Dublin is a suburb of Columbus, Ohio. It was founded in the early 19th century and was officially declared a city in 1987. One of its founders was an Irish gentleman named John Shields, who named the village after his birthplace of Dublin. No wonder that the city named after the capital of Ireland hosts one of the most famous festivals dedicated to Irish culture.
The inaugural Dublin Irish Festival was organized in 1988 by the Dublin Irish Celebration. It featured a handful of dancers and a band named Irish Brigade. The event took place on a tennis court.
Since 1992, the festival has been managed by the City of Dublin. It has been growing ever since. On the festival’s 10th anniversary in 1997, attendees set the Guinness World Record for the Largest Irish Jig. In 2009, attendance exceeded 100,000 for the first time.
The program of the Dublin Irish Festival is rich and diverse. It includes Irish and other Celtic music, traditional dance, arts and crafts, food and drink, cultural exhibitions, sports and games, spoken word, Irish traditions, literature, genealogy, children’s events, the marketplace with a variety of vendors, and more. The Dublin Irish Festival Academy organizes a variety of workshops and classes led by musicians, dancers and other performers.
The most popular events and activities at the festival include whiskey & beer tastings at the Beverage Tastings Tent, Celtic Canines, Celtic sports, the Dub Crawl, the IGS Energy/Dublin Irish Festival 5K and Kids Dash, Sunday services and breakfasts, and the Wendy’s Wee Folk Area. Let’s learn more about some of these exciting activities.
For example, the Celtic Canine area presents dog breeds that originate from Ireland, such as the Glen of Imaal Terrier, Irish Setter, Irish Terrier, Irish Water Spaniel, Irish Wolfhound, Kerry Blue Terrier, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Irish Red and White Setter, and others. In this area, breeders share the history of various Irish dogs and conduct training and grooming demonstrations.
Sporting events hosted by the festival include a darts tournament, cornhole, and the Highland Heavyweight Games that comprise the hammer toss, sheaf toss, weight-over-bar, weight throw, stone put, and caber toss.
Photo: dublinirishfestival.org
