The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), Monsignor Crean, Division One, is set to host the 32nd Annual Irish Festival on Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11, 2015. Sponsored by Coleman GMC and Cadillac, First Bank and Hub City Distributing. All events all weekend long are open to the general public.
A new addition this year will be a Food Truck Rally Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the grounds of the AOH club at 2419 Kuser Road in Hamilton. Food trucks will return on Sunday to provide sumptuous meals and treats for the Irish Music Festival attendees.
On Saturday night, the AOH will host an Irish pub night at the club featuring the music of one of Birmingham Six. Pub night admission is free and open to the general public, with the bar open until midnight.
The weekend’s signature event, the Irish Festival will feature Irish dance performances by Rince O Chroi, a traditional and contemporary Irish dance school, and the Denogla-Armore Academy of Irish Dance. The award-winning Monsignor Crean Pies and Drums will also perform at the event. Children’s activities including free pumpkin decorating for the first 75 kids, a petting zoo and bounce house will also be featured at the event.
Irish bands scheduled to appear are New Jersey’s own Broken Shillelaghs, and one of Philadelphia’s most popular Irish bands The Bogside Rogues, filling out the bill and all the way from county Cork is Diarmuid MacSuibhne. Music will be continuous from 1 to 9 p.m.
There will also be a 50/50 raffle; last year’s winner took home $5,000. A second raffle will be for two game tickets to a Notre Dame vs. Wake Forest football game in South Bend Indiana on November 14, air travel, rental car and two nights lodging also included.
Admission to the festival is $5 for adults and free for children under 15 when accompanied by an adult. For more information about the Hamilton Irish Festival, visit hamiltonirishfestival.com or call Sean Pender at (609) 462-7056.
