WORCESTER – One day. Two locations. All Irish.
The inaugural Worcester Irish Cultural Festival paints the Canal District green on Sunday, Oct. 1, starting with music at the Hibernian Cultural Center followed by Gaelic football games at Polar Park.
“We saw a need for an Irish festival in Worcester that would showcase more than just beer,” says Gareth McAlinden, festival co-founder and co-chair. “Of course that is part of the event, but there is also an emphasis on Irish sports, music, and language. We know Worcester has a large Irish population and we think people will love the opportunity to experience and learn about so many different aspects of the culture. We do plan to grow the event in the coming years to feature food, more activities and entertainment, and additional Gaelic sporting events.”
Internationally acclaimed musicians Kevin Crawford, Cillian Vallely, and Colin Farrell from the band Lunasa, join musician and singer Dave Curley to kick off the festival at the cultural center.
Crawford was a founding member of the renowned band Moving Cloud and has also been involved in many other projects including The Teetotallers, a supergroup that also features Martin Hayes and John Doyle, as well as The Drunken Gaugers with Dylan Foley and Worcester native Patrick Doocey.
Vallely grew up in a traditional Irish music family, a native of Co. Armagh. His parents Brian and Eithne Vallely founded the legendary Armagh Pipers’ Club, an organization that fostered the revival of traditional music in Northern Ireland for more than 50 years. More recently, he has toured and recorded with Bruce Springsteen, Natalie Merchant, Mary Chapin-Carpenter, Tim O’Brien, and Riverdance in addition to recording as a guest on more than 70 albums. He released his highly-acclaimed solo album “The Raven’s Rock” in 2016.
Born in Manchester, England, into a musical family from Co. Galway and Co.Cavan, Farrell is an award-winning and virtuosic fiddler and composer. He has made a name for himself performing and recording with an array of great musicians in Europe and the U.S., including groups such as Flook, Grada, Julie Fowlis, and The Michael McGoldrick Band. Colin’s 2010 solo album Make A Note, released in 2015, was awarded “Instrumental Album of the Year” by LiveIreland.
Curley, a multi-instrumentalist, singer and dancer from Corofin, Co. Galway, has been making big waves in the Irish music scene in Ireland, Europe and the USA in the last number of years. After graduating from the University of Limerick’s groundbreaking Irish Music and Dance program with honors, Curley became a creative member of award-winning bands Slide and Runa. He also regularly performs with Grammy Award winner Moya Brennan of Clannad. His most recent record, “A Brand New Day,” marks a new beginning in his musical career .
After the show, head down to Polar Park, where the gates open at 4:30 p.m., for part two of the Irish festival. Following a flag and pipe procession on the field, the Worcester Fenians take on Holy Cross’s Gaelic football team. At 6 p.m., USA born football players battle Ireland-born players, with the McInerney Irish Step Dancers also performing during the halftime of both games.
“The Northeast Division is one of the regions that participate in the USGAA, which is the governing body responsible for promoting the sports of hurling, camogie and Gaelic football in the United States,” explains McAlinden. “New England is one of the biggest regions with almost 25 clubs, 40-plus teams, and more than 1,000 registered players.
The Worcester Fenians encompass four teams: two men’s hurling teams, a men’s Gaelic football team, and the New England Fenian Ladies Camogie Team.
This is the inaugural year of Gaelic Games at Holy Cross and the teams will compete in the NCGAA collegial games against some big name colleges including UConn, Purdue, Fordham, Navy, and Notre Dame.
“It made sense to have the opening game against the two local teams in celebration of the games growing here in Worcester,” adds McAlinden.
The Ireland versus U.S. game features a select team of Irish born players taking on American born players from teams all over New England.
“It will be fantastic for a mostly American audience to see a team of American born players compete, and possibly even beat, an Irish born team at a sport where it originated,” says McAlinden. “Gaelic football, in my opinion, is one of the best kept secrets in the world. It is like a combination soccer, rugby, and basketball with a heavy emphasis of a free flowing game with a physical element. There are two ways of scoring, one being over the crossbar, like a field goal, and the other is a goal similar to soccer. Each score over the crossbar is equal to one point, and in the goal equals three points. People can expect to see a fast, physical, and high scoring game that is not only fun to watch, but fun to play. We are always open to new people who may be interested in playing both Gaelic football and hurling.”
Irish musician Derrick Keane entertains the crowd from 5-7 p.m. on the Bernie and Phyl’s Fan Deck, which also includes several inflatables, airbrush face painting and hurling demos. Two large construction vehicles will also be on site for a “touch-a-truck” event.
Local organizations also have tables parallel to the Berm including The Worcester Fenians, Worcester Rugby, Ár dTeanga Féin School of Irish Language, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and more.
Since this is a two-part event, so are tickets. Purchase tickets ($25 in advance, $30 at the door) for the concert here, and tickets for the football games here. Tickets for Polar Park can also be purchased at gates A or D at the event.
“A portion of funds will be donated back to Irish cultural organizations such as the Irish Language Club, Hibernian Centre, Gaelic Games, and dance school,” says McAlinden. “But mainly year one is about breaking even and having enough funds to set us up for success in year two. We are expecting more than 750 attendees composed of families, college students, and anyone who is interested in Irish culture.”
Questions? Comments? Tips? Email carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org
