Luck o' the Irish
Valerie N. Donnals
Daily Egyptian
vdonnals@dailyegyptian.com
According to the last census, about one in every seven people identified themselves as being of Irish or Scottish decent, and Connie Shanahan, coordinator of the Southern Illinois Irish Festival, said she is going to help them reconnect with their roots.
"A lot of people have that connection, but they don't know a lot about their culture," Shanahan said.
The eighth-annual Southern Illinois Irish Festival will start educating the community Friday at 5:30 p.m. in Turley Park and running through Sunday.
A reception for the northern Ireland photographic exhibit at the University Museum and a first-ever potato cook-off will begin the events Friday evening, and afternoon sporting events such as a cricket and soccer demo will close the festival on Sunday.
But Shanahan said it is the music that will really make the festival come alive.
"We particularly like the music and dance, and we feel it crosses all international lines," Shanahan said. "You've got people that listen to Irish music in Japan and all over the world, and it's just contagious and we want to share that with other people."
Steve Jollet and Cindy Mangsun, whom Shanahan described as one of the foremost singer/songwriter duos in the United States, will perform Friday night at 8 p.m. following Mark Dvorak's Chautauqua presentation: Roots of American Folk Music.
The Celtic Fair on Saturday will feature music all day, ending with the Old Blind Dogs at 7:30 p.m. at Mugsy McGuire's Entertainment Center. Tickets are $22 in advance and $25 for reserved seating or at the door.
According to its website, the band has been leading the roots revival of Scottish folk music for more than 10 years.
"Combining a deep appreciation of ancient traditions with a highly contemporary, dynamically cosmopolitan musical approach, their uniquely distinctive arrangements of ballads, airs and dance-tunes put the sounds of their homeland firmly on the world music map," the website said.
Shanahan said the modern edge has given them their popular appeal and was key in inviting them to play at the festival during their American tour.
"A lot of people can relate to it, and it's just exciting," she said.
The music will play all day at Turley Park Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., regardless of the weather.
"We'll be there rain or shine," Shanahan said. "It rains in Scotland; it rains in Ireland, and we'll have plenty of plastic to cover up with."
Workshops will teach harp lessons, Calic and step dancing, and storytelling, as well as other cultural activities, and more than 20 vendors will be selling goods during the fair. Cultural displays, presentations and children's activities will also take place throughout the day.
The Pipes and Drums of IN Emerald Society will lead a parade around the park at noon, and everyone is invited to dress up and participate.
All events except for the Old Blind Dogs concert and workshops are free of charge.
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Daily Egyptian Spring 04 
