The Fifth Annual Adams County Irish Festival will be
held rain or shine on Saturday July 17, 2004 in the shady grove of the
Gettysburg Moose Park. The gate opens at 10:00 AM and the festival runs until
8:00 PM. The park is located at 100 Moose Road which is just off of US Route 30
in Straban Township about a mile and a half east of the US 15 interchange.
Admission is $8 for adults and children under 12 are free.
With a full day of Irish music, dancers, food, gifts
and more, the festival offers wholesome family fun while primarily benefiting
the Children's Friendship Project for Northern Ireland (CFPNI). CFPNI is a
peace and friendship building program that selects and pairs Catholic and
Protestant teens from Northern Ireland to pursue a friendship between
themselves, their families and friends. The Festival Organizing Committee is
again partnering with Moose Lodge 1526 of Gettysburg to fund CFPNI-paired teens
to spend time with host families in the U.S. where they can pursue friendship
and understanding in a neutral environment where they can focus on their
similarities rather than differences. A long-term goal of the festival is to
fund the eventual establishment of a national Irish history museum and library
in the Gettysburg area.
Southcentral Pennsylvania's only Irish festival drew a
crowd of about two thousand people last year who enjoyed local, regional and
internationally known musicians, Irish step dancers, Irish food, music
workshops, living history exhibits plus art, craft and gift vendors. This
year's festival boasts an even more impressive line-up to mark the fifth annual
event. The schedule features two headline acts from Ireland, Danny Doyle, and
Derek Warfield and the Sons of Erin along with the Baltimore Police Emerald
Society Pipes and Drums, and local favorite Irishtown Road among others.
In an impressive concert career that has spanned more
than three decades, "Ireland's Balladeer" Danny Doyle has been bringing the
ballads, history and stories of Ireland to audiences around the globe. Raised
in Dublin, Doyle's musical style was profoundly influenced by the last of the
street singers there who commented on events of the day through witty and often
biting ballads, his relatives' own stories and some of Dublin's accomplished
literary figures who happened to be neighbors. As a folksinger, Doyle has
enjoyed tremendous success both in Ireland and the U.S. with a number of hit
records, TV series, a movie soundtrack and every major Irish music industry
award to his credit.
Born and bred in Dublin, singer, songwriter and
historian Derek Warfield was a founding member and leader of the legendary
Irish folkband, the Wolfe Tones for over 35 years. He has written and recorded
over 60 songs and ballads. Through his songs, music and lectures, Warfield
weaves history together with song to remind the Irish at home and abroad of
their debt to patriots of past generations. Now, Warfield is becoming the bard
of the American Civil War. Backed by the Sons of Erin band, his recent work
focuses on the Civil War which involved half a million Irishmen on both sides.
Warfield's latest album, The Bonnie Blue Flag, is the third in his series of
Civil War CDs and showcases the musical story of the Confederate Irish.
Also appearing are Harrisburg area bagpiper Rodney
Owens plus the ever-popular Irish folkband from the Gettysburg-Hanover area,
Irishtown Road, who returns to the fest after a year's respite. Rounding out
the music slate are the thunderous sounds of the Baltimore Police Emerald
Society Pipes and Drums who are making their first appearance at the festival
along with Barleyjuice, a kilt-clad, high-energy band from the Philadelphia
area and Rant and Roar, a raucous trio based in New Oxford. Irish step dancing
is also on tap as the Harrisburg-based Lena McGinley Ceili Dancers make their
festival debut.
In addition to music and dance performances, several
other activities are being offered at the festival. In addition to an afternoon
musical performance, Derek Warfield will provide a presentation on Irish music
in the Civil War in the morning. Festival-goers can also participate in
interactive music workshops on uillean pipes (Irish bagpipes), button
accordion, penny whistle and bodhran. Living history exhibits include Civil War
re-enactors from the 69th New York State Volunteers which was part of the Union
Army's Irish Brigade plus the circa 1920 West Cork Flying Column who portray
the Army of Irish Volunteers from the Anglo-Irish War that established the
Irish Republic. Sword fighting demonstrations by the Live Steel Fight Academy
will also be featured.
With Gettysburg as an appropriate backdrop to celebrate
the release of Derek Warfield's new Civil War album, The Bonnie Blue Flag, a
special pre-festival Reception/CD Release Party is also being held on Friday
July 16 at 7:00 PM at the Gettysburg Hotel. The event is free and open to the
public and provides an opportunity to meet and greet Derek Warfield and the
Sons of Erin plus other festival performers.