65 Days Until Irish Fest

In just 65 days, you will be planning which bands to see, which food vendors to sample and how to pack everything everyone may want to do in just one day.  When you look at our expanded stage and all the wonderful things coming, you might want to make it an entire weekend event!   I know I would, too much fun for just one day, and there are some wonderful early discounts on hotels and tickets.  Just head to the information at http://www.kcirishfest.com/ and  don't forget to save lots of time for the wonderful line-up for the kids, besides the Halloween celebration all weekend long.

WACKALAYLEE

Do you know that every year we have 20 Wackalaylees handmade for the Irish Fest?   We have them done by the nicest Piñata Maker in the world,  Art, he lives in Denver.   Well, I am in Denver and had my check up meeting with Art as the Piñatas will be on the way to KC next week.   I know the ones we looked at are going to have lots of candy and goodies in them for Irish Fest Kids,  candy,  my favorites, although I am also partial to Chocolate Milk.

By the way, it is hot in Denver too today, but tonight it will be 59 degrees and tomorrow 75, so I got a good break from the KC heat!

Stay Cool....Moora

The Secret to Success - Children's Area Hints at Irish Fest

As you buy your Irish Fest tickets online, you might also think about getting your Children a Wristband for a day of fun.  That wristband is an all inclusive never ending bouncy pass, and will take your children in and out of the Children's game tent (Main Tent) all day for KC Irish Fest Bingo or the Wack-a-laylee or other delights in the main tent.   The only cost you may want to incur outside of that is for Face Painting or a Glitter Tattoo that is stenciled by our Face Painting Team. But make sure your children are out of the fountain before you do Face Painting!   More helpful hints and other information will be coming!

Moora 

Irish Fest at Holy Trinity

Holy Trinity's Summer Children's Program got a taste of Irish Fest today as Kelsey and Michael Scanlon called out Bingo, gave every child a tattoo, helped with crafts for each class, played cornhole and made sure everyone had fun.  The day ended with lots of bubbles, and some very happy kids.   Hopefully, we'll have some new Irish Fest Visitors this year.

Moora

Browne's Irish Faire

I can't imagine anyone telling me they had a horrible time at Browne's last night except maybe little Katie Regan, who at 2 months can and will and should complain about anything bothering her.  The music was awesome, the company, well the company was just as awesome.   Irish Fest was there in herds (it is my cow reference).  Kid's Club,  had,  Charlie, Colleen, Patrick, Joseph,  Maura, Maddie, and future stars, Brendan, Alex, and Maley were there.   One highlight from last night was Maley giving instructions on how to paint her face, she is an expert you know.  I had the opportunity to visit with many of our guests from Irish Fest, in fact I only talked to one new guest this year and we are happy to include her in our 2010 fun.  After yet another  afternoon thunderstorm for Kansas City, the clouds cleared up, there was a added breeze and we were off and running.  Bridgid Driscoll took the stage, as well as many KC and Irish Fest Favorite Music talents and Pogey, which was fun as they are Irish Fest Favorites, but I know a secret about Bridgid, and you'll have to find out tomorrow...

Happy Father's Day all...Moora

More Father's Day form KC Kid's Club Members

Colleen: I love how my dad is always helping with homework or sports or whatever I need help with. He is always there for me!

Patrick: I love my daddy because he spends time with me and plays with me. He is the best daddy ever!!

Shawn: Bill Cosby said, "You know the only people who are always sure about the proper way to raise children? Those who've never had any. "  Well my Dad made the leap and tried and loved, and every day I am happy he is my Dad.  One thing I admire him most for is he wakes up every day and loves his life, he loves work, he loves my Mom, and he tries so hard to make the most of each day.

On With our Midsummer Sites to See in Ireland

Newgrange is one of a number of Neolithic sites within a hugely significant area known as Bru Na Boinne - the Boyne Palace. Other similar burial structures can be found at Knowth and Dowth, where archaeological excavations are currently ongoing. These excavations unearthed at Knowth, what is regarded as the greatest collection of passage grave art in Western Europe. Knowth has been an important site throughout many periods, as a burial site from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age, a ring fort of the early Celts and even a motte and bailey built by the Normans in the 12th Century.

Also close by, are the important ancients sites of the Hill of Tara and the Hill of Slane. Commanding a sweeping view across the plains of Meath, Tara is hugely significant in Irish folklore. Tara was once the political and religious centre of Ireland, the High Kings of Ireland held court here, and Tara was associated with the pagan goddess Maeve. On the northern side of the valley is the Hill of Slane, where huge pagan festivals were held and where one of St Patrick's legendary feats is said to have took place. It was while converting the pagans here that St Patrick plucked a shamrock from the ground to explain the Holy Trinity, after which the Hill of Slane was covered in shamrocks, which was later adopted as the Irish national symbol.

Though, Bru Na Boinne and Newgrange are Ireland's most celebrated Neolithic sites, they are not the country's oldest. In County Sligo there are the remnants of ancient burial sites predating Newgrange by 700 years. The Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery covers some 5km square and is one of the largest Stone Age cemeteries in Europe. The site contains some 60 dolmens, passage tombs and stones, though many are on private farmland. Carrowmore is also linked with nearby Carrowkeel and Carrowmore is situated at a central point between ancient stone cairns on top of surrounding mountains.

Further down the western seaboard, prehistoric burial sites have also been discovered in the rugged Burren area of Co. Clare, most notably the Poulnabrone Dolmen. This portal tomb is one of Ireland's most photographed Neolithic sites, recognised on many a postcard and dates back over 5000 years. In 1986 the site was excavated and the remains of 16 people were found, dating back to 3800 BC.

Further south just 18km from Limerick City on the shores of Lough Gur are the remains of an early settlement dating back 4000 years. The site includes The Lois a stone circle of some 113 stones, the largest of its kind in Ireland along with numerous burial mounds, wedge tombs and standing stones. A thatched replica of a Neolithic dwelling houses the Lough Gur Interpretive Centre, with a display of artefacts including a replica of the famous Lough Gur Shield (original housed in Dublin) dating back to 700BC.

Many of Ireland's ancient sites can be found in coastal areas. The Aran Islands off the Galway coast are famed for their archaeological sites, most notably the 2000-year-old Iron Age fort of Dun Aengus, on Inish Mor. While the coast of West Cork is dotted with standing stones and stone circles. One of the more prominent of these is the Drombeg Stone Circle, overlooking the sea just outside the fishing port of Glandore. The site also features the remains of a fulachta fiadh, an Iron Age cooking pit. On the Beara Peninsula just outside Castletownbere is another impressive monument, the Derrennataggart Stone Circle, consisting 10 upright stones.

Father's Day

Father's Day Blessing

May the Father of us all
bless our oul' fellas,
wherever hey might be,
at home in dear old Ireland,
or across the shining sea.
In heaven with the angels
or on earth still with us,
may God be good to the
dear old dad,
the one we love so much.

I wanted to take a break from Midsummer Excursions in Ireland to offer all of our KCIF Kids a chance to publish words about their Dad, Grandpa, Uncle etc for Father's Day.  Over the next couple of days I will be sharing what the KCIF Kid's Club Members have to say about their Dad, so send in your words...we would love to salute your oul' fella. (by the way, that is Irish)

From Kelsey, who is an athlete, dancer and cook in her spare time:

My dad is important to me because he teaches and coaches in lots of sports and he is funny.


My Poppy is special to me because he spends time with me and makes great food!

From Jake, who has a goal of attending a game at every Baseball Stadium in the US with his Dad:

A father is someone who is loving and kind, and he often knows what you have on your mind.


From Mackenzie; as a senior this year, this pretty much says it all:

My dad is like my best friend and I don't know what I would do with out him. He is always there for me and I love him to death!


stay tuned for more Kid's Club Member salutes, please send us yours.

Moora

Browne's Street Faire

It is a Benefit...and a Midsummer Kansas City Festival

Saturday, June 19th, 2010

4:00 p.m.- 11:00 p.m.

Ticket Information:
Advance purchase: $8
Day of Faire: $10
age 12 and under FREE

Entertainment Includes:

The Elders
Eddie Delahunt
Bagpipes
Irish Dancers
Pogey
Kelly
Dogtree

Lots of fun for the kids...and I'll be there!

Summer Solstice in Ireland

Many towns and cities have 'Midsummer Carnivals' with fairs, concerts and fireworks either on or on the weekend nearest to Midsummer. In some rural spots, bonfires are occasionally lit on hilltops. This tradition harks back to pagan times. Irish deities connected with Midsummer include Áine to whom Midsummer offerings were traditionally made in County Limerick.  This week we are going to be learning about this day coming up on June 21, 2010 and some of the places in Ireland you might want to see.

Ireland is home to a wealth of Neolithic and megalithic sites ranging from tombs like Newgrange to standing stones, dolmens and fairy forts. Interest in these ancient places peaks around the Summer Solstice, when the midsummer sun brings their secrets to life.

The Summer Solstice falls on June 21st in Ireland. This is the longest day of the year, when the Sun is at its highest point of the year in the northern hemisphere. In ancient pagan societies the Summer Solstice was hugely significant, it was a time when the power of the Sun was at its highest and was seen as an important time for fertility, when the harvests of the coming year were blessed.

This significance is mirrored in the places of worship and burial sites, from standing stones to pyramids and tombs, that Neolithic pagan cultures built throughout the world and many were designed in alignment with the sun at this sacred time of the year, when the sun was at its most powerful.

There are some 40,000 ancient megalithic and Neolithic sites across the British Isles and Ireland, from burial chambers, to stone circles and former dwellings of ancient societies.

Ireland's most prominent Neolithic site is Newgrange an ancient passage tomb, dating back nearly 5,000 years, predating the Egyptian pyramids by 6 centuries. Newgrange is the best example of a Stone Age passage tomb in Ireland and one of the most remarkable prehistoric sites in Europe. The burial mound is some 80m in diameter and 13m high, and is similar to sites built around the same time at Maes Howe in Orkney and Carnac in Britanny. The purpose of Newgrange is unsure, is it a burial place of kings? A centre of ritual? or an astrological calendar? Which like Stonehenge is in alignment with the sun during the solstice.

Over 200,000 tonnes of earth and stone were used in the construction of Newgrange, with stones believed to have been quarried and transported from Wicklow, 80km to the south and the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland. Newgrange also plays a role in Irish Mythology, as the burial place of Dairmuid and Grainne, as well as the place where the great warrior Cuchulainn was conceived.

No More Room for Fests - Irish Times Post

Just when you thought there was no more room for festivals, another batch emerges. This time, those based outside the Pale will have something to rejoice about – Cork is set to host Heineken Midsummer Nights, a spin-off of Cork Midsummer Festival, at various venues in the city from June 12th-17th.

The music arm of the festival features Talvin Singh, Don Letts, Julie Feeney, Mick Flannery and Rubberbandits, and free DJ sets (including one by The Ticket’s own Jim Carroll at the Pavilion on June 16th) and club nights will be dotted throughout.

Brandon Music Festival also takes place this weekend, with sets from Jack L, Delorentos and Fred.

Meanwhile, Athlone Music Festival has announced its line-up at the town’s football ground on July 31st and August 1st. Sharon Shannon’s Big Band and The Undertones will headline, while Hazel O’Connor, Heathers and The Aftermath are also on the bill.

Seems there is always room for one more Fun Irish Fest....but this week, we are going to talk a little about the Summer Solstice and the inception of the Midsummer Festivals...

Moora

Children's Stage Announcement - Martin City Melodrama

Martin City Melodrama Jr  http://www.martincitymelodrama.org/Martin_City__Jr.html  will be joining us on the 2010 Kansas City Irish Fest Kid's Stage.    We are excited as this group is working on something special just for Irish Fest Audiences.    More coming later about the actual show.    The stage is going to be awesome for the kids this year!

New Family Game for Irish Fest 2010 - Guess the Game

We have a new game this year for a family competition...guess the game, we'll share a picture this weekend!  Here are the rules, to help you guess!

Singles Or Doubles Play:


This game can be played as doubles or singles. In doubles play two contestants are partners against another team of two contestants; in singles play a contestant competes against another contestant.

In doubles play, one member of each team pitches from one platform and the other members pitch from the other platform. In singles play, both contestants pitch from the same platform. All other rules are basically the same for doubles or singles play.

Innings:

Every Game match is broken down into innings of play. During each inning there a top and a bottom round of play.

In doubles play, the top of an inning is completed when both contestants pitching from the first platform pitch all 4 bags; the bottom of the inning is completed when the remaining contestants (pitching from the other platform) pitch all 4 bags.

In singles play, the top of an inning is completed when the first contestant pitches all 4  bags; the bottom of the inning is completed when the remaining contestant pitches all 4 bags.

An inning is never completed until all contestants pitch all four bags.

KCIF Kid's Club - Supporting Jiggle Jam Music Fest

I hope you were at Jiggle Jam  this weekend, I tried to come, but all my helpers in the Kid's Club were there working.  Did you meet Mackenzie, our President, or Erin, Cassie, Jake, Mikayla, Q,  and our newest junior members, Charlie, Malie, and Shea were there?   Everyone was working hard, but remebered to take time out for a smile... or two and to play rubberboards with Terrence Simien for a Zydeco Jam session.

Rockin Rob Comes to Irish Fest 2010 - Children's Stage

Straight from their sell-out crowd this past weekend at Jiggle Jam,  the Rockin Rob Duet http://www.rockinrobsings.com/ will be joining the Irish Fest Children's Stage for the first time.   You will be enchanted with this fun show of sing-a-longs, dance-a-longs, and a good old fashioned jammin party.  Watch for the schedule for these performances.  We will be introduced to some classic Irish tunes as well as some familiar tunes with brilliant new lyrics and we will be celebrating our Halloween theme, so join us, remember, watch for the schedule!   Rob wanted to know how many kids will be in costume?  I am coming dressed as a cow!  I think some of the Kid's Club Members are going to be witches and some are going to be Fairies.  Can a cow be a witch?   I was a Fairy last year for the Pirates and Fairies theme.

Moora