Brookfield Irish Dancers & Musicians to Perform at Danbury Irish Fest

BROOKFIELD, CT — After a 2-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Greater Danbury Irish Festival is back better than ever this fall on the New Milford town green. Brookfield dancers from Gartland School and musicians from Steve O'Tree & Friends Band will perform at the free outdoor weekend festival. Attendees will experience the sights and sounds of the Emerald Isle at the free outdoor event which takes place rain or shine on the beautiful grounds of the New Milford town green.

With live Irish music all weekend long, Irish dance, cultural activities, Irish food, beer and a children's area with non-stop entertainment, it's sure to be a weekend jam-packed with fun for all ages.

The brainchild of Gerry Curran, former President of the Danbury Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Irish Festival began in 1995 at Rogers Park in Danbury with the help of Sharon Higgins. Curran had the dream to bring an Irish music and culture festival to Danbury to raise money to benefit the Irish Club. Over the years, the festival grew and was moved to the Ives Center. After several years of rain impacting attendance, former festival Chairman William Knowles decided to move it to the grounds of the Danbury Portuguese Center until this year, several New Milford members worked with the New Milford Mayor Pete Bass, New Milford Parks & Recreation, The Abbey Restaurant, and the town of New Milford to bring it to downtown New Milford.

This year features decades-long traditions and some new additions under the leadership of 2022 festival Chairman Steven Troiano and its volunteer committee. Cultural artwork showcases a broad range of Irish heritage including displays on Women of the Easter Rising, Book of Kells, Irish crochet, Irish language and classes, genealogy, Irish blessings, Irish literature, history of the potato famine, Irish traditional music history and classes.

Food will be served by The Abbey Restaurant and the Danbury Ancient Order of Hibernians. Beer is provided by Housatonic River Brewing. The Danbury Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians will be serving up Irish Hospitality

in their tent which includes Irish coffee, brownies, cookies, Irish Soda Bread Loaf, pastries, scones, specialty breads, Sacred Grounds Coffee and more.

Vendors include UK Gourmet, Ogham Art, Goat Boy Soaps, Pink Lemon Boutique, The Vintage Botanical, Danbury Nurses Registry, Mommas Tacos, Elia Olive Oil, and more.
The children's area will include carnival like games, face painting, games and fun. Attendees can shop in the Irish Village with vendors selling traditional Irish gifts and jewelry, authentic Irish food, peruse gifts, Irish instruments, and other unique gift ideas from the Irish vendors who will sell their wares.

The main stage hosts traditional Irish music with a modern flare including Tipperary Knights, Steve O’Tree & Friends, Celtic Cross Pipe & Drums, Mighty Ploughboys, Madz Music, Ringrose & Freeman, and Fiddleuisce & Friends.
Four local dance schools will perform as well—Gartland School of Irish Dance, Doherty-Petri School of Irish Dance, Thorne Academy of Irish Dance, and Ashurst Academy of Irish Dance.

New this year will be Candlewood Cornhole on Saturday from 12 - 4 p.m. and free admission.
The 2022 Greater Danbury Irish Festival takes place on Saturday, Sept. 10, and Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 and is presented by the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland, the Irish Consulate in New York City, the Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Foundation, and the Town of New Milford. The Greater Danbury Irish Festival is returning in 2022 on the beautiful and historic New Milford Town Green on Saturday, September 10th and Sunday, September 11th, 2022. Please check our website for updates on entertainment, vendors, food and more. The festival will be held at 25 Main St., New Milford.

The 2022 Greater Danbury Irish Festival is sponsored by platinum sponsors The Abbey Restaurant, STL Construction, UK Gourmet, Peggy's Cottage, Patriot Construction, Wetmore's Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Ingersoll Auto of Pawling, Fairfield County Bank. Gold sponsors include Macaroni Kid Danbury, Goatboy Soaps, Action Glass of New Milford, Housatonic River Brewing, Candlewood Cornhole, JBM Carting, To Have & To Hold Weddings & Events, Bruno & Co. Contracting, LLC.

Silver sponsors are Clancy Relocation, Colonial Ford of Danbury, Modern Supply, Gregory James Gallery, Paul Rotello and Benjamin Chianese. Bronze sponsors include Stateline Auto Body, Scott's Landscaping, Candlewood Valley Country Club, Rizzo Corporation, Belardinelli Services, Union Savings Bank, Chem Essence, Mayor Dean Esposito, Danbury Orthopaedic Specialists of CT, Black Bull Meat Market, Ever Wonder Museum, Kratos Gym, Rejuvenate Dental Arts, Collins Hannafin, Natural Marketplace LLC, Western CT Dental Arts.

The festival committee wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to all of the sponsors and patrons, Claire Williams, Oak Ridge Waste, Danbury Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Services, as well as the silent auction donors which can be viewed here.

*Please note that all children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Visit the festival website for details: www.danburyirishfestival.org

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