On Saturday we went to the Riverfront Irish Festival, in Akron, which boasts is the largest free Irish Festival in the midwest. Ok. Not sure that particular claim to fame is what drove us there but it was a nice perk.
A couple of years ago I went to an Irish Festival in Irvine, Ca that had sheephearing, celtic games, Irish food, clothes and plays. It was a lot of fun. They played to the history, tradition and Irish culture.
The Riverfront Irish festival, presented by the St. Brendan Division Of the Ancient Order of
Hibernians was a middle-aged drunk fest. It played to the Irish stereotype. Everyone had a guiness and the band on stage was playing Neil Diamond. Not sure if he’s Irish but the over 40 crowd ranted and raved like it was 1974 all over again belting out Sweet Caroline. It was excellent people watching.
The one highlight was a band called Rathkelthair. It was a rock band centered around a bag pipe. This band actually had someone from Ireland in it (the drummer.). But the star was the bagpipe player, Neil Anderson, who just returned from active duty in Iraq. He played at least five different instruments and two of the flutes at once. It was incredible.
After their set we decided to leave. The drunk boomers and families left and the drunk college frat boys were rolling in. It was a good time to jet.
Still a fun night. We sampled some fine Irish cuisine, heard a rockin’ bag pipe and found our families coat of arms.
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