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Irish Festival 2012

Past Event: 18 November 2012

Image Courtesy of Tourism Ireland

A celebration of Irish culture for the whole family.

Join us for a celebration of Irish culture and heritage full of music and dance, hearty food and good craic, held in association with the Irish community in Victoria.

With one in ten Australians claiming Irish ancestry, the Irish Festival is sure to appeal to many. Whether you’re a fan of Irish music and dance, interested in researching your Irish surname, planning a trip to Ireland, or simply enjoy Irish cuisine – the day offers an array of activity celebrating all things Irish.

View Irish Festival program (PDF, 222 KB)

Activities include:

Contemporary Irish Australian musicians and singers such as Damian Howard, Lake School of Celtic Music, Song and Dance and Pat McKernan.
A traditional céili and session under the direction of cultural group Comhaltas – bring along your own musical instrument and join in!
Irish step dancing by world champions Christine Ayres School of Irish Dancing as well as a centuries-old ‘brush dance’ performance
Workshops on fiddle playing, Irish step and céili dancing, Irish migration and family research
Contemporary Irish migration stories and photography in our Leaving Dublin exhibition
Enjoy hearty Irish fare such as Irish stew and sausages, fresh oysters, pies and baked potatoes from local businesses The Irish Times, Paddy’s Meats and PJ O’Brien’s, with tea and sweets by Comhaltas and Lake School.
Representatives from Irish community organisations in Victoria, providing information about the community
Travel information – what to see and do in Ireland to celebrate the inaugural ‘gathering’ in 2013
Family craft activities

Comments (5)

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Just wondering why Damian Howard is performing when there are so many other great musicians who are Irish immigrants and who embrace their music . Damian has not played Irish music in a long time.dissapointing when there is such amazing talent in Melbourne!!!

Hi Derds,

Thanks for your comment. We work with representatives of the Irish community in Victoria to plan the festival program collaboratively and together we have lined up a range of exciting performers and groups who identify with the Irish community in different ways and work in a range of styles – including Bloomsday in Melbourne, Christine Ayres School of Irish Dancing, Comhaltas, Eire Force, Euphonia Trio, Damian Howard, Irish Language Association Choir, Jane Belfrage, Lake School of Celtic Music Song & Dance, Mossie Scanlon and Pat McKernan. Full festival program will be released early next week – watch this space!

Hello, My father, John Fitzpatrick, migrated to Australia from Ireland in 1960, with his wife Joan, my brother John Joseph then 2 and myself, then just shy of 12 months old. Mum was in the early stages of her preagnancy with my sister Johanna. They came to Australia to settle and work hard, which he did. They went onto have 8 more children, sadly loosing my brother John Joseph not long after landing in Australia to accidental drowning. Their story is both fascinating and inspiring. We lost Mum 5 years ago and Dad now resides in Aged Care. This Sunday as many of us as possible will be attending the festival with Dad. Is there a way I can submit his story and have his story told to surprise him.

Hi Mary, perhaps you would like to share your family story on the Irish Migration to Australia reference sheet. You will be able to view this both at home and when you come in on Sunday for the festival!

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My first ancestors were convicts, from Dublin, John Barford/Barfoot and Elizabeth Church who marrried in Sydney in 1811, they had 9 children. Then came John Flynn from Cork in the 1860's and Margaret Scanlan from Tipperary also in 1860's. They married in 1876 in Woods Point, Victoria and had 14 children. I am very proud of my Irish heritage. Patricia [nee Flynn]