Dublin Irish Festival – 2011

I was so happy to get out and attend the Dublin Irish Festival in Dublin, Ohio last Saturday. The festival runs all weekend, and there is plenty to see and do the entire time. Below are a few highlights from my visit…

We had a great day (a wee bit hot and sticky though) to celebrate everything Irish. The crowd was huge, but overall, getting around the festival was pretty easy. I do wish there were more tents simply for sitting in the shade or to take a few minutes to relax and get off my feet. I mean it was all day, and seats were few and far between as the day went on due to all the festival-goers. The organizers say you are welcome to bring chairs but it is discouraged. Personally, I wish I had a few “easy to pack” comfortable chairs and small umbrellas for shade. I know we (my wife went with me) would have stayed much longer.

If you are into the Celtic sports; they have that too! The Sheaf Toss was entertaining and drew a number of spectators early in the day.

Nothing like throwing a 20 pound burlap bag over an ever-higher bar competing to see who can toss the highest (this guy’s throw was 24 feet) with a three-tined pitchfork.

Local Celtic rock band “Homeland” rocked the Killian’s Rock Stage Saturday afternoon.

For me, the highlight of my day was the Bushmills Irish Whiskey tasting with Master of Whiskey, Robert Sickler . I’ll have more on this one over at “The Thirsty Muse” later this week! Samplings of five Bushmills brands; Bushmills, Black Bush, 10-Year Single Malt, 16-Year Single Malt, and 21-Year Single Malt.

One of these days, I hope to get a hotel near the festival with a shuttle service so I can come a go easily. There is so much to see, and everything happens all day, all weekend, and all over the festival grounds. With several stages offering various styles of Celtic entertainment, the vendors, the sporting events, and cultural activities, I can’t see how anyone can see everything.

Cheers