Irish pride in Rochester! A concert of Irish songs and dancing is taking place on Thursday at Hochstein Performance Hall in Rochester. Proceeds benefit Catholic Charities Community Services. 

CCCS Rochester is celebrating 40 years of helping people with disabilities.

"We are very fortunate and feel privileged to work with the folks that we do — people with developmental disabilities, folks living with HIV/AIDS, traumatic brain injuries and chronic illnesses. We support them to be as independent as they can in their homes," said Executive Director Lori VanAuken. "We cannot do it without the help of donors and supporters which is why we are doing our fundraisers back to back with Ronan Tynan and these fabulous and talented Irish dancers who are joining us. Friday morning is 'Breakfast with Friends' at 8:00 a.m. at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center. We will be celebrating and hearing Ronan Tynan's story. It is remarkable. He is a Paralympian. He was born with birth defects but that didn't stop him. He became a doctor and an Irish tenor. Even if you are not Irish there is something for everyone Thursday night — dance, song and performances."

Thursday's "An Evening of Irish Song and Dance" at Hochstein features Irish singer Ronan Tynan, the Rochester Academy of Irish Dance, the Feadán Òr Pipe Band, and Róisín Dubh.

“Our kids are all about community. We go and dance at all kinds of places and they are all about volunteering their time. We teach anyone. We have classes for ages 3 to 90,” said Rachel Burke of the Rochester Academy of Irish Dance.

Tickets for Thursday’s CCCS Rochester event are $50 and can be purchased online and at the Bop Shop, the Record Archive and Northfield Music in Pittsford.