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UPDATED: Here is the online gallery of all the photos we took on Saturday! Are you anywhere in there?
The First Annual Irish Festival was an unqualified success! While some reports peg the attendance at 6,000, we spoke with a representative of the USNA Athletic Association (who is a far better counter than we are) and he felt it was over 7,500 and possibly approaching 10,000! From our mind–it was a great crowd and there were thousands of smiles. We should have some official numbers later today!
Organizers, Eddie McGowan and Ray Murphy, tapped into an event for which the local community was clamoring. There was something for everyone–vendors selling all sorts of Irish wear, dulcimers, trips, and more! Local vendors were well represented including the fun store Mary & Blanche.
The smiles on the children were abundant. It was a family event and children under 12 were free. A separate Leprechaun Land was set up with face painting, crafts, entertainment, a moon bounce and as one attendee said “crack for kids”–free pony rides!
Mark your calendars for 2012 as this event will surely continue to grow.
Here is a short (2 minute) video if some of the action.
And, if you have a few more minutes to spare, here is the longer version at 19 minutes.
Please check back later for the photo gallery and still images!
