Twenty 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 that there was a need for and that there should be an Irish Festival in the Danbury area 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 convinced the men and women of the Danbury AOH to support and work to establish an Irish Festival and that any profits would be used to establish an Irish Center in Danbury. This second dream came about in 2009 when the Greater Danbury Irish Center opened on Lake Ave 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. This year, the Greater Danbury Irish Festival is taking place on the park like grounds of the Charles Ives Center for the Arts located on 43 Lake Ave. Ext. in Danbury on September 18, 19 and 20. This festival marks twenty years of entertainment, food drink and fun for the whole family.
Festivities begin on Friday night with the Traveling Danbury's from 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. and is followed by the Humble Hooligans from 8:15 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday, September 19 begins with a performance by the Grey School of Dance from 1 pm to 1L45 pm and is followed by the Ale Hounds that perform from 2 pm to 3:45. The Grey School of Dance takes the stage again from 4 pm to 5 pm and is followed by the popular Celtic Cross Pipe and Drums band. At 6:30 pm, Jeff Conlon and Americelt perform and from 8 pm to 10 pm the Mighty Ploughboys perform.
Poor Richard is the first act to perform on Sunday, September 20 from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. Next to take the stage is the group known as the Gilleoghan Irish Dance group that will perform from 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm. The Fighting Jamesons take the stage next at 2:30 pm and are followed by the Celtic Cross Pipe and Drums band at 4 p.m. The final act of this festival takes place from 4:45 to 6 pm and features the Cunningham Brothers.
For more area information www.litchfieldhills.com
Photo: Gilloeghan Irish Dancers perform at the 2013 festival. Photo credit: Wendy Mitchell
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