Festival celebrates Irish culture

North Haven (WTNH) - Organizers are hoping for a bit of Irish luck to hold off storm clouds for today's Annual Connecticut Irish Festival and Agricultural Fair.

The two-day event happening at the North Haven Fairgrounds brings in hundreds every year to watch Celtic dancing, Irish sports, and more.

The festival's annual 5K Road Race to benefit the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association is also kicking off today.

The music line-up for the weekend will feature legendary Dublin balladeers the Wolfe Tones, along with MacTalla Mor, U2 Nation, Highland Rovers, Cliudan, Kitty Kelly, Fergus, and the Gaelic Highland Pipe Band. The musical line-up will perform continuously on both days.

Hundreds of dancers in colorful, traditional costumes wil compete in the North American Minor Irish Dance Championship on Sunday. The winner will receive the George Sweetnam Memorial Belt, reserved exclusively for world-class Irish dancers.

Members of the Celtic Learning Project, dressed in 13th century Celtic garb, will be on hand to tell tales of Celtic lore.

As for sports, there will be Gaelic football and hurling matches with teams of all ages from New Haven, Boston, and Philadelphia all weekend long.

No Irish festival is complete without delicious traditional Irish food, and the Connecticut Irish Festival doesn't disappoint. Expect plenty of good food, including the finest of Irish baked goods, breakfast sandwiches consisting of Irish bacon, egg, & cheese, tea, scones, and soda bread. In addition, there will be an international flavor to the festival with Italian and Thai favorites, as well as summer festival favorites: hot dogs, burgers, chicken, kettle corn, and ice cream.

Other attractions include Irish step dancing, cultural exhibits, great food, agricultural displays, children's activities, rides, and an Irish shopping and craft village.

The festival is going on all weekend at the North Haven Fairgrounds on Washington Avenue (Exit 12 off I-91).

Saturday, June 27: 12:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 28 - 8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

More information on the festival and the race is available at www.ctirishfestival.com