February 15, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Tenor Frank Patterson will headline the 11th Annual Fairfield County Irish Festival on the weekend of June 19-21 at the Roger Ludlowe Field in Fairfield, Conn.
The Tipperary native, who has been described in the Washington Post as having “a voice like sterling silver,” will appear Sunday afternoon. The festival is being put on by Feile, the cultural arm of the Gaelic American Club.
Green Fields of America and Linda Rutherford and Celtic Fire will highlight Saturday evening’s program in the main tent.
Formed by famed musician and folklorist Mick Maloney, Green Fields of America presents Irish music and traditional and contemporary songs in Gaelic and English. The group’s performance is backed up by champion step dancers. Green Fields of America have been enthusiastically received in Carnegie Hall, the Milwaukee Irish Fest, and the Festival of American Folklife.
Linda Rutherford and Celtic Fire appeared at the 1997 festival and they return on Saturday evening with their unique blend of Irish Celtic music and rock/pop.
John Whelan, who has seven All-Ireland and six All-Britain button accordion championships to his credit, will be on hand with his band to entertain on Friday evening. Whelan’s performances have been described as a blend of humor, high energy and impeccable musicianship.
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Also appearing on Friday will be the McKrells.
Also on Saturday, John Williams and Zen MacLeod will take the stage. John Williams is the first American to win first place in the All-Ireland concertina competition. He now has five All-Ireland titles to his credit. Uilleann piper Jerry O’Sullivan will also be on hand.
Irish set dance workshops and ceili’s will be presented by Donncha O’Muineachain. The Cork native has been teaching ceili and set dancing and conducting dance workshops for 27 years.
Roger Ludlowe Field can be reached from Exit 21 (Mill Plain Road) off I-95. Free parking is available at the Fairfield train station, with shuttle bus service to and from the festival grounds. Admission is $7 per day or $12 for a three-day pass. Children under 16 admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Festival hours are Friday from 6-11 p.m., Saturday from noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.