PEEKSKILL, N.Y.-- When the two common places where Irish-Americans in the lower Hudson Valley would meet dissolved, Dan Dennehy and others decided to form a festival to bring everyone with Irish heritage together.
This Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Peekskills Riverfront Green Park, the third annual Hudson Valley Irish Fest will take place, to celebrate Irish-American culture and heritage.
After those other places closed, we decided we needed to do something for people who live in the lower Hudson Valley so we created the festival to bring us all together, Dennehy said. And the first festival was so successful, weve done it once a year since.
There will be performances from Irish artists and bands, such as Jamesons Revenge and Celtic Cross, Tim Murphy who will perform Firefighters Creed, Irish step-dancers and pip bands. Vendors and exhibitors will attend the event to offer Irish cusine, literature, media and crafts. For the children there will be pony rides, face painting and crafts.
While the event does boast a lot of fun, it still has a goal in mind, and that is to preserve Irish heritage. Proceeds from the festival support the Hudson Valley Irish Center, as well as sections of Irish heritage in local libraries. The Hudson Valley Irish Fest Inc. is cosponsored by the Division 18, Peekskill Ancient Order of Hibernians & Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians and is a member of the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce.
In honor of those who the Irish community, and the rest of the country lost on 9/11, the day will also honor all those who died on that day.
Each year at the festival we can see that the Irish festival is blossoming, and that Irish heritage and culture is very much alive, Dennehy said.
Click here to follow Daily Voice and receive free news updates.
