Katie Schmitt and Kristen Bissanette drove about 350 miles southwest from Massachusetts to reach Ireland.

At least, that's where it seemed like they were Saturday night in downtown Pottsville as they jammed with the Irish group Ceann na Caca during the Greater Pottsville Winter Carnival's Irish Night.

Fans of the group, Schmitt and Bisanette made the trek to Pottsville for the show.

The band played to a packed Jasper Room and a crossover crowd next door at Holahan's Fine Good and Spirits, North Centre Street and highlighted the carnival's second weekend of activities.

"This is the way Irish music should be heard," said Schmitt, who is from Fitchburg, Mass. She was particularly interrupted by a highly interactive version of the song "The Barley Mow."

Irish Night was part of the annual carnival's goal of lifting Pottsville out of the winter blahs.

Senior Princess candidates and friends also participated in the festivities. The carnival will culminate Feb. 1st with the coronation of the Queen of Snows. This weekend though, the Pottsville area rocked from sleep.

On Friday night, 80's cover band Velveeta rocked a crowd at the Citizens Fire Company in Palo Alto and on Sunday the Senior Princesses vying for the Queen of Snows crown shoed off styles and trends during a fashion show at the Pottsville Club.

But judging from the crowd's enthusiasm, there will be people remembering Irish Night well into this week.

Schmitt said the band and the bar were a perfect match, fitting for a night devoted to Irish.

The band is based in Pittsburgh, but the long drive didn't dampen it's performance and Holahan's seemed to be the perfect venue for Bisanette who noted it's antique charm.

"Holahan's rocks. Old school at it's best," she said.

Holahan's and the Jasper Room provided a cramped Irish pub feel, especially with the live music and standing room only crowd.

The band, the bar and the music took Darea and Vincent J. Fabiani, Pottsville, back to the summertime when they visited Ireland for vacation.

"It's a lot of fun." Darea said.

The couple joked about Darea's Irish heritage and Vincent's Italian background and their peaceful co-existence.

Ceann na Caca describe their musical genre as "Yankee-Irish drinking music" and had no trouble stirring up the crowd in Pottsville, which featured a large contingent that followed West West Terrace native marc Wisnosky, one of the Pittsburgh area ensemble's three members.

The band mainly plays covers of traditional Irish pub songs like "Finnegan's Wake" but is also noted for it's take on Snoop Dogg's "Gin and Juice."

Helen Wentz, Pottsville was on hand with family and seated close to the band.

Throughout the evening her Irish eyes smiled.

"They're great," she said.

"It's a good time."