Irish Festival Fever
There’s an article in Irish America Magazine, hosted at Irish Abroad, that wonders if the reason why American summer Irish festivals have become so popular is because nothing makes for a better celebration than the contagious Irish pride. So who started this pride thing? Bob Geldof?
It’s mostly focused on the Dublin Irish Festival that took place last weekend in Ohio and next year celebrates its 20th Anniversary, but there’s also some attention for the Milwaukee Irish Festival in Wisconsin (August 17-20 at the Summerfest Grounds), and the Indy Irish Festival in Indianapolis (September 15 -17).
And the reason I didn’t bring this article to your attention before the festival in Dublin, Ohio? All to do with this last sentence in talking about the inaugural World Fleadh in Ireland, which takes place this month on the Atlantic coast at Ballybunion in Kerry:
With this beautiful Irish scenery as a background for performances of some of the greatest Irish music-makers and dancers, even the natives will be inspired to take a moment to truly appreciate the magic of the sights, sounds and people of the Emerald Isle
Faced with such condescension, I moved on, but you might find it differently.
See Also:
• Irish Festivals, An essay by Black 47’s Larry Kirwan
• Irish Irish Festivals and the World Fleadh
• Pirates: Dead Man’s Ren Fest
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