This year’s fair, sponsored by the Irish American Building Society Charities Inc., takes place over Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 19 and 20, in the parking lot at Keyspan Park, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones minor league baseball team.
Admission to what is billed as a family-friendly event is $12 for attendees 12 years of age and older. There is a family rate of $30, which covers two adults and their children. Children under 12 are admitted free. All proceeds are donated to the Catholic Schools of the Brooklyn-Queens Diocese.
The fair is billed as a “two-day celebration of Irish heritage with great music, food, dancing, family activities and all around good craic.”
And that will include what the fair’s official website says is “tons of entertainment for the kids to enjoy, including magicians, face-painters, musicians and a wide variety of inflatable rides.” In addition, there will be a basketball shooting contest for kids and teens and many prizes.
The fair annually honors a number of people from the city’s Irish American community who have distinguished themselves in various fields.
This year’s Chief Brehon is Kevin Burke, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Consolidated Edison. The Colleen Queen is Kerry Dineen, a freshman at Fordham University Lincoln Center.
The Paul O’Dwyer Memorial Award will be presented to Timothy B. O’Driscoll, founder and first president of the Bayridge Irish American Action Association. The Thomas Cuite Memorial Award will be presented to Martin Brennan, State Director for New York’s Senator Charles Schumer. The Irish Bard Award goes to Chris Lowney, author of “Heroic Living: Discover Your Purpose and Change the World.”
The Timothy Stackpole Memorial Award will be presented to Battalion Chief John J. Plant. The Round Tower Award will be presented to Vincent O’Connor, who has racked up a record 300 wins as coach of the Varsity and J.V. football teams at St. Francis Prep.
The Kathleen Slattery Woman of the Year Award will go to Sister Margaret Dempsey, RSM. The Rev. Mychal Judge Memorial Award will be given to Msgr. Michael J. Hardiman, the pastor of St. Sebastian’s Roman Catholic Church in Woodside, N.Y. The Thomas More Award will be presented to Judge John G. Ingram.
The driving force behind the Great Irish Fair is a dedicated group led by Martin Cottingham of Holy Name parish in Park Slope and Margaret Keaveney, the former director of communications at Catholic Charities, who, along with former New York St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal Al O’Hagan, was for years the inspiration behind the “Coney Ireland” extravaganza.
In 2006, the fair took a hiatus due to development work in the fast reviving Coney Island oceanfront. It was held at one point in Dreier-Offerman Park, a 60-acre space within sight of the fair’s older venue, Steeplechase Park, which was itself transformed into Keyspan Park.
For further information on the Great Irish Fair, email info@gifnyc.com or visit www.gifnyc.com.