Greater Danbury Irish Festival coming up

This post is submitted by Wendy Ann Mitchell

DANBURY — The Greater Danbury Irish Festival is bigger and better than ever this year with live Irish music, Irish dance, cultural activities in the cultural tent, Irish food and beer and a children's area with games, music and tons of fun. It takes place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 16, 17 and 18, 2016 and is presented by the Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Foundation, the Men's and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Center, committee members and volunteers.

The brainchild of Gerry Curran, former President of the Danbury Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Irish Festival began in 1995 at Rogers Park in Danbury with the help of Sharon Higgins. Twenty-one years ago, Curran had the dream to bring an Irish music and culture festival to Danbury. Now held at the Charles Ives Concert Park, the festival offers Irish food, fellowship and fun for people of all ages.

John Feeney, an Irish Gaelic language instructor, heads up the cultural tent which showcases a broad range of Irish heritage and gives festival-goers an up close experience of Irish traditional music, Gaelic language, history, dance, genealogy, film, theater and literature through live performances, displays, lectures and workshops in the tent. Anyone with an interest in Irish culture can sign up for classes and activities at the Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Center.

Kathy Hannigan has organized a number of activities for children at the youth area tent including face painting, crafts, genealogy coloring page, sand art, jewelry making and story telling. A Halloween parade is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. on Saturday. Children can bring their own costume or wear one from the youth area. Prizes will be awarded for most creative costumes.

New this year for kids and teens will be a "Selfie Scavenger Hunt" beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday and2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Participants should be at the youth area 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for clues and instructions. Prizes will be awarded. The youth area hours are Saturday from 12 – 6 p.m. and Sunday from 12 – 5:30 p.m.

All weekend long there will be displays on Women of the Easter Rising, Book of Kells, Irish crochet, Irish language and classes, Irish family histories, genealogy, Irish blessings, Irish literature, history of the potato famine, Irish traditional music history and classes and much more.

The Greater Danbury Irish Festival will be held at the Ives Concert Park, 48 Lake Avenue, Danbury on Friday, September 16, Saturday, September 17 and Sunday, September 18, 2016.

Entertainment on the Main Stage:
Friday, Sept. 16, 2016:

• Traveling Danburys – 6:45 – 8:00 p.m.
• The Go Set (Australia) – 8:15 – 10 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016:

• Steve O’Tree and Friends 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
• Ringrose & Freeman w/ Special Guest Mary Gardner – 1:00-2:00 p.m.
• Ashurst Irish Dance – 2:00 – 2:40 p.m.
• Tipperary Knights – 2:45 – 4:00 p.m.
• Celtic Cross Pipe & Drums – 4:00 – 4:40 p.m.
• Ashurst Irish Dance – 4:45 – 5:15 p.m.
• Celtic Cross Pipe & Drums – 6:00 – 6:40 p.m.
• Mighty Ploughboy Nation 4 – 6:45 – 8:00 p.m.
• The Peelers (Canada) – 8:15 – 10:00 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016

• Poor Richard (Rhode Island) – 12:00 – 1:15 p.m
• Petri School Of Dance – 1:45 – 2:15 p.m.
• Highland Rovers – 2:30 – 3:45 p.m.
• Petri School Of Dance – 3:45 – 4:30 p.m.
• Cunningham Brothers – 4:45 – 6:00 p.m.

Cultural Tent Entertainment Schedule:

Friday, Sept. 16, 2016:

• Dance performance and workshop - Thorne Academy of Irish Dance – 7 – 8 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016:

• Traditional Irish Music – Liz & Gordon – 1 – 2 p.m.
• Traditional Irish Music – Fiddleuisce – 2 – 2:30 p.m.
• Presentation on the Women of the Easter Rising – Marilyn Madigan LAOH Historian – 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
• Step Dance Workshop – Ashurst Irish Dance – 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
• Traditional Irish Music – Ringrose & Freeman w/special guest Mary Gardner (Bodhrán) – 4:30 – 6 p.m.

Saturday Night Ceili – Green Gate Céilí Band – 7-10 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016:

• Uilleann Piper- Matt Connolly – 1 – 2 p.m.
• Traditional Irish Music – Shamrogues – 2 – 3 p.m.
• Traditional Irish Music – Fiddleuisce – 3 – 3:30 p.m.
• Presentation on the Women of the Easter Rising – Marilyn Madigan LAOH Historian – 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
• Thorne Academy of Irish Dance – performance and workshop – 4:30 – 6 p.m.

Admission Prices:
Friday (Hours- 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.):

• $5 Friday night only
• $2 with a student ID
• Children 12 and under are free
• Cash, Visa, and Master Card is accepted

Saturday (Hours 11 a.m.– 10 p.m.):

• $12 per day or $25 for a weekend pass
• Enter before 1 p.m. for 1/2 price admission
• "Halfway to St. Patrick's Day" $2 discount for wearing green
• Children 12 and under are free
• Cash, Visa, and Master Card is accepted

Sunday (Hours 11 a.m.– 6 p.m.):

• $12 per day or $25 for a weekend pass
• Children 12 and under are free
• Cash, Visa, and Master Card is accepted

Raffle Tickets:

• Tickets are $5 each
• First Prize is $2,000
• Second Prize is $1,000
• Third Prize $500
• Call Sharon O’Rourke at 203-470-7570 for tickets

For more information, click here, email danburyirishfestival@gmail.com or call the club at 203-739-0010.

Photo by Wendy Ann Mitchell

Editor's note: All information and the photo in this post were contributed. Click one of the buttons below to share it.