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Celts & Currachs 2007
The 2009 Celts & Currachs Festival will take place August 22, 2009.
Saturday, August 25, 2007 10 AM - 7 PM New London Main Street will host Celts & Currachs, a unique waterfront festival featuring Celtic music, food, dance, and exhibition rowing races of traditional Irish currachs. City Pier, located in Waterfront Park, behind Union Station in the downtown Historic Waterfront District, will come alive with musical performances by the likes of the Makem and Spain Brothers, Danny O' Flaherty, Faire Prospect, Deirdre & Sean Murtha, the McKaig Highlanders, the Mystic Highland Pipe Band and Full Gael. (See complete entertainment schedule below).
The Irish Step Dancers of New London and the Mystic Scottish Country Dancers will heat up the dance floor as local Celtic organizations provide information and demonstrations (See list of participating organizations). Celtic vendors will also be on hand so you can purchase wonderful gifts thanks to the help of New London Saturday Market.
Also taking place on the Custom House Pier will be a fierce rowing competition between local businesses, organizations and youth groups (See list of competitors). The race schedule will come to end with the championship heat taking place at 3:30 PM, just before Danny O' Flaherty takes the stage near City Pier.
You don't want to miss the wonderful event! To sign up your team for the currach race on Saturday morning, download and return the entry form (PDF, 58 KB). Currach racing expert Danny O'Flaherty will be available to provide training to race participants on Friday, August 24 from 1-6 PM!
Any one with an interest in learning about Celtic culture or simply helping to organize this event, please call 860-444-2489 or email Joanne Gibson, Volunteer Coordinator.
Entertainment Schedule
- 10:00 AM Parade of Celtic nations featuring the Mystic Highland Pipe Band from the Custom House Pier
- 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM McKaig Highlanders
- 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Faire Prospect
- 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM Mystic Scottish Country Dancers
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Full Gael
- 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Deirdre & Sean Murtha
- 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Irish Step Dancers
- 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM Race Finals
- 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Danny O' Flaherty
- 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Makem and Spain Brothers
Celts and Currachs Workshops and Activities
- CT Irish American Historical Society: Genealogy Workshop
- Irish American Community Center Language Group: Language Workshop
- Scottish Culture Workshop
- Welsh Culture Workshop
- Irish History Workshop with Posters
- Fiddle-making Workshop
Celts and Currachs 2007 Participating Teams
Youth
- The Office of Youth Affairs
- Sea Scouts
- Groton Maritime Academy
Adult
- U.S. Coast Guard Academy
- New London Fire Department
- New London Police Department
- Aldrich, Perkins, Mulcahy & Heap, LLC
- Hanafin's Irish Pub
- Connecticut State Police Emerald Society
- The Flanagans
- The Linicus Family
By the way, the 2007 New London Saturday Market's sixth season ends this day. Stop by while you're out enjoying the festival. Market hours are 10-4 PM.
Sponsored by
Celts & Currachs: A Celebration of Celtic Heritage will take place on the City Pier Plaza and Custom House Pier, both in Waterfront Park behind Union Station in the downtown Historic Waterfront District. The festival is sponsored by Thomas Neilan & Sons Funeral Homes, Progeny Systems, Hanafin's Irish Pub, Conway & Londregan, Carlin Construction and Captain Scott's Lobster Dock. Media sponsorship provided by The Day and the Times News Group. Celts & Currachs is paid for in part by the City of New London and Community Foundation of SE CT.
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