Savannah Irish Festival 2009

The 17th annual Savannah Irish Festival will take place February 13-15, 2009 at the Savannah Civic Center at Montgomery and Oglethorpe Streets in historic downtown Savannah, GA. The festival begins Friday night with a Ceili in the Civic Center Ballroom from 6:30pm - 9:00pm. Those who attend the Ceili will be taught how to Irish folk dance in large groups. On Saturday the festival will run from 10:30am until 8:00pm. On Sunday the festival will begin at 12:00pm and run until 7:00pm.

Four stages of continuous entertainment bring fun for the entire family throughout the weekend.

The Festival Main Stage acts and the Festival Pub Stage acts include some of the top Irish traditional acts in the world along with performances by The St. Vincent's Academy Chorale, two schools of Irish Dancers, The Pride of Ireland, and the Irish Dancers of Savannah. The Children's Stage features a free arts and crafts area for kids as well as on-going entertainment geared towards children. The Festival Cultural Stage will provide discussions on various topics of Irish History, Irish Literature and Irish Music. Attendees can also browse the vendor booths and sample food prepared by Savannah's many Irish Organizations.

The weekend will be filled with music and plenty of Irish Dancing. Please join us this year for Valentine's Day weekend. Stroll through our romantic city and enjoy the largest Irish Festival in the South.

Festival Ticket Information:

$5 donation taken at the door for the Friday night Ceili in the Civic Center's upstairs ballroom.

A one day ticket for Saturday or Sunday costs $10 and a two day ticket is $20, plus service charges for both from the Civic Center Box Office.

Children Under 14 are admitted FREE.

You can purchase tickets the day of the event, or call 912-651-6556 or 800-351-7469, or purchase tickets online from the Savannah Civic Center's website.

SATURDAY
MAIN STAGE
10:15-11:30	Opening Ceremony - Savannah Pipe & Drum Corps/St. Vincent's Chorale
11:45-12:30	The Irish Dancers of Savannah
12:45 - 1:30	Na Fidleiri
1:45 - 2:30	John Doyle, Sean Doyle, Athena Turgis, and Mick Moloney
2:45 - 3:30	Brendan Nolan
3:45 - 4:30	Glor na h'Eireann Dancers
4:45 - 5 :30	Ed Miller, Jill Chambless, Scooter Muse
5:45 - 6:15	Tommy Sands, Fionan and Moya
6:30 -	Slide
PUB STAGE
11:45-12:30	The Savannah Ceili Band
12:45 - 1:30	Brendan Nolan
1:45 - 2:30	Ed Miller, Jill Chambless, Scooter Muse
2:45 - 3:30	Tommy Sands, Fionan and Moya
3:45 - 4:30	Slide
4:45 - 5:30	John Doyle, Sean Doyle, Athena Turgis, and Mick Moloney
CULTURAL STAGE
12:15 - 1:00	Dr. Howard Keeley Georgia Southern University Center for Irish Studies will present on Irish Georgia: Before the Revolution. Discussion of the Queensborough settlement, which came about in the 1760s on the site of today's Louisville.
1:15 - 2:00	Dr. Bryan Giemza Randolph Macon College will speak on Father Abram J. Ryan and Flannery O'Connor and the way that Irish immigrants to the American South helped to shape southern literature.
2:00 - 3:30	Singer/Songwriters Set with Harry O'Donoghue, Carroll Brown, and other festival performers
3:45 - 4:30	Sean Doyle will present "A Session of Poetry and Song"
4:45 - 5:30	Tom O'Carroll will discuss The Irish Diaspora
CHILDREN'S STAGE
12:00 - 12:45	Glor na h'Eireann Dancers
1:00 - 1:45	Debbie O'Carroll, The Magician
2:00 - 2:45	Na Fidleiri
3:00 - 3:45	The Irish Dancers of Savannah
4:00 - 4:45	Debbie O'Carroll, the Magician
SUNDAY
MAIN STAGE
12:00 -12:45	Glor na h'Eireann Dancers
1:00 - 1:45	Slide
2:00 -2:45	Brendan Nolan
3:00 - 3:45	Irish Dancers of Savannah
4:00 - 4:45	Ed Miller, Jill Chambless, Scooter Muse
5:00- 5:45	Tommy Sands, Fionan and Moya
6:00-	John Doyle, Sean Doyle, Athena Turgis, and Mick Moloney
Finale	Tribute to Festival Volunteers
PUB STAGE
12:00 -12:45	The Savannah Ceili Band
1:00 - 1:45	Ed Miller, Jill Chambless, Scooter Muse
2:00 -2:45	Tommy Sands, Fionan and Moya
3:00 - 3:45	Slide
4:00 - 4:45	John Doyle, Sean Doyle, Athena Turgis, and Mick Moloney
5:00 - 5:45	Brendan Nolan
CHILDREN'S STAGE
12:00 - 12:45	Irish Dancers of Savannah
1:00 - 1:45	Debbie O'Carroll, The Magician
2:00 - 2:45	Glor na h'Eireann Dancers
3:00 - 3:45	Debbie O'Carroll, the Magician
CULTURAL STAGE
1:00 - 1:45	Tom O'Carroll will speak and sing songs of his hometown Dublin
2:00 - 2:45	Dr. Bryan Giemza Randolph Macon College will speak on Father Abram J. Ryan and Flannery O'Connor and the way that Irish immigrants to the American South helped to shape southern literature.
3:00 - 3:45	Sean Doyle will present "A Session of Poetry and Song"
4:00 - 5:30	Singer/Songwriters Set with Harry O'Donoghue and other festival performers

Slide

The traditional band Slide has received rave reviews from Irish Music Magazine, the Irish Times and RTE. Slide will begin their American tour at the Savannah Irish Festival. Catch Slide both days on the Festival Main Stage.

John Doyle

John Doyle, Sean Doyle, Mick Moloney, and Athena Turgis The extraordinary talents of John Doyle, Sean Doyle, Mick Moloney, and Athena Turgis will be a captivating performance on many of the festival stages. They are some of the most well known names in Irish traditional music and we are thrilled that they will be a part of this year's festival.

Tommy Sands

For those who are mesmerized by the powerful song-writing found in Irish Ballads, we bring you the legendary Tommy Sands, who wrote "There Were Roses" and "Their Daughters and Their Sons". Tommy sands will be accompanied by his own son and daughter.

Ed Miller, Jill Chambless, and Scooter Muse

Ed Miller has been hailed as "one of the finest singers to come out of the Scottish Folksong Revival". He will be joined by Jill Chambless and Scooter Muse of Henri's Notions.

Brendan Nolan

Brendan Nolan returns with his exceptional musical skills and vocals as a special guest at the Songwriters' Set on the Cultural Stage and as a solo performer on the Pub Stage.

Harry O'Donoghue

Singer and songwriter Harry O'Donoghue has been voted Best Acoustic Folk Artist three years in a row by Connect Savannah readers. Harry also hosts the wildly popular radio show, The Green Island, broadcast weekly statewide on Georgia Public Radio. Harry has opened for several notable performers including Mary Black and Cathie Ryan and has performed with the Savannah Symphony. Harry also hosts annual music tours of Ireland where he visits his family in his beloved native city Drogheda.

Na Fidleiri

Na Fidleiri, founded and directed by Mary Taylor, has been called the nations finest, most unique Celtic fiddling ensemble for young fiddlers. Comprised of 25 fiddlers between the ages of 10 and 18, Na Fidleiri performs repertoire from the Celtic tradition, specially arranged for them. Its members are taught the technique and style of Celtic fiddling, while simultaneously being grounded upon a classical technical foundationemphasizing the close relationship between music of the classical and (in their particular case) Celtic/folk tradition.

Tom O'Carroll

Tom O'Carroll Dublin born folklorist, folk-singer and instrumentalist brings a wealth of stories, humor, wit and history to festival Cultural Stage.

Debbie O'Carroll

Debbie O'Carroll, The Magician will delight children with her magic both Saturday and Sunday on the Festival Children's Stage

Dr. Howard Keeley Georgia Southern University Irish Studies Program
Dr. Bryan Giemza Randolph Macon College