Danbury Irish Festival Brings Irish Culture, Music, Food and More to Ives Center

DANBURY, CT — 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.

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 and 2:30 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:

7-8 PM Thorne Academy of Irish Dance will be teaching Céilí (Pronounced kay-lee) dancing for adults. Céilí dancing is traditional social Irish dancing. It is line dancing and also set dancing (not step dancing). The Set dances are done in groups of 4 couples and similar to square dancing. A lot of fun and can be very fast!

Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016:

• 1-2 p.m. Liz & Gordon will be singing traditional Irish tunes using guitar and fiddle.

• 2-2:30 p.m. Fiddleuisce (pronounced fidel-ooshka) is a new group formed at the GDICC whose name is a combination of English and Irish meaning Fiddle Water. Enjoy instrumental pieces of Irish Traditional music on fiddle, tin whistle, flute and guitar.

• 2:30-3:30 p.m. Women of the 1916 Easter Rising. During Easter week of 1916, Irish rebels rose up in rebellion against English rule. Over 300 hundred women were involved in both combat and non-combat roles. LAOH historian Marilyn Madigan will give an exciting presentation about these brave women.

• 3:30-4:30 p.m. Ashurst Academy of Irish Dance will give a Step Dance workshop for children. The Academy was founded by Champions Craig & Christina Ashurst, both former cast members of Riverdance. Christina is a CT native while Craig hails from Australia.

• 4:30-6 p.m. Ringrose & Freeman are a Celtic duo - Dan Ringrose (vocals, guitar) and Jeanne Freeman (fiddle, harmony vocals). Playing and singing traditional Irish and Celtic music, with a touch of contemporary folk thrown in for good measure, including original songs and tunes.

• 7-10 p.m. Céilí with music by Music in the Glen. A céilí (pronounced kay-lee) is Irish social dancing. Great dancing and fun to watch and listen to the music if you don’t dance!

Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016:

• 1-2 p.m. Matty Connolly on the Uillean Pipes. Uillean (pronounced “illin” and means elbow in Irish) pipes are the traditional pipes of Ireland. An All-Ireland Champion, Matty grew up in Scotstown area of Co. Monaghan to a very musical family. He has been regaling audiences with his piping for over 40 years!!
• 2-3 p.m. The Shamrogues are a festival favorite and play traditional Irish music on every Irish music instrument there is plus a few more! Talented, lively and a real sense of humor!

• 3-3:30 p.m. Fiddleuisce (pronounced fidel-ooshka) is a new group formed at the GDICC whose name is a combination of English and Irish meaning Fiddle Water. Enjoy instrumental pieces of Irish Traditional music on fiddle, tin whistle, flute and guitar.

• 3:30-4:30 p.m. Women of the 1916 Easter Rising. During Easter week of 1916, Irish rebels rose up in rebellion against English rule. Over 300 hundred women were involved in both combat and non-combat roles. LAOH historian Marilyn Madigan will give an exciting presentation about these brave women.

• 4:30-6 p.m. Thorne Academy of Irish Dance. Presentation on Irish dance and how it has evolved to what it is today, and how the founders want to keep the tradition alive with their new school. The demonstration is definitely geared to those who want to hop up for a step or two, children and adults. Get up and try a step!

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
• "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