[telephone ringing] Mickela Mallozzi: The phone's ringing in the middle of the Giant's Causeway.

Hello?

Mickela: I'm a dancer, and I'm a traveler.

And wherever I go, I experience the world one dance at a time.

I'm Mickela Mallozzi.

and this is "Bare Feet."

♪ "Bare Feet" is supported in part by... Announcer: Bloomberg Connects gives you a way to experience the arts from your mobile phone.

You can explore hundreds of cultural organizations from around the world anytime, anywhere.

Learn more at bloombergconnects.org or wherever you find your apps.

Announcer: Additional funding was provided by Koo and Patricia Yuen through The Yuen Foundation, committed to bridging cultural differences in our communities.

And by the Ann H. Symington Foundation.

Announcer: The island of Ireland.

You should always listen to your heart.

Fill your heart with Ireland.

♪ Mickela: Welcome to Northern Ireland.

After 700 years of British rule on the island of Ireland, the six counties of Northern Ireland were partitioned off in 1921 to remain part of the United Kingdom as part of the Government of Ireland Act of 1920.

This was in response to the Irish nationalists' efforts to gain their independence during the Easter Rising of 1916.

It's a complicated, multifaceted, and violent history that has many sides and many stories and many cultures represented.

On this "Bare Feet" adventure, I'll discover the traditions and legends that survived through the people and their stories with my very first visit here in Northern Ireland.

♪ My first stop in Northern Ireland takes me to Derry, or Londonderry, also known as the Walled City.

♪ Situated by the northwest border with County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland, Derry is believed to have been the origin of the Troubles, the 30-plus years of unrest in Northern Ireland that took place starting in the 1960s, ending with the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

Today, Derry is a peaceful city, as is all of Northern Ireland.

I'm here to meet the Sollus Highland Dancers to learn about the Ulster Scots, descendants of the Scottish settlers who migrated to Northern Ireland in the 17th century, bringing with them their dance and music traditions.

♪ Georgina: Highland dancing--Scottish.

We have a lot of people of Scottish ancestry, so it's something that's been in the blood here for many, many generations.

And I suppose these young people are keeping that alive.

We have a vast range of students-- beginners, competitive dancers from the age of three right up to the age of early 20s.

They're very interested in performing, competing, choreography.

Any opportunity they get, we're ready to dance.

OK!

High cross and point.

5, 6, 7, and up... Mickela: I've actually done Scottish Highland Fling.

Georgina: Yep.

Mickela: But I know there's more than just Scottish Highland fling.

Georgina: There is, of course.

Yeah.

So we're going to learn a Reel of Tulloch, which comes from a small village in the Highlands of Scotland.

And the story goes that the people were locked out of the kirk, the church, and it was snowing, and they were cold, and they started to turn with their partner and create these formations.

Mickela: To stay warm, right?

Georgina: Stay warm, yeah.

It was cold.

They were waiting on the minister.

They were locked out.

They had to keep themselves entertained, and that's where it came from.

Basically, you're jumping side to side.

So we go.

Pas-de-basque.

Pas-de-basque.

Pas-de-basque.

Exactly.

Middle finger, touch, and thumb.

You will know this from your Highland Fling.

Arms up to represent the stag.

Mickela: The stag.

Right.

Georgina: Yeah, exactly.

So you put your back foot up the back.

Yep.

And then you just change foot.

Change foot, change foot.

Four of those.

Mickela: OK. Georgina: And that's your first step, so... Mickela: Am I pointing the whole time?

Georgina: So your whole foot should be hiding.

Mickela: Like a stag hiding from the hunter.

Ha ha!

Georgina: Go for that.

Ha ha!

1, 2.

Turn around.

3, 4.

Pas-de-basque.

5.

And then high cuts.

Go.

1, 2, 3, 4.

Right foot out.

So it's like, um, you know, like a wee pendulum.

It's going to knock off.

So this one's at the front.

The other one's going to want to go out the back.

Back, front.

Pas-de-basque.

Back, front.

Pas-de-basque.

Back, front.

Pas-de-basque.

Back, front.

Pas-de-basque.

[Mickela cheers] Georgina: Fabulous.

1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and... Yeah.

So inside, outside, inside, outside.

Like that.

Mickela: And if I pull it, are we gonna be, like, pressure?

Georgina: It should be like a support.

Yes.

Yes.

Mickela: Yeah!

Georgina: Gorgeous.

♪ Being based here in Northern Ireland and in Londonderry, um, our culture is very, very important to us.

It is our identity.

It's our place in the community.

And we're very proud that our young people have something like a place and a belonging in what can be a very busy world and a very confusing place to live.

♪ 1, 2.

You will end up in the middle, please, with me.

5, 6.

And here.

Turn all the way around.

[Mickela breathing heavily] And you're not tired at all.

It's gorgeous.

It's perfect.

Ha ha!

Well done.

Mickela: Yay!

OK. Georgina: So this is a Highland costume.

All the girls here have a different color because they've chose a tartan of their choice.

We live in an area that had lots of shirt factories, where all the ladies could sew and stitch.

So my grandmother can make kilts and jackets and nationals.

Mickela: All of these kilts your grandmother made?

Georgina: Yeah, I would say-- Yeah, most.

Yeah, definitely.

Mickela: That's incredible.

Georgina: Yeah.

She's made--probably thousands over the years.

Mickela: Wow!

Georgina: Yeah.

♪ Gorgeous.

Mickela: It's real!

I feel like a real-- a real dancer now.

OK. Georgina: Right hands.

1, 2, 3, 4.

High cuts.

Left hands... Becky: I started dancing when I was about four, and I'm 20 now.

So... Mickela: What does it feel like for you to see the younger dancers in the school come up?

Becky: Oh, I absolutely love it.

We have a lot of younger ones and stuff.

So the youngest person that I would teach... Mickela: You're a teacher.

Becky: I'm a teacher as well.

Mickela: Oh, my gosh!

You didn't say it.

I didn't know that.

Becky: Yeah, I'm a teacher.

Mickela: What is it like teaching this, then?

Becky: Oh, I absolutely love it.

I love the wee ones the most.

Watching them grow up and become even better each time and wanting to be there and actually progressing in their dancing is the best feeling.

Georgina: 3, 4, 5, 6... ♪ Mickela: Holy cats.

Holy cow.

[Georgina laughs] Georgina: It's tough.

[Mickela breathing heavily] [Dancers chuckle] Georgina: And so the whole-- the whole point of Highland dancing was it was part of the Highland Games.

So it was to find the strongest warriors.

So that's why... [imitates panting] Mickela: Yeah.

You guys are warriors.

♪ Georgina: Right hands.

Go.

Mickela: I always forget that.

♪ Georgina: In the middle.

♪ [Georgina clapping] Mickela: Whoo!

Georgina: Well done.

Mickela: High five.

High five.

Derry is an old city, but with more recent economic development after the peace process in the 1990s, Derry and Northern Ireland as a whole is becoming a coveted destination for visitors.

Right across from the Peace Bridge, I head to the Ebrington Hotel, housed on the site of a former barracks.

Both the bridge and this space are now iconic symbols of Derry's post-Troubles evolution.

♪ I meet with Chef Noel McMeel to get a taste of this evolution in Northern Ireland's cuisine.

Noel: We are in the Oak Room Restaurant, and this used to be an old police barracks.

Mickela: Oh, Wow.

Noel: Many, many years.

This whole acreage all around here.

♪ And then obviously, the owners, they had the vision towards turning it into a hotel.

Mickela: Yeah.

Noel: And that's one of the beauties of being able to come and work in something like a beautiful boutique like this in this city that is really powered by the heart.

♪ Mickela: I don't think people realize how beautiful and delicious and fresh Irish food is.

I think in America, we think corned beef and cabbage, potatoes, meat and potatoes.

And you come here, and it is gorgeous, fresh local food.

Noel: Ireland is all about fresh food, but there's nothing wrong with the corned beef and cabbage.

Mickela: Oh, of course not.

Noel: And some chefs would probably say, "Oh, I don't make anything like that."

Or the Guinness stew.

But we're very proud of that.

Mickela: Of course!

♪ Noel: I would say it's about taking the best of local produce, cooking it as little as possible, with great kind of skill from the kitchen, and really serving it.

You know, that's what I call modern Irish food.

Mickela: Yeah.

Noel: One of the great things is when we can actually pick up the phone and talk to our local suppliers.

Mickela: Yeah.

Noel: And they have the same passion as we have.

Mickela and Noel: Oh, my gosh.

Mickela: Wow.

That's beautiful.

Noel: The exciting thing about this dish is that it's about scallops, right?

There were dived this morning.

And one of the things about Ireland itself, we have a thing called black pudding.

Mickela: Oh, yes.

Noel: Right?

Mickela: So, so it's like the most refined black pudding you'll ever taste.

Noel: Yeah, yeah... Mickela: And fatty and delicious.

Oh, my gosh.

I cannot wait.

Ohh.

Noel: So it's a bit like fish and chips in some ways... Mickela: Oh, my gosh.

Amazing.

Yeah.

Noel: without the potato.

And it's a starter.

Mickela: OK, so I'm gonna get one--a little bit of everything.

Noel: Yes.

Mickela: This puree.

Noel: Yes.

Mickela: Is it rude if I just eat the whole scall...?

OK. Noel: This is exactly what I would do.

I would just actually use my hands.

Mickela: Oh, can I use my hands?

Noel: Yes.

Mickela: Oh, amazing.

♪ Noel: Salt.

Mickela: Mmm.

Is there mint in there?

Noel: Mm-hmm.

Mickela: Oh, my gosh.

Noel: Fresh mint and the pea puree.

Mickela: It's gorgeous.

Wow!

It's really beautiful.

And so fresh.

The scallops are so fresh.

Noel: So it's like a symphony.

Mickela: It is a symphony.

Noel: You have to have another one.

Mickela: I will.

Ha!

You don't have to twist my arm.

I love how informal this is.

This is what, a four-star hotel, Chef Noel.

Noel: I think so, and I think also, you don't have to be dressed with a shirt and tie and a bow tie.

One of the great things I love about this city, we're very proud to say that we're Irish, that we're Northern Irish.

We're very proud to say that we do good food and we do honest food.

Mickela: Yeah.

Noel: But most of all, fresh.

Mickela: Well, you care.

You obviously care.

One more thing.

I know you're a dancer.

Noel: Oh, my God.

[Mickela laughs] Mickela: You were a competitive Irish dancer, right?

Noel: For many years, a long time ago.

Mickela: Can you show me a few steps of Irish dancing?

Noel: Oh, my God.

Mickela: Ha ha!

Noel: Oh, why not?

Mickela: Let's go, let's go.

Come on.

Ha ha!

Bring it with you.

Noel: Cheers.

Mickela: Cheers.

Slainte.

Ha ha!

♪ Noel: So we basically do the legs up.

Mickela: I said to keep it simple, Chef Noel.

Ha ha!

Noel: OK. 1, 2, 3.

1, 2, 3.

It's all about the beat.

See?

You're perfect at it.

And then you go.

And then you go like that.

Mickela: Hey!

Ha ha!

Brilliant!

One more time.

One more time.

Noel: Now you're getting greedy.

Mickela: No.

[laughter] ♪ Mickela: From the walled city of Derry, I make my way 30 minutes southeast to Dungiven to meet with master bodhran maker Seamus O'Kane at his home workshop.

♪ [playing bodhran] Mickela: How long have you been playing the bodhran?

Seamus: 1968.

Mickela: Since 1968.

Seamus: Yeah.

I didn't have a car, so I couldn't travel, you know, to buy a bodhran.

So the next move was to make them.

Mickela: You're technically retired.

I can't even count how many fiddles you have in here and bodhran frames and harps.

Seamus: It's hard to stop coming up with some idea and follow them through.

Mickela: Yeah.

Mickela, voice-over: Seamus graciously offered to take me through the process of crafting this native Irish drum.

Seamus: Ah.

Just put that... Mickela: Hammer it?

Seamus: Yeah.

OK. OK. Mickela: You ready?

Seamus: Each one.

Yes.

And the other one.

♪ OK. Mickela: My father would be proud.

He was a carpenter.

Seamus: Right.

Mickela: Yeah.

So it wore off on me.

Mickela, voice-over: There are a few theories on the bodhran's origins.

Some historians believe it was first used by the Celts anywhere from 500 B.C.

to the year 400.

Another theory is that it evolved in the mid-19th century from the tambourine.

Seamus: OK, I'm just putting the dye on it.

Mickela: Mm-hmm.

Seamus: Loads of dye, so it goes way, way in.

Mickela: Mm-hmm.

♪ Seamus: The next bit is putting on the wet skin.

Mickela: So this is what you get in the dry skin.

Seamus: Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Mickela: OK. Seamus: So we're soaking it in lukewarm water.

♪ Mickela: And how long do you soak it for, Seamus?

Seamus: Uh, preferably 8 hours.

Mickela: And this is what it feels like after.

Seamus: Yeah.

Mickela: [gasps] Wow.

That's really soft.

It's like back to skin again.

Seamus: Made it back.

Yeah.

Yeah.

The fashion was thick skins, and yet mine were paper-thin, getting not a hard sound but deeper and a very musical sound.

And that started a whole new style for bodhrans.

Mickela: How long would it take you to make one bodhran from start to finish?

Seamus: About 15 hours.

Mickela: 15.

So in two days, you can make it or...?

Seamus: Aye.

♪ Mickela: So you're stretching the skin now.

Seamus: Just stretching it.

Mickela: Yup.

♪ Yeah.

Hey.

Seamus: Yeah.

That's it.

Perfect.

Mickela: Beautiful.

[Seamus chuckles] Seamus: Thank you.

Mickela: High five.

[Seamus chuckles] Mickela: Now it's my turn to learn the technique and rhythms of the bodhran from the master himself, using my very own drum that Seamus generously crafted just for me.

And these are your designs as well?

Seamus: Aye.

The sticks are all the same thin group.

If you hold it like a pencil... Mickela: Mm-hmm.

Seamus: and point this heavy end towards your stomach, and just see--That's it.

Mickela: Like this.

Seamus: That's it.

Mickela: And I'm trying to go back and forth along the palm of my hand.

Is that what...?

Seamus: Aye.

That's right.

Yes.

Mickela: OK. OK. Seamus: Mm-hmm.

Mickela, voice-over: Seamus is famous for redesigning and modernizing the cipin, or the bodhran stick, also called the beater or the tipper.

He also revolutionized the bodhran by adding tuners to the drum, allowing musicians to change the pitch quickly and efficiently.

♪ Seamus: Try it.

See?

[Mickela laughs] Mickela: Wait.

That was... Seamus: Just throw it at it.

All right.

Move it in.

That's it.

Mickela: Oh, this is hard.

Seamus: ♪ Your one pound, 10 ♪ ♪ Your one pound, 10 ♪ ♪ Give you these soles for your one pound, 10 ♪ ♪ January, February, March?

♪ ♪ No, April and May and June?

♪ ♪ No, July?

♪ ♪ Aye ♪ Mickela: Ha ha!

I like that song.

Yeah.

It's gorgeous.

It's a very difficult instrument to play.

Seamus: Uh, just getting used to it.

Just playing it.

That's all.

[Mickela laughs] ♪ Mickela: You've changed the way an iconic instrument sounds and is being played, and that's a pretty big part of the musical history of Ireland.

You're a living legend, Seamus.

You really are.

Seamus: Ah, I don't think so.

Mickela: Well, the Irish are very humble.

You're a very humble man.

But I just want to say thank you, because this is a real honor to be here.

Seamus: Legend in me own mind.

Ha ha!

Mickela: Oh!

And in everyone else's.

[Seamus laughs] Mickela: From Dungiven, we drive an hour north to one of the most famous geological wonders of the world, the Giant's Causeway.

I meet with Anthony McAuley of the National Trust, who walks me through this breathtaking site.

Anthony: Giant's Causeway is Northern Ireland's only world heritage site, but it's a geological formation that happened around 60 million years ago.

Mickela: 60 million years ago.

6-0.

Anthony: 6-0.

Mickela: Wow.

Anthony: So basically what we had here was a big lava flow.

And as that lava flow cooled, it hardens.

And as it hardens, it cracks.

A perfect crack in nature is an angle of 120 degrees.

And if 4 of those cracks link together perfectly, that gives you your 6-sided shape of your columns.

♪ A hexagon is nature's most perfect structure, its stronger structure.

Mickela: Wow.

Wow.

Anthony: And basically, it's just nature at its finest.

Mickela: It's beautiful.

♪ Anthony: Up in the distance here, you'll see the chimneys of Finn McCool's house.

And the story goes that Finn McCool built the Giant's Causeway.

Mickela: The legend of the Giant's Causeway is that there were actually two giants, Finn McCool in Ireland and Benandonner across the sea in Scotland.

Finn McCool threw rocks into the sea to build a bridge over to Scotland in order to fight Benandonner, but he was exhausted from the work and fell asleep.

As Finn McCool's wife saw Benandonner running over the bridge from Scotland, she couldn't wake her husband up, so she wrapped him up like a baby.

When Benandonner saw the giant baby, he could only imagine how big the father must be, so he ran back over the causeway and destroyed the bridge so that the father giant couldn't make his way over to Scotland.

Anthony: If you look right in front of us here... it looks very much like a church organ.

Mickela: It does!

Anthony: And Finn McCool plays those organ pipes, but he only plays them on one day a year.

Mickela: What day is that?

Anthony: Christmas day, of course.

And he plays "Jingle Bells."

Mickela: No!

Anthony: So if you come down here on Christmas morning, listen closely.

You'll hear Finn McCool play "Jingle Bells."

Mickela: Oh.

That's amazing.

Ireland, I feel like storytelling is such a big part of the tradition.

Fairies and leprechauns.

What are some of those stories?

Anthony: Traditionally, a leprechaun would be the male.

A fairy would be the female.

Mickela: The female.

Anthony: So if you ever noticed all the leprechauns and all the pictures of them have beards and hats.

Mickela: Yeah.

Are fairies tricksters?

Anthony: Mm-hmm.

Mickela: OK. Anthony: Very much so.

We have seen examples of this, especially when we're taking school groups down here.

So the schoolchildren, they'll come in and they'll play around them.

And if the children stand about too long, they're known to tie the laces together of their shoes.

Mickela: No.

No.

Anthony: Yeah.

So again, so again, they'll dart in and out, but again, nobody sees them doing it.

Mickela: But it seems like, I mean, when you're telling me these stories, you have a smile on your face and you seem so excited by all of this.

Anthony: Part of it's coming from here, being here, living here, you know, having a love for the place.

And whether that's love for truly here at the Giant's Causeway or Ballycastle or the North Coast, where I'm from, and it's just pass that love of the place on to people.

People have all different reasons for coming.

Some people, they come to find where their grandparents got engaged.

Some people come just to make a wish from the Wishing Chair.

Mickela: The Wishing Chair?

What's the Wishing Chair?

Anthony: Oh, that's one of our stones on the other side.

♪ Mickela: OK, this is the Wishing-- Anthony: This is the Wishing Chair right here.

Mickela: The Wishing Chair.

It looks like a throne.

Anthony: Yeah.

Mickela: It actually-- Oh, my goodness.

Anthony: Well, sure.

A throne's just a fancy chair.

Mickela: Ha ha!

I love it.

OK. Anthony: Now, I can almost guarantee that your wish will come true.

I'm going to tell you the three rules that you have to follow.

Mickela: OK. Three rules.

Anthony: So the first one is keep your wish a secret.

The second one is don't be greedy because we've only got so much magic to go around.

And the third and the most important one, as you're sitting on that stone making your wish, you have to wiggle your bum three times.

[Mickela laughs] Mickela: That's why it's so shiny.

Anthony: You got it.

Mickela: OK. All right.

OK. Anthony: What'd you wish for?

Mickela: I can't tell you.

Hey!

Anthony: Good girl.

That's it.

Mickela: Rule number one.

Anthony: Yep.

Mickela: Beautiful.

My wish is coming true.

This is--this is a very comfortable way to also view the gorgeous Giant's Causeway.

This is gorgeous.

Anthony: It is.

Mickela: My wish has already come true.

♪ My last stop takes me south along the Causeway Coastal Route to Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland.

♪ I'm at the MAC Theatre to meet with Léisa Gillan and her Loughgiel School of Irish dance.

♪ Ahead of tonight's opening performance, Léisa and her dancers welcome me into their rehearsal to get a first look on Irish festival dance.

♪ I've heard of Irish step dancing.

But what is festival dance?

Léisa: I suppose it's just a different interpretation of the same art.

For us, Irish dancing is an art.

It's not just dancing, and it's not just music, but there's storytelling, there's music, and there's dancing.

So it's storytelling without words.

♪ Watch your circle during opposite.

Mickela: Seeing you onstage, the girls are dancing, you're shouting.

That warrior comes out when you are getting those girls in order.

Léisa: Sometimes the passion takes over in the moment and the voice gets louder.

And-- Mickela: Yeah.

Léisa: Yeah.

Mickela: But that's beautiful.

Léisa: We always say we're not shouting.

We're just talking over the music.

[Mickela laughs] Léisa: Lines.

This piece is called "The Warrior Queens," a fierce battle between two strong, fierce Celtic women.

♪ Mickela: I'm a little intimidated by these girls because they are fierce.

Oh, yes.

Léisa: So you've got to wear this.

Mickela: So I'll be a warrior, too.

Léisa: Yes.

Mickela: There we go.

Léisa: So you have to channel your inner warrior and get really in the zone.

Mickela: Yeah.

What's the best way to get into character?

Léisa: Just imagine someone that you really don't like.

[Mickela laughs] Mickela: All right.

All right.

I can do that.

Léisa: We're going to do the part where the line goes around and then comes back up again.

Mickela: Yeah.

OK. Léisa: Caitrín will show you the step there that we're going to use to bring you back.

Caitrín: Hop, 1 and 1 and turn, 2, 3.

Step.

Hop, 2, 3, step.

Hop, 2, 3.

Léisa: And then turn back... Caitrín: And then we grab hands.

Léisa: Yep.

Caitrín: And everybody comes up slowly into the line.

Léisa: There'll be someone beside you holding your hand.

So they'll drag you along, OK?

Mickela: Oh, perfect.

Great.

OK. Caitrín: And 1, 2, 3.

Hop, 2, 2, 3.

Hop, stamp, 1, 2, 3.

Stamp.

1, 2, 3.

Stamp.

Yup.

Mickela: OK. Caitrín: Perfect.

Mickela: OK.

Hands here?

Léisa: Mm-hmm.

Caitrín: Yeah.

And then turn, and you-- your body just for the rank up.

Yeah.

Mickela: Ah!

Caitrín: Just push off your--stamp.

Mickela: OK. OK. All right.

Caitrín: We'll do it from here.

Hop, 1 and 1 and turn, 2, 3, step.

Festival dancing is a way for you to kind of express yourself.

And all festival dancers do that in a different way.

And it's all about interpretation.

Like, you're just in a different zone.

You know, you're not really thinking about the steps.

You're thinking as well about portraying the story of the dance.

Hop, 2, 3, step.

Hop, 2, 3... Léisa: Now forward.

Caitrín: 1, 2, 3.

Now your stamps.

Stamp, 1, 2, 3, stamp.

3, stamp and stamp.

Tap and a toe tap and a toe tap and a toe.

And jump.

Mickela: Jump.

Caitrín: Jump, jump.

Tap and a toe.

There you go.

Mickela: Pretty close.

Caitrín: Yeah, that was good.

Caitrín: Jump.

Mickela: ♪ Dee da da da da... ♪ ♪ Da da da da da da da da da da da da da ♪ ♪ Boo boo boo boo ♪ Nope.

Caitrín: Tap, change toe.

Mickela: Change.

Treble tap and toe.

Yep.

Mickela: Done.

Yes.

All right.

Let's try it.

Léisa: 1, 2, 3.

Go.

1.

Caitrín: Hop, 1 and 1... Léisa: Turn.

Height.

Change hands.

Forward.

Now you stamp.

Caitrín: Now 3 stamps.

1, 2, 3, stamp... Léisa: Now change feet in the tap.

Change.

Caitrín: ...and a toe tap and a toe tap and a toe tap and a toe.

Jump... Léisa: Change feet.

Caitrín: Toe, treble tap and a toe.

[cheering] Mickela: Yeah!

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!

[laughter] We did it!

I'm a warrior.

I'm a Northern Irish warrior.

Léisa: You've earned your crown.

You've earned your crown.

You are a queen.

Mickela: Oh, my gosh.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, ladies.

That was amazing.

Léisa: Oh, it was brilliant.

Really, really nice that was.

Mickela: Oh, my God.

♪ Tonight's performance at the MAC Theatre tells a story that spans a deep history of Northern Ireland, from the tribes and the warrior queens to the stories of immigration over to the United States, featuring live musicians, including our dear friend Seamus O'Kane on bodhran.

♪ Mickela: What does it mean for you to be able to keep this tradition alive of Irish culture and roots here in Northern Ireland?

Léisa: It's very important for us, but not just to keep it alive in the north of Ireland or in the south of Ireland, but, you know, we want to spread it beyond that.

It's so enjoyable to watch, and it's something we feel that should be shared with the world.

It's just that tradition that you want to carry on for generations.

♪ [cheering and applause] ♪ Mickela: The pride and resilience of Northern Ireland's people through their culture, their passions, and their legends are what really stick with me here on my first trip in Northern Ireland, and I know it definitely won't be my last.

And I'll see you on my next "Bare Feet" adventure, wherever it may take me.

♪ You can stay connected with us at travelbarefeet.com where you'll find extra bonus videos, join our "Bare Feet" series conversations through social media, and stay updated with our newsletter.

♪ Mickela: Hello, Chef Noel.

Noel: How are you?

Are you well?

Mickela: So nice--Ooh!

[laughs] Noel: OK. Start again.

I'll go this way here.

OK?

Shall I go this way?

[laughs] OK. Super.

Mickela: I'm so sorry.

Noel: Oh, we'll try it again.

Mickela: I'm so sorry.

[Noel chuckles] ♪ Mickela: "Bare Feet" is supported in part by... Announcer: Bloomberg Connects gives you a way to experience the arts from your mobile phone.

You can explore hundreds of cultural organizations from around the world anytime, anywhere.

Learn more at bloombergconnects.org or wherever you find your apps.

Announcer: Additional funding was provided by Koo and Patricia Yuen through The Yuen Foundation, committed to bridging cultural differences in our communities.

And by the Ann H. Symington Foundation.

Announcer: The island of Ireland.

You should always listen to your heart.

Fill your heart with Ireland.

[Baby talk]