Bio: Doohan Sisters (2009)

Contact:: Robert Lipprandt

Email: bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 
 

Surname: Doohan 
 

----Source: The Tribune - Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., WI), Wednesday, October 14, 2009, online edition 
 

Doohan sisters set sights on 2012 London Olympics 
 

The Doohan sisters of Milan are currently raising money to put toward their goal of performing at a 2012 London Olympics venue. They hope to raise the $5,000 needed for the trip, but being dairy farm daughters, they are also aware of the down economy, so they are offering something in return for donors. 
 

The four sisters, Colleen, twins Kelsey and Katie, and Bridgette, are selling $5 coupon booklets for the Nov. 14 Community Day at Younkers stores. One-hundred percent of the proceeds from each booklet goes to the girls’ trip fundraiser, so they are hoping to sell 1,000 within the next month.  
 

Coupon booklets can be purchased at Associated Bank in Abbotsford, which is also handling donations. Other businesses or organizations interested in purchasing the coupon booklets in bulk can call Laura Doohan at (715) 215-0531. 
 

The sisters have recently formed the Doohan Heritage Foundation, a non-profit organization that seeks to translate their rich Irish heritage and energetic performances into world-changing efforts. Their mother, Laura Doohan, said they’ve already used some money for planting trees and feeding poor children through an international group.  
 

Since returning from Ireland last year, the four girls have performed their high-energy music and step dancing at several venues, such as the Mega Center near Chicago, the Celtic Flames in Atlanta, the Camp Amile Center for the Arts in Minocqua and the Land-o-Lakes Conserve Art School, NTC in Wausau, and the Artsblock Fest in Wausau. 
 

They were also featured on WSAW Channel 7 on St. Patrick’s Day and appeared in the February 2009 edition of Irish Dancing Magazine. They especially enjoyed performing with a world-renowned Irish musician Robin Mark and his band when they were in Minnesota.  
 

The sisters will be traveling to Orlando, Fla., in December to perform at the wedding of a parliamentary lord they met with in England. Next year they will be traveling to New York City and also performing at the 2010 Wisconsin Valley Fair in Wausau. 
 

In addition to dancing, Colleen plays the fiddle, Kelsey and Katie play flutes, and Bridgette plays the bodhram drum. They’re also expanding their sound by adding the electric harp, a rare instrument that’s plugged into an amplifier.  
 

"They’re all learning to play," Laura said. "It’s exciting because I think we’re the only ones who have one north of Chicago."