FROM time to time, performance troupes from Ireland offering Irish music and dance organize themselves as a traveling show to say that they toured America.

A Leitrim-based group called The Emerald Revellers is in our midst at the moment. The 34 members hail from the north west of Ireland with Leitrim the majority county but Sligo, Fermanagh, Cavan and Longford are also represented and even some musicians from London (but from Leitrim and Galway stock).

Established in 1995, they have performed in Europe before but this is their maiden American voyage which will basically see them perform in the greater New York area and New England states of Connecticut and Massachusetts where supportive venues have been found.

Usually these affairs are a network of family and friends who assist the group in different localities and are as much about Irish hospitality as they are about entertainment. Admission is often nominal given the lack of "name" performers, but enthusiastic shows and craic are the norm and lead to a good night out and show Irish America at its best in helping to support intrepid groups like this who take their own time and risk on home-spun tours like this.

The Emerald Revellers evolved out of the Farragher School of Dancing in Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim as dance teacher Clare Farragher McMorrow put together a show over 12 years ago for a festival abroad.

It appears that the presentation is built around the various dance forms in Ireland including solo step, figure and set dancing. Interwoven is Irish song, music and stories from a shanachie and the legendary influence of the traveling dancing master is also invoked in the performance.

The ambitious tour began in Breezy Point in the Rockaways on Tuesday, July 29, and this week will hit Sag Harbor on August 1 (631-725-0894); Mineola Irish Center on Saturday, August 2 at 7 p.m. (631-698-3305); and Center Moriches on the 3rd at 3 p.m. (631-878-1033).

Next week in New England the stops are East Haven on the 4th at 7 p.m. at the Irish American Community Center; the 5th at Faneuil Hall in Boston (check local listings for time); Irish Cultural Center of New England in Canton on the 6th at 7 p.m.; in Worcester at the Hibernian Center at 8 p.m. on the 8th, and finally at the Gaelic American Club in Fairfield on Saturday the 9th at 8 p.m.

For more details go to their website at www.emeraldrevellers.com.