This is the sixth annual festival of all things Irish, brought to you by Danny and Jessica Barry, owners of Barry’s Old School Irish pub, which not too long ago graced the village’s four corners, where the Mary Wee pub is now.
This incredible event has become Rochester’s only Irish festival, evidenced every year by the huge crowds who come out for the music, dancing, food, Irish beers, arts and crafts and more. There are bagpipers, lots of stuff for the kids to do, a traditional Irish session, raffles, lawn games — even a kilt wearing contest.
The basic details are these:
- WHEN: Friday, Sept. 5 from 4 to 9:30 p.m., and Saturday Sept. 6 from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- WHERE: Webster’s Fireman’s Field, (entrances on Ridge Rd. and Sanford St.)
- TICKETS: cost is $20, and tickets are valid for both days (16 and under free)
Friday’s events include:
- Performance by Jamieson Irish Dance
- Irish whiskey sampling
- hurling match
- live music from Gavin Barry’s Rebel Banjo Circus and 1916
Saturday’s fun includes:
- Traditional Irish music session
- ROC City Guardians Pipes & Drums
- Kids activities
- Irish History Talking Tent
- Dance performances by the Rochester Academy of Irish Dance, Scoil Rince Branwen Irish Dance and Jamieson Irish Dance
- Cornhole tournament
- Field goal contest
- Kilt contest
- Rochester Cocktail Revival Bartender Battle
- Live music from Connemara Social Club, Lucky Enough & Everheart, Rusty Kettle, the Dave North Trio, the Irish Lassies, Himself and Celtic Cross
Plus, there’ll be ten food trucks on site, a full beer and cocktail bar, spirit samplings, and more than 40 craft vendors. And as an extra incentive to bring your spare cash, bar tips will go towards local efforts to build an Irish Community Center, and a portion of raffle proceeds will be donated to Bella’s Bumbas…