Greater Danbury Irish Festival Sept. 18-20

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 16, 17 and 18.  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 8 p.m. and is followed by the The Go Set (Australia) from 8:15 p.m. to 10 p.m.  

Saturday, September 17 begins with a performance by the Steve O'Tree and Friends from 12 noon to 1 pm.  and is followed by the Dan Ringrose Band that perform from 1 pm to 2pm.  The Ashurst Irish Dance troupe takes the stage  from 2 pm to 2:40 pm and again from 4:45 to 5:15 p.m. and is followed by the popular Tipperary Knights – 2:45 – 4:00 p.m.  The Celtic Cross Pipe & Drums  perform from 4:00 – 4:40 p.m. and again from 6:00 – 6:40 p.m. The  Mighty Ploughboys perform from 6:45 – 8:00 p.m. and the evening ends with a performance by The Peelers (Canada) from 8:15 – 10:00 p.m.

Poor Richard is the first act to perform on Sunday, September 18 from 12 noon to 1:15 p.m.  Next to take the stage is the group known as the Petri School Of Dance  that will perform from 1:45 – 2:15 p.m. and again at 3:45 – 4:30 p.m. The Highland Rovers take the stage from  2:30 – 3:45 p.m.  The final act of this festival takes place from 4:45 to 6 pm and features the Cunningham Brothers. 

There will be many other activities in the cultural tent such as: Women of the Easter Rising, Book of Kells, Irish Crochet, Irish Language and Classes, Irish Family Histories, Genealogy, Irish Blessings, Irish Dance, Irish Literature, Potato Famine, Irish Traditional Music History and Classes, and many more. There is also a youth area where kids will enjoy face painting, Crafts
Geneology Coloring Page, Colored Sand Crafts, Coloring, Jewelry Making and Story Telling.

A highlight of this event is the Halloween Parade that is scheduled for 3:45 on Saturday, kids are encouraged to bring their own costume or wear one of of the costumes offered at this event.   There will be prizes for most creative costumes

For a complete up to date listing https://danburyirishfestival.org