City of Dublin events director Alison LeRoy joins Craft to tell us about the Dublin Irish Festival, returning July 31–August 2 at Coffman Park. Running since 1988, it’s one of the world’s largest Irish festivals, with activities that often surprise first-timers.
Family highlights include an area featuring seven Irish dog breeds with presentations and opportunities to meet the dogs; a 10th-century Brian Boru reenactment area with traditional games, weaving, costumes, and photos; and Irish bog ponies! The festival also features demonstrations of sheep (and sometimes geese or duck) herding by dogs, Highland Games like the caber toss and stone lifting, and a Thursday 5K in Downtown Dublin that ends with a street party. On Sunday, Aug. 3, donations for the Dublin Food Pantry are collected at festival gates, with free admission from 9:30–11:00 a.m. for contributors.
And finally, you’ll learn WHY the Dublin Irish Festival is held during the high heat of Ohio summer.
Image courtesy: Dublin Irish Festival
