Dublin Irish Festival 2008 - Saturday, Part II

The Dublin Irish Festival is not just about the music, although that is a wonderful thing. There are many different cultural exhibits that celebrate all things Irish, including the historical re-enactments.

Brian Boru's Ireland is all about the history of how people lived hundreds of years ago.













The exhibits feature hand crafted items and demonstrations. This is a metal smith hammering out some copper.












Steve Wolfe and Sue Wartell












Recently used treen










Speaking of treen, there was a demonstration of turning using a pole lathe. This is a tricky bit of turning because the turner has to pump the treadle to get the pole to swing up and down.















That action makes the spindle turn as the rope is wound around the piece. I'll take my Stubby 750 any day over this, but that's the way it used to be in old Ireland.















I liked the shade cloth. . .











Here's a young lad teaching a lass how to grind flour.



















That's quite a mortar and pestle, eh?















Another part of the cultural exhibit is the musical instrument vendor's tent.











Michael Burke makes some excellent tin whistles.










Michael Vignoles sells bodhrans.











Every year at the festival there is a sand sculptor who works throughout the weekend to complete a themed sculpture. It would be blazingly hot out there in the sun, but the maker shades himself on the sunward side. . .








and enjoys the cooler temps of the shady side.











I was able to watch a bit more of The StepCrew set on Saturday afternoon.














They sure do have a good show. I recommend it to anyone who has an opportunity to see them in concert.
















Dan Stacey










I did feel sorry for them with the hot temps - it must be hard to stay hydrated when they work so hard on stage.










Megan was stage manager on the Trinity stage on Saturday afternoon.









My favorite band of the festival this year was Slide. They were amazing musicians and it was a real treat to see Daire Bracken bounce around the stage. He has springs in his feet and I'm amazed he can play so well whilst imitating Tigger of Winnie the Pooh.






He must burn several thousand calories during each performance.












The songs they performed were from their most recent CD.










Eamonn plays flute, keyboards and bodhran. I enjoyed meeting him and he helped me with the pronunciation of my solo CD title, An Obair.










The definition of "cool."

















The bouzouki player wore a forearm guard.












Charlene Adzima and Josh, backstage enjoying the show.










T-I-double Guh - Er!


















It was a fantastic set. I hope some of my readers had a chance to see the show.

Dublin Irish Festival 2008 - Saturday, Part I

August 2, 2008. I have a lot of pictures from Saturday at the festival, so I'll do this report in several parts.


Aisling was scheduled as the first band on the Shamrock Pub stage for Saturday.

I'll post several pics without comment. My son, Richard, took photos and he mostly focused on me or my end of the stage. Next time I'll coach him on taking more close-up photos of individual band members





















Note to self: next year stick with black, and don't wear a loose and floppy shirt that makes you look fat. It was pretty comfy, though.









Our stage times were fun, and we didn't get rained out this year. Yay!









Dropped by the canine program. The festival only allows dogs that are part of the Irish heritage program to showcase Irish domesticated breeds.










I didn't catch what the breed was on this one.












Hmmmmm - no comment.












The Ceili stage features a lot of hands-on workshops on Irish country dances. Here's Jim Keenan at work to teach a dance.









This is a fun tent to visit during the festival.












John Whelan and the drummer in the Cape May Ceili band.









My annual pose with John. I love his T-shirt logo. John does a lot of carpentry, and just started woodturning this past year. We always chat about my woodturning adventures when we catch up at the festival.










I love hearing John play. The joy in the music is always expressed so well.











I caught a bit of the Kells set on the Shamrock Pub stage. Pat Foley on bodhran and I can't remember the bass player's name.









Brian McCoy












Kim Rutan












They had a good set going.












Brian McCoy on Uillean pipes












Here's the place to buy stuff!

Dublin Irish Festival 2008 - Friday night

1 August 2008 -

The 21st Dublin Irish Festival was August 1 - 3, and, as always, it was the best party of the year.

Steve and I have been stage managing the opening session at what used to be the Pub Stage, but is now the Trinity Time Warner Stage. It was bigger and better this year, and there were some fantastic bands performing all weekend long.






The weekend always starts with this dynamic duo - Morton O'Kelly and Eddie Cotter Jr.








Morton and Eddie used to be in a band called Innisheer - 10 or 15 years ago - something like that. Eddie then was in The Gabriel Hounds and then The Kells. Now he lives in another state (Wisconsin, last I heard, but that may have changed), but he comes back for the Dublin Festival each year.








Morton and Eddie have been playing together for so long that they can just have this reunion and it sounds great.










It's always a treat to hear Eddie play, too.
















Beth Patterson and Ron Kelly (I think that's his last name, but I might not have that right) arriving early to catch part of O'Kelly and Cotter.












Steve, my co-stage manager for the evening.










Beth Patterson and her bandmates, Ron and Brad.











Craig Markley and Steve Wolfe










Andi Wolfe, Beth Patterson, Steve Wolfe













I snuck away for a few minutes to catch a couple of tunes in the Vishten set on the Dublin Stage.









Vishten













Vishten











Vishten










The main house sound guy and his computer controlled sound board. Pretty cool.











Vishten










Meanwhile, back at the Trinity Stage, the opening ceremony was starting.










Flags, bagpipe band, check -













Committee chair, check















St. Patrick, check











Ladies AOH - check












More of the Irish community - check












Every social group involved in the festival and the Irish community participates in the opening ceremony and parade.









It gets a bit crowded and chaotic as everyone makes their way to the stage.










The historical reenactors are always fun to watch.











Dublin HS band, too.











Leprauchans?











Oh, no! I thought bagpipes were loud. . .











Just about there.












Sue Mogan and Beth Patterson, having fun backstage.








OK - now the ceremony can begin. Sue Mogan sang the American national anthem and the Irish national anthem.











This and the next several photos are from Beth Patterson's set with her band, Kalafka.























Beth has a quick wit and great sense of fun - I think she was coming up with a zinger here.






















































Great opening set, Beth!


















After we finished our stage managing, we went over to the session tent and played some tunes.

Steve Wolfe, Stuart Brand, Carol Smith.









Can't remember names here - sorry











Grey Larson on concertina













Randy Clepper and Steve Wolfe










Grey Larsen on flute












We caught a bit of the Ladies of Longford set at the Shamrock pub. This and the next several photos are from that set.























































































The last act we caught before we headed home for the evening was Step Crew. They had a wonderful production show for this year's festival.









I had the shutter speed set too slow here, but it gives a nice "light painting" effect.












Step crew











More Step Crew. I have pictures from their Saturday show, too, that I'll post soon.