Martin’s Way, a new nonprofit organization serving Dakota and Scott counties, will have a fundraiser Irish Gala concert at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2 in the Rosemount Community Center Auditorium. The concert will feature Rosanne Halloran, a regular vocal performer of Irish classics at many public and private Irish events. In addition to Halloran, the event will have a performance by Irish dancers from Scoil na dTrн (pronounced skull-na-dree), which is the premier Twin Cities’ Irish dance academy.

Musicians from the Center of Irish Heritage in St. Paul will entertain guests prior to the show. “This is our main fundraiser to get St. Martin’s Way off the ground,” said Mary Kay Ervasti, the organization’s director of fundraising and owner of Bridges Child Care and Preschool in Rosemount for 35 years. Halloran, who has performed lead roles in theater and opera, holds music degrees from the College of St. Benedict and the University of Oregon.

Her first recording, “Galway Bay,” was dedicated to the extended families of her four Irish grandparents. It was recorded after she spent time on both coasts, but when she returned to her home state of Minnesota, the people who “knew her when” wanted to hear the Irish songs I was raised with. These songs and others have become a part of her current performing repertoire.

Scoil na dTrн dancers perform at public and private events for large and small audiences, dancing both traditional and modern Irish choreography. They have performed at Rosemount’s 2007 St. Patrick’s Day event, the Minnesota Irish Fair, Orchestra Hall with the Chieftains and many other venues. The Center for Irish Music is dedicated to handing down traditional Irish music to the next generation of musicians.