This was the third year the Fair was held at KeySpan Park, as well as the third year it was organized by the Irish American Building Society Charities, Inc.
“This year we want to make it a children and family friendly event, that’s why we have magic shows, face painting, an assortment of rides and local high schools and other grassroots community organizations participating,” said Chris Hannan, vice-chairman of the Great Irish Fair and a member of The Building Society Charities.
And family-friendly it was. In front of a black stage with the American flag on one side and the Irish flag on the other, and the backdrop of the clear blue ocean sky, children and families skip-danced the Irish jig to the sounds of bagpipes, accordions, fiddles, and other traditional Irish instruments. A mass was celebrated each morning before the Fair. Rev. Dennis Farrell, from Garrison Resurrection Church performed Sunday morning’s service.
“I’ve been coming here since I don’t know when, to visit my many, many friends,” the reverend said.
A few of the children’s rides were an inflatable bounce house, a bungee jumping machine, and a large inflatable double slide.
“The kids love the slide! Me, I would prefer to be listening to music and enjoying a cold beer,” said Bob Quane, who just moved to Brooklyn from Europe last year.
He says he’s Italian and Irish, with the “QU” in “Quane” of Irish genealogy. He proudly showed his ring – it had two hands clasping a heart, with a queen’s crown on it. He said it was a traditional Celtic wedding ring called a Claddagh Ring.
“The crown stands for loyalty, the hands for friendship and the heart for love,” he said.
The only thing Quane didn’t like about the Irish Fair, was not enough Irish beer. “Where’s all the Guinness, Smithwicks and Harp beer? All I see is Bud and Bud Lite,” Quane said, clearly disappointed.
Anonymous sources say that because of Guinness’ thickness, a pint of the draft can take up to three minutes to pour – it’s why it may not be too popular at festivals that get long lines.
However, there were plenty of other Irish delicacies, like the Irish Banger sausage subs, and corned beef served by Buckley’s Restaurant from Marine Park, the same great corned beef and cabbage they serve every Saint Patrick’s Day.
Broadway even showed up to support its Irish heritage. Jim Norton and Sara Ford (some say it was actually her understudy Jean) performed the songs, “How are Things in Glocca Morra?” and “Look to the Rainbow,” from the Broadway musical Finian’s Rainbow.
Sunday the festival winded down with a non-stop, two hour show by Celtic Cross. Besides performing their accordion- and fiddle-rich Irish folk originals from their CD, “Shores of America” -- which was voted best Irish CD for 2008 by the Irish Voice newspaper of New York -- the band performed several pop covers including Alicia Keys’ hit “No One,” the Who’s “Squeezebox” and the 1970s hit, “Play that Funky Music Whiteboy” Celtic Cross’ performance was so energetic -- bringing people to the dance floor in front of the stage dancing continuously -- that by the time the Bronx’s very own Jameson’s Revenge came on to perform songs from their upcoming album, “Straight from the Bottle,” all that the crowd had strength enough to do was maybe “pass the bottle.”
“You don’t have to be Irish to enjoy the Great Irish Fair, just like you don’t have to be Italian to enjoy the San Gennaro Festival in Little Italy,” Chris Hannan said.
And, it’s all for a good cause. All the proceeds will be donated to support the Catholic Schools of the Brooklyn-Queens Diocese.
The only thing missing from all the Gaelic frolicking were the lush green landscapes of the Irish countryside -- which makes one think: Perhaps the fair should return to the grassy Steeplechase Park where it was held three years ago…
