The special céili May 22 (2006) packed the house with fans. The Galway-born Cunningham is highly regarded within the dancing community worldwide—and certainly here in the Delaware Valley. His music seemed to inspire guests to new heights, and many apparently didn't spend more than a few minutes sitting. Both experienced dancers and relative newbies shared the floor, the former generously steering the latter through some of the more intricate steps.

Occasionally, no amount of guidance could prevent the dancing equivalent of an eight-care pileup, but no one minded—far from it. And the band played on.