carol Gross, Kevin Kline, Jane Michaels