Irish Fest
By James Allen | Entertainment Editor
This year, Indianapolis was host to the 13th annual Irish Festival at Military Park, an annual celebration of Irish culture, music and food.
The park festivities included Irish dancers, traditional and contemporary singers and even sheep herding. The air smelled like corn beef and cabbage and beer no matter what stage you were by.
Free necklaces were passed out to those who wanted them at the small bars around the park, each sporting the phrase, ‘Celebrate halfway to St. Patrick’s Day!’
“The weather is perfect, the entertainment is great and the Guinness is good!” said University of Indianapolis Social Science Chair, Dr. Jim Pennell.
Many UIndy staff and students were in attendance during the festival’s opening acts.
“I’m so happy to see so many UIndy students down town!” said Dr. Greta Pennell, chair of the UIndy Honors College. The esteemed couple were enjoying their time together at the festival, watching the Irish Dancers of Indy.
Irish Dancers of Indy was a focal act at the festival, featuring senior dancers from the Richens/Timm Academies of Dance. The title ‘senior’ refers to the dancers experience in the academy, not to any sort of grade level. These young men and women had to have at least four or five years with the academy. One twelve year veteran of the program is UIndy’s own , sophomore communication major Kathleen Cunningham.
Although the academy has about 200 dancers, only about 40 were in attendance.
Some of the dances used all of the dancers, but other were more individual performances. A few of the dances were originally arranged by famous Irish dancer Michael Flatley for his production of ‘Lord of the Dance’. In the dance ‘Hornpipe’, comprised of all women, Kathleen performed a solo with ten brightly colored dancers lined behind her.
This will be the last year Kathleen performs with the group at Irish Festival. She said that from now on, she would like to take a more behind the scenes approach with the Irish dancing group. Kathleen has performed every year in the festival since its inaugural celebration.
“I come each year for the Irish culture that many don’t really know about.” she said.
In fact, the entire Cunningham family celebrates their Irish heritage and performs in the festival.
Kathleen’s mother Audrey Cunningham, director of forensics and professor in communication at UIndy, emceed the O’brien Automotive Family Stage.
On the other side of the park stood the Claddagh Irish Pub Stage where Irish Airs performed. The band is comprised of five members: Brian Cunningham; front man, Chris Cunningham; percussion, TH Gillespie; keyboard, Leslie Celden; fidel and Shanna Forsell; vocals. Forsell was not with the band for the performance.
Chris, Audrey’s son and a senior commnuication major at UIndy, has been with the Irish Airs for the last four years, but has been to every festival since he was a young boy.
“The festival was at first a chance for me to learn about my cutlure. Now it is a place to network in the Irish community.” he said.
Brian, Audrey’s husband and the man in charge of the Airs, has been celebrating his Irish culture through music for almost 20 years.
“We toured Ireland in 2003 with the Indianapolis Children’s Choir. We even recorded a CD with them entitled ‘The Sounds of Ireland!’”
The Irish Airs performance almost did not take place due to generator problems that left the band without power. However, this small fact did not stop the Airs from performing an accoustic set that gave the audience a more intimate experience.
The Irish Airs have an album of their own out entitled ‘Mise Eire’.
The Cunningham family all said that they are proud of their Irish heritage and will continue to be involved in the festival as well as other Irish community events.
