Jersey Shore Irish Fest to be Held Sept. 14

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SEA GIRT – The 2013 Irish Festival at the New Jersey Shore announces its 15th annual event to be held Saturday, Sept. 14, at Sea Girt National Guard Armory.
“We have three stages of music going on all day long, Irish step dancing, ceili dancing, a Civil War reenactment, and a Catholic Mass in Irish,” said Jack Sullivan, chairman of the event.
“We have an Irish language class – all the kids come and get their name tags with their names written in Irish, not English.”
The event will feature local and international bands, including Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones, Celtic Cross, The Bogside Rogues, Round The House and the Birmingham Six.
In addition to the main stages, the ceili pavilion invites all dancers, young and old, to learn some ceili dancing and the Shea/Jennings School of Irish Step dancing will showcase their best dancers. The heritage pavilion will offer a wide range of historic and cultural events including performances by the Jameson Sisters, talks by noted authors, Irish language lessons and displays by area cultural organizations.
The festival is also known for its wide assortment of Irish and festival-style foods. Pints of Guinness and other refreshments will be available to complement food choices. The family friendly event offers fun-filled activities for the youngest attendees, including sand art, goldfish fishing where they can win a goldfish, and inflatable rides.
The Irish shopping village will offer a wide assortment of vendors selling crafts, gifts, and unique items including jewelry and clothing.
The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $7 in advance, $10 at the gate, and children under 12 are free.
Advanced tickets can be purchased at Irish Centre in Spring Lake, Dr. T-shirt in Manasquan, Gew-Gaw Giftables & Gaelic in Brick, O’Ireland in Red Bank and South Amboy and Dan’s Gourmet Deli in Neptune.
The festival will go on rain or shine.
For more information, visit www.njshoreirishfestival.com.