February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
The 16th annual Greater Hartford Irish Festival will take place July 23-25 at the Irish American Home Society, 132 Commerce St., Glastonbury.
Among the entertainers performing in three tents will be Noel Henry’s Irish Showband, Richie O’Shea, Johnny Murphy and the Clubmen, Two for the Road, John Connors, Larry Reynolds and Boston Comhaltas, the New York Showband, Seven Nations, John Connors, Music in the Glen, Johnny Murphy.
Tenor Frank Patterson will sing at the noon Mass on Sunday. He will also perform that afternoon.
Throughout the weekend, there will be performances by the St. Patrick’s Pipe Band. Cultural exhibits will be on display, a variety of Irish imports will be on sale and corned beef dinners will he held on Saturday from 4- 8 p.m. and on Sunday from 2- 4 p.m.
There will be a Festival Family Theater under a cultural tent on July 25. At 1:15 p.m., Sheri Mortimer will perform traditional songs of Ireland and the sea, all in Irish.
Three dance schools will perform both traditional dance programs as well as Riverdance-type programs. The Griffith Academy of Irish Dance will perform at 2:15 p.m., the Duffy Academy of Music and Dance at 3 p.m. and the Golden Irish Harp Dance Company at 4 p.m.
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The festival times are: Friday, 6 p.m. to midnight; Saturday, 3 p.m. to midnight; and Sunday noon to 8 p.m.
Admission is $7 at the gate, $5 for seniors.
For details, call Mary Conneely (860) 297-2088, work, or (860) 956-2013, home. Information also available at (860) 633-9691 or (860) 956-2013.