Festival of the Week: The Greater Danbury Irish Festival

The John A. Gildea Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Mary McWhorter Division of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians are proud to announce the 15th Annual, Greater Danbury Irish Festival. This year’s festival will take place on September 11-13 at the Charles Ives Center for the Performing Arts in Danbury, CT.

The Ives Center is the region’s premier outdoor music center, located on the west side campus of Western Connecticut State University. The Greater Danbury Irish Festival provides a family experience of Irish Culture, including live entertainment, food & drink, imported Irish goods, dancing, and many exciting cultural exhibits & activities.

The main stage entertainment on Friday night, September 11 includes Muddy Paws, Cally McGrane and the Exiles, Irish Idol, and Danbury’s own Mighty Ploughboys. Exhibits will open in the cultural tent on Friday night and will feature traditional Irish music with the Shamrogues starting at 6 p.m. For those who have always wanted to try traditional Irish folk dancing there will be Céilí dancing with the Danbury Dancers starting at 7 p.m. The evening will conclude with soul soothing Irish Flute Music by Bill Devlin & Friends at 8 p.m. The gates open at 5 p.m. and festivities conclude at 10:30 p.m.

On Saturday, September 12, the main stage performers include the Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums, the Sean Fleming Band, Andy Cooney, Dermot Henry, the Gray School of Irish Dance, the Tipperary Knights, the Highland Rovers, and the Green Gates Céilí Band.

Other cultural tent activities on Saturday include uillean piper Jerry O'Sullivan, Harper Regina Delaney, Storyteller (seanchaí) Mike Diggins, traditional music with Celtic Note and Friends, Irish Bingo in the exhibit area, Owen McDonnell on pipes, Irish music by the Mighty Ploughboys, and an evening Ceili (6 p.m.-10:00 p.m.) with the Green Gates Ceili Band. The new expanded children’s area will be open all day with games, crafts and other activities for the wee ones. Hours of operation on Saturday are 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

The closing day main stage activities on Sunday, September 13 include Dermot Henry, Emigrant Eyes, the Gray School of Irish Dance, Police Pipes & Drums of Waterbury, Kitty Kelly & Band, Irish Idol Finale, and the AOH Raffle. The cultural tent will feature uillean piper Matt Connelly, Regina Delaney will perform on the harp and provide a harp workshop for those interested in learning the harp (harps will be available), storyteller (seanchaí) Mike Diggins, and Irish surnames: What's in an Irish Name by Eileen Zurell. Also featured will be a discussion about Wexford-born Commodore John Barry by Phil Gallagher, Irish Jeopardy with Ellen Stockbridge & Stephanie Wanzer. The children's area will continue to operate on Sunday for the entertainment of younger family members. Sunday’s hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Other activities, displays and events include the Book of Kells, Irish Crochet, a St. Patrick's Day Parade, the Danbury Dancers (céilí), literary displays on Frank McCourt and Sydney Owen; famine sculpture, the Irish War of Independence and many more. The seisiún tent, open to all Irish traditional musicians and festival goers, will operate all day Saturday and Sunday.

Throughout the festival, Irish imports will be available in the vendor tent and traditional Irish food & drink will be sold. Admission is $12 per day, or a three day pass may be obtained for $20 (children under 12 are free with an adult). Special Friday evening admission “Five Dollars at Five” allows attendees to enter for just $5. For directions and detailed schedule information, go to our website at: www.DanburyIrishFestival.com.