Three-Day Indoor/Outdoor Greater Danbury 2018 Irish Festival, Sept. 21st to 23rd

Report by Paula Antolini
September 21, 2018, 9:00AM EDT

 

 

Three-Day Indoor/Outdoor Greater Danbury 2018 Irish Festival, Sept. 21st to 23rd

 

Entertainment lineup for 2018:

 

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Main Stage Schedule:

Friday, Sept. 21, 2018:

• Ceili Dancing on the Main Stage
• Green Gates (in the Cultural Tent) 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
  

Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018:

• The Traveling Danburys 12:15 – 1:15 p.m.
• Steve O’Tree and Friends – 1:30-2:30 p.m.
• Thorne Academy of Irish Dance – 2:45 – 3:30 p.m.
• Keltic Kick – 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
• Cunningham Brothers – 4:45 – 5:45 p.m.
• Ashurst Irish Dance 5:45 – 6:30 p.m.
• Celtic Cross Pipe & Drums – 6:30 – 7:15 p.m.
• Highland Rovers – 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.
• Humble Hooligans– 8:45 – 10:00 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018:

• Ringrose & Freeman – 12:00 – 1:15 p.m
• Doherty-Petri School of  Irish Dance – 1:30 – 2:15 p.m.
• Jeff Conlon – 2:30 – 3:45 p.m.
• Doherty-Petri School of  Irish Dance – 3:45 – 4:30 p.m.
• Tiperrary Knights – 4:45 – 6:00 p.m.

 

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Cultural Tent Schedule:

~ Friday, Sept. 21, 2018 ~

5:30 – 6:30 PM: Céilí Set Dancing Workshop – Brian Reynolds

7:00 – 10.00 PM: Céilí (Irish Social Dancing) – Green Gates Céilí Band

~ Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018 ~

1:00 – 2:00 PM: Uilleann Piper – Chris Finnegan, Irish Speaker

2:00 – 3:00 PM: Owen McDonnell –Dr. Owen McDonnell – Irish History & Family Tragedy Interwoven

3:00 – 4:00 PM: Harp Performance – Regina Delaney

4:00 – 5:00 PM: Harp Workshop – Regina Delaney, learn to play the harp

7:00 – 10:00 PM: Irish Traditional Music Seisiún  – Nora Hanley starts with a performance and then rolls into an open seisiún

~ Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018 ~

1:00 – 2:00 PM: Traditional Irish Music (guitar & flute, voice) – Chicks-n-Sync

2:00 –  3:00 PM: Traditional Irish Music (fiddle, tin whistle, flute) – Fiddleuisce GDICC musicians

3:00 – 3:30 PM: Traditional Irish Singalong – Fiddleuisce and John Feeney

3:30 – 4:30 PM: Harp Performance – Regina Delaney

4:30 – 5:30 PM: Traditional Irish Music (Irish lute, guitar, voice) – Aindriú Ó’Ciardha

Several Historical Figures from Irish History will be roaming the festival grounds – Liz Popiel.

Displays on: Celtic Art, Book of Kells, Irish Crochet, Irish Language and Classes, Irish Family Histories, Genealogy, Irish Blessings, Irish Dance, Irish Literature, Irish Traditional Music History, World Meeting of Families in Ireland 2018 and Classes, and more.

 

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Food & Refreshments

Fork in the Road Food Truck, along with several other food trucks (TBA soon) will be on site serving up a wide variety of traditional Irish fare as well as mouth-watering American food. Click here for their full menu!

 

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Hospitality Tent

Stop by our Hospitality Tent for Fresh baked goods, Irish Soda bread. We will also have refreshments including tea, coffee, hot chocolate, iced tea, soda, and water. This year’s hospitality tent will be located outside next to the Cultural Tent and Children’s Tent.

 

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Shop in Our Irish Village!

Experience the sights and sounds of the Emerald Isle by shopping in our Irish Village! The year our vendors will be located in the upper level of the building, right next to the main stage, so you can come out rain or shine and browse dozens of authentic pieces of jewelry, art, Irish musical instruments and much more.

Ogham Art offers unique Irish gifts inspired by the Celts. Primary artist Colleen Berry Conway creates art, jewelry and home decor featuring the ancient alphabet of Ogham. Her work also celebrates the Celtic symbols and knot work found in the monuments and manuscripts of Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Sarah Maguire’s Cottage Scents & Gifts offers unique Irish gifts capturing the magic of Ireland and celebrating the beauty and passion of Irish and Irish-American designs that represent thousands of years of Irish history and craftsmanship.

UK Gourmet sells food from England, Ireland (Northern & The Republic of), Scotland and Wales, all shopping in harmony. It is food that brings us all together!

Located in historic Farmington in a farmhouse dating back to 1860, O’Reilly’s boasts the largest selection of Irish and Celtic products this side of the Atlantic. Started in 1997, O’Reilly’s now offers a magnificent collection of the finest products Ireland has to offer.

O’Reilly’s offers three lines of crystal, Waterford, Heritage Irish and Galway crystal. Six Belleek stands proudly display a varied selection of the finest Parian china. Pottery from Nicholas Mosse and Celtic Clays, Mullingar Pewter, Jerpoint Glass and many beautiful products are but a few of the many lines from which to choose.

Jewelry in Sterling Silver, 10 Carat and 14 carat white and yellow gold makes up our extensive jewelry selection. Choose from over 150 wedding band samples in stock from claddagh to Celtic knots from Irelands finest jewelers. 248 Main St. (Rt 10) Farmington CT (860) 677 6958

Designs By Diana, Celtic, handmade jewelry by Diana and Pete Burnham (860) 916- 1379.

 

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Win Big in Our Raffle

 

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TICKET INFORMATION

Full Weekend pass is $20

• Friday, Sep. 21:  5 to 10 p.m.
  Admission: $10 per person
  Children 12 and under are free!

Saturday, Sep. 22: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Admission: $10 per person
  Children 12 and under are free!

Sunday, Sep. 23th: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Admission: $10 per person Sat & Sun
  Children 12 and under are free!

Please note: No outside food or beverages allowed. Bags will be checked. No pets are allowed.

Although we love our furry friends, there are NO pets allowed at the festival– only registered service animals are permitted.

 

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Festival History

Twenty-one years ago, Gerry Curran, who was the President of the Danbury Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, had a dream. Gerry’s dream was to bring an Irish Festival to Danbury in order to present and perpetuate Irish music and culture. Gerry convinced the President of the Danbury Division of the Ladies of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Sharon Higgins, that this was worthwhile project.

Together, Gerry and Sharon shared their ideas with the men and women of the Danbury Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) to support and work to establish an Irish Festival. Any profits would be used to establish an Irish Cultural Center in Danbury. Gerry’s dream to establish an Irish Festival became a reality in 1995 when the Greater Danbury Irish Festival made its debut in Rogers Park. The festival subsequently relocated to the Ives Center and continued there until 2011 when bad weather and financial difficulties caused it to downsize and be held for several years at the Lake Avenue Irish Cultural Center.

The Irish Festival is now held on the beautiful grounds of the Portuguese Cultural Center in order to accommodate many bands, events a dn parking and not have to worry about Mother Nature’s mood swings!

For more information please email danburyirishfest@gmail.com or call (203)739-0010 or (203) 501-7424.

 

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Directions

 

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