Louisville Irish Fest

official logo of the festival via IAF of Kentucky

I strongly identify with being a Southerner and a Kentuckian, but as far as my genealogy goes, I just have a basic understanding that I'm of English and Scottish descent.  My husband, on the other hand, doesn't necessarily identify with being from a certain region or state, but he is fiercely proud of his Irish heritage - as in proud enough to have a tattoo of his family crest.  My "knowledge" of the Irish is a vague hodgepodge of the stereotypes we've all heard before.  Frank McCort  may have won a Pulitzer for Angela's Ashes but it tops my list of the most depressing books of all time.  Time to see what I'm missing!

I mentioned the Louisville Irish Fest a few weeks ago, and yesterday we had the opportunity to go.  The first Louisville Irish Fest was in 1990, and the Irish Arts Foundation of Kentucky adopted the festival as its signature event when it was formed in 1996.  The festival is held on the "quad" at Bellarmine University, a small, Catholic liberal arts college that opened its doors in the Highlands in 1950.  Two stages, located on opposite ends of the quad, hosted bands like Lexington-based Liam's Fancy, a duo that covered lively pub songs and more traditional ballads; member Beverly Buchanan is one of the leading accordion (or "box") players in the Midwest. Dark Moll, a Cincinnati based band, mixed folk music and storytelling on the stage.   The music ranged from foot-tapping to melancholy but all was lovely.  We were all fascinated by the range of instruments, most of which our kids had never seen:  harp, fiddle, banjo, dulcimer, mandolin, whistle, accordion.  My papaw played a pretty mean banjo himself and the music reminded me of home a bit.

Traditional Irish food included my fish & chips from O'Sheas and Bobby's Irish burger (topped with corned beef and sauerkraut) from O'Connell's.  Molly's Malone's (Shepard's Pie), Shenanigan's (Irish Stew), and Flanagan's (beer cheese & pretzels) also had food booths. Of course, there was beer and whiskey - Guinness, Smithwicks, Harp, Bushmills.  I highly recommend the Bailey's Irish Cream cupcakes!  The kid's area included Irish themed face painting (fire-breathing dragon and fairy were our picks), making shields, decorating shamrocks, and playing cornhole with Irish flag painted boards.  We took a spin through the vendor booths, where everything from Ireland soccer gear and wool flat caps to silver Celtic jewelry and green stone rosary beads were being hocked.  There was a fantastic Irish cultural center set up in one of Bellarmine's halls, with a photographic timeline running along the walls, starting with Newgrange, a mysterious stone monument located in County Meade that predates Stonehenge and fills with light during the winter solstice.

 

Newgrange; image via www.nd.edu

We had a wonderful afternoon celebrating *our* Irish heritage and learning about the emerald isle at Louisville Irish Fest.  I think we've found a new family tradition. 

Pin It Now!