IrishFest Atlanta returns Nov. 7-9 for its 13th year, bringing a weekend of Ireland traditions to the Roswell Cultural Arts Center and City Hall Fairgrounds.
This year’s lineup of live performances include music from Irish bands Téada and Open the Door for Three, along with a Friday night dance number by Kevin Doyle, a National Heritage Fellowship recipient in Irish Dance from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Additionally, the event will host a number of workshops that will educate attendees about subjects like Irish music, dance and language. Leading the workshops are members of Téada and Open the Door for Three, Sean Nós dance instructor Sharleen Doyle, as well as Irish fiddle player and music historian Dr. Martin Dowling.
Other highlights of IrishFest Atlanta include an Irish soda bread contest and cooking demonstration, an Irish tea ceremony, a showcase of Irish sports (Gaelic football, hurling and camogie), a traditional céilí dance, as well as food trucks and a re-creation of a traditional Irish pub for hungry/thirsty eventgoers.
Teresa Finley, the daughter of Irish immigrants, started the annual event with the ultimate goal to “introduce, recognize, preserve and enhance the impact that Ireland and the Irish have had” globally.
Finley, who also leads Phoenix Irish Arts Atlanta (IrishFest’s organizing sponsor) said that her original mission for the festival still drives it to this day, noting the impact of bringing in guest artists each year to perform and teach their respective crafts.
“When we first began planning IrishFest, a generation of young Irish musicians (our children) were just beginning to emerge on the national Irish music scene,” said Finley. “We wanted to connect them with world-class artists from across the U.S. and Ireland so they could deepen their appreciation of Irish culture.”
Admission to the festival is free, with ticket purchases required for the evening concerts and select events.
