Burlington Irish Heritage Festival

The Burlington Irish Heritage Festival is pleased to announce the 22nd year of its program of Irish music, dance, history, language, and literature held in connection with Saint Patrick’s Day.

The family-friendly  BIHF program events, to which all family members are invited, focuses on our heritage passed down by Irish immigrants who brought their love of music, dance, and story to Vermont! All events are by donations except the final event on March 24th for which there is a ticket purchased required.

Details of the schedule as well as information about the Luck of the  Irish Raffle (grand prize is a trip for two to Ireland with airfare, accommodations, and a rental car for a week) are available online at www.burlingtonirishheritage.org.

March 7th, Tuesday, 7-9pm, local author, Liam McKone, presents his lecture, “Fenians! Irishmen Attack Canada” at Saint Michael’s  College, Farrell Room, 3rd floor of St. Edmunds Hall.

March 12th, Sunday, Ri’ Ra’ Restaurant, 123 Church Street, Burlington, 1-5pm, back room, displays and discussion of Irish history, language, sport, and food. 5-8pm, lively sing-along with Reagh Greenleaf in the main area. Food and drink available.

March 14th, Tuesday,7pm, Vermont Genealogical Library, DuPont Hall, 377 Hegeman Avenue, Fort Ethan Allen, Colchester. “Finding Your Irish Roots”, presented by Ed McGuire. Introduction to the extensive resources at the library will be followed by a tour and refreshments.

March 14-17,  Irish music at Ri’ Ra’. Brayzen Heads begins a four-evening stint of traditional tunes, starting at 8pm March 14th,Tuesday and also 8pm on Wednesday, March 15th,   9pm on Thursday, March 16th and 9pm on Friday, March17th. Dave Gilmore from Dublin and Shane Farrrell-whose family hails from County Galway-will sing, play, and tell stories for your enjoyment. Food and drink available.

March 15, Wednesday, Radio Bean, 8 North Winooski Avenue, Burlington, Irish session with local musicians and singers, 7-9pm.

March 17th, Friday, 12-1pm, St. Patrick’s Day, Fletcher Room, Fletcher Free Library, College Street, Burlington, Dr. Ciaran Buckley, Champlain College Faculty Member, discusses “Brexit and Its Effect on Ireland” and possible impacts on political and economic situation in divided Ireland.

March 17th, 10:00am-12pm, Fletcher Room, Fletcher Free Library, two well-loved educational activities for children, starting with Irish Heritage children’s crafts. Then talented musicians Benedict Koehler and Hilari Farrington bring “Between the Jigs and the Reels: Ireland’s History Through Its Music” to the Pickering Room at the library from 10:30am to 12pm.

March 18th, Saturday, 4-7pm, Waterville Irish Heritage Ceili(party), town hall on VT 109 in the heart of the village.  Festival kicks off at 4pm, Dale and Darcy Cahill perform music from 5-7pm, followed by dinner and the Heather Morris Dancers. Call Damian Turner(802-644-2731) for more details.

March 19th, Sunday, Burlington Irish Heritage Festival’s signature event, The Festival Ceili, 1-3pm, Contois Auditorium, City Hall, 149 Church Street. Gathering for young and old offers music, both performance and participatory dance, a bake sale, displays, and Raffle Drawing for the Grand Prize Trip to Ireland! Young Traditional Vermont Dance wraps up the afternoon, 3-5pm, with Denise Dean hosting many talented young musicians.

March 24th, Friday, final event, 7-9pm, Patrick Gymnasium, 97 Spear Street, UVM campus, Burlington. The Celtic Cats present their high-energy step dancing! Tickets available at the door, $5 for UVM students and $7 for the general public. This rousing performance of traditional Irish Dance closes the 2017 festival. More information is available at vprimave@uvm.edu.

This event is not produced by BPRW. Please contact the event producers for tickets or more information.