Every culture has its own brand of music, dance, and drink. This time of year the Irish get all the attention. Whether you speak with a brogue or not, you'll get beat over the head with the Irish spirit ‘round St. Patrick's Day: all the green, all the leprechaun hats, the flags, the shamrock paraphernalia, not to mention all those damn four-leaf clovers that aren't really Irish anyway.

Like they say, everybody's Irish on St. Patty's Day. But if you're looking for something to do when it's not March (or the Irish Fest in September), weekly music, dance events, and free-flowing pints abound.

Seisiuns, the Gaelic word for informal music gatherings, are held weekly at area pubs. Musicians tote their instruments - bodhrans and penny whistles, uillean pipes and guitars - to jam on their favorite songs, singing along or coming up with lyrics on the spot. Show up to watch, to mingle with musicians, or to play; all are welcome. "Slow" sessions are sometimes held before regular sessions for musicians who need to get warmed up (or get used to the sometimes super-quick pace of the tunes). Seisiuns take place regularly on the last Sunday of every month at Johnny's Irish Pub (1382 Culver Rd), monthly at McGinnity's (534 W Ridge Rd), and on the first Sunday of every month at the American Hotel (7304 E Main St) in Lima.

Irish music and dance go hand in hand, and the popular ceilis - Irish social dances - translate into an Irish mixer. These social dances were originally held on weekends and attended in the hopes of meeting a future mate. These days, ceilis are still social, but dancers go more for the craic (the Gaelic word for party, or fun) than anything else. Irish set or country dancing workshops are held Wednesdays at McGinnity's. You don't need to have attended dance school (though many kids, teens, and adults do) to learn the steps. An informal how-to lesson is often held before each dance. If you do want to give the steps a go before you show up, the Young School of Irish Dance (youngschoolirishdance.com) accepts dancers of all ages. The next McGinnity's ceili will be held April 12. The dances attract a mix of 20somethings, American Irish and genuine, straight-off-the-boat (or, rather, the plane) Irish.

And to just soak up some Irish spirit with or without the music and dance, the many Irish pubs around town are eager to quench your Guinness, whiskey, or black-and-tan cravings year-round. Carroll's (1768 E Main St) is a local favorite that bursts at the seams when it serves corned beef and cabbage on St. Patty's Day; Caverly's Irish Pub (741 South Ave) is a fairly new addition to the South Wedge area; Molly Malone's Pub (2587 Mt. Read Blvd) is a mainstay in Greece; O'Callaghan's (470 Monroe Ave) and Paddy's Irish Pub (3208 Latta Rd) also serve up friendly Irish-style drinks, food and fun.

For these events and more, go to irishrochester.org, the home of Comholtas Ceoltoiri Eireann, Rochester's western New York's Irish music association. The group hosts special events, weekly dance and music events, and keeps the calendar up-to-date with all the local Irish activities. Call 234-ERIN - the local Irish events hotline - to find out what's going on near you.

For other local happenings and Irish points of interest, check out the bulletin boards at the family-owned and operated Irish & Celtic Imports (3349 Monroe Ave, Pittsford Plaza) and The Irish Shop (Greece Ridge Mall). The stores stock everything from Irish flags to claddagh rings, hand-knit sweaters, Irish sausages, and tea.