August 14, 2025 • 30 mins
Join us for the 2025 Pittsburgh Irish Festival!
2025 FESTIVAL DATES: Friday, September 5 (4 pm - 11 pm) Saturday, September 6 (11 am - 11 pm) Sunday, September 7 (9 am - 5 pm - Mass at 10 am)*Tickets are date specific*Parking: $12 on site, $10 in advance. Ride share drop off available. Bike parking available.
FESTIVAL LOCATION: Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic Landmark 801 Carrie Furnace Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15218
Additional details available at pghirishfest.org.
2025 FESTIVAL DATES: Friday, September 5 (4 pm - 11 pm) Saturday, September 6 (11 am - 11 pm) Sunday, September 7 (9 am - 5 pm - Mass at 10 am)*Tickets are date specific*Parking: $12 on site, $10 in advance. Ride share drop off available. Bike parking available.
FESTIVAL LOCATION: Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic Landmark 801 Carrie Furnace Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15218
Additional details available at pghirishfest.org.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
And welcome in. This is a public affairs program shedding
the light on the interest and issues and concerns of
the greater Pittsburgh area. My name is Johnny Hartwell, thank
you for joining us this morning. I'm sorry I have
to make a correction. It's the award winning public affairs program.
We have executive director of the Pittsburgh Irish Festival, Maren
Patrol back in the studio. You Yeah, we won.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
A prize, won an award of the best Media Program
from the International Festival and Events Association.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Not only is it a an award, but it's an
international It is never won anything alone internationally.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
We were up against events and programs from throughout the
entire world and we won in our category.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
It couldn't have been me. It must have been you.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I think it was. It was a dual effort. Yes,
I couldn't have done it alone and you could have
done alone.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
It's so good to see you again. How's the family,
how's the how's the how's the baby?
Speaker 2 (01:00):
The baby's great Parker. She's fifteen months old. Now she's
running around. She's keeping us on our toes. But we're excited.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Okay, what's more work putting on the Pittsburgh Irish Festival
or taking care of a fifteen year old that fifteen
month old.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Well, the fifteen month old's cuter, but I'll tell you
probably the hardest thing is taking care of a fifteen
month old while also planning the pittsf Festival.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Well, it's going to be here before you know it, Yes,
September fifth through the seventh, and once again it's going
to be at the Carrie Carrie Blast Furnaces. So tell
us everything we need to know about the event.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Well, we're back for our fourth year at Carrie Furnace
and we're celebrating our thirty fourth annual Pittsburgh Irish Festival.
We've been in business for thirty five years. We just
said the one year off for COVID and we have
You don't count that year, Well, we count that year
as being in business, but we didn't host the.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Festival, Okay, Well, we were there in spirit.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
We were all there in spirit. We did a lot
of fundational programming, but that's all in the past now.
So we're excited to be welcoming everybody back to our
wonderful festival and we've got a lot of fun and
new exciting things going on, and there's particular attention on
Ireland and Irish culture right now with the Steelers set
it over to Dublin.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Kind of just a few weeks after the festival.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
I hadn't heard.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Oh, I know, we're certainly getting.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
The word out about it, but there's a lot of
fun stuff going on, and we hope everyone will we'll
come out and join us this year.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
All right, So September fifth through the seventh, and you're
back in the same location as the last year. But
to tell us all the events, I mean, it's we've
got we only have thirty minutes, so let's go.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Okay, we won't overdo. We'll get to the important stuff.
So the first thing I want to mention is, speaking
of the Pittsburgh Steelers. They're going to be doing an
activation at the festival on Saturday, September sixth as sort
of the official kickoff to the excitement around the Dublin
game that they're having at the end of September.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Gotcha.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
So they're going to be on site.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
They're going to be doing some giveaways of their Dublin
Ireland logo appair. We're going to be allowing guests to
run a forty yard dash and see how they do.
There's going to be maybe an inflatable for kicking field goals,
but there should be a lot of fun activities from
the Steelers on the sixth.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
So how did you make the connection? Did you go
to the steeling Well, so, we've always.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Had a slight connection because of their Irish history with
the Rooneys and the Ireland Fund, and this year they
reached out and wanting to support local Irish organizations and
really get people excited about this trip. And I think
as much attention that we're going to have on Dublin, Ireland,
Ireland's going to have on Pittsburgh and so this is
a great opportunity to showcase the way we celebrate Irish
(03:36):
culture here.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
The Steelers needed to raise some excitement about the trip
to Ireland. It was the worst cap secret for six months.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Right right.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Well, you know, I think that that this is really
an opportunity for them. They're very excited to be getting
back to the community and doing some outreaching.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
It is kind of a cool location that no doubt,
and with the you know, the Rooney family, with the
Irish connection, that makes makes all the sense in the
world in Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh's we have the right to be
excited about anything the Stealers do, but something like this
is even cooler.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Well, and it all ties together, right, So it's the
Pittsburgh Steelers doing an activation at the Pittsburgh Irish Festival
on like a old former US steel property. So we're
just kind of tired tying it all together for everyone.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Can you name names? Do you know any of the
names that are going to be stopping by?
Speaker 2 (04:23):
So I'm not sure yet, but I can tell you
that there will be a lot of fun giveaways. I
don't know how many appearances from Steelers will get considering
they have their season opener on the Sunday of our festival, right,
but we will have a lot of their marketing team
on site.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Oh some really cool stuff, all right.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
So it starts on the fifth, So tell me what
goes on on that day.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Well, so the first day, the most important thing I
should mention is that if you arrive before six pm,
you can get into the festival for just ten dollars.
We call it our happy hour pricing, and it's an
opportunity for people to get in and get a good
look at the festival before anybody else at a pretty
low rate. But that night we're going to be doing
a really fun.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Let me stop you there. Yeah, so Irish people are
interested in happy Hour.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
I did choking, I know, right, shocking, But there's more
to see than.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Just suggesting overflowing with sarcism.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
I know, I understand, but there's gonna be more to
do than just than just you know, enjoy a beer.
But we've got some really great new musicians that'll be
there on Friday night, and were we always invite college
students to come out on Friday night and and other
young people. We're going to be having some sort of
Celtic electronic dance music fusion going on that night with
(05:32):
a gentleman named Elias Alexander who has really put his
Celtic musical roots onto some fun, new exciting technology. I'm
really excited for people to see that. But that's just
the big kickoff of a really fun weekend that day.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
So it's music, food, and lots and lots of music,
and it goes you said thirty five years, although this
is thirty fourth. You don't count the COVID year. I am,
I am all right, all right, So how did this
all start because it started with your family.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Right, Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
So in nineteen ninety one, my mom, Mara Kushinsky, and
her sister Nan Krishinsky had the idea to create a
celebration beyond St. Patrick's Day in Pittsburgh for the Irish culture.
And the first year was at the Station Square property
that is now High Market Stadium for the soccer teams
and it was a great success. People were really interested
(06:21):
in attending it. It was kind of that halfway point
in the calendar, so it was a nice diside just
about yeah. And so it's been the weekend after Labor
Day since that very first festival, and it's grown tremendously.
And since then the nonprofit has launched our Irish Education
and Outreach program that has been for these thirty five
years doing educational and cultural programming all year round beyond
(06:45):
just the festival, and we've really grown tremendously. We host
other events throughout the year, We participate in other events
throughout the year, and our goal ad mission really is
to just have as much Irish celebration and education going
on as possible.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
All Right, the Pittsburgh Irish Festival, Carrie Blast furnaces coming
up on September fifth and seventh the website. If somebody
wants more information.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
People can find more information and get their tickets at
pg irishfest dot org.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
You said, you mentioned just a few minutes ago that
you do something more than just the festival. Let's dig
in a little deeper to that. What exactly do you do.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Yeah, So one of our biggest new signature events that
we started a few years ago was Bridget and Bridget
is a celebration of Saint Bridget, who is It's a
non religious celebration of Saint Bridget, who is one of
the three patron saints of Ireland. There's Saint Patrick, Saint
Bridget and Saint Clunkil, and we really realized not that
many people know about her, and we said, let's start
(07:44):
getting the word out about her and creating awareness. And
so we've started this event to sold out crowds for
the last the last three years and it happens in February,
so it's a few months after the festival. It features
all female headlining bands and entertainers, female dan We bring
in women owned vendors and crafts persons and it's a
(08:04):
really really fun musical celebration and awareness creator of this
really amazing woman who had so much to do with
the development of Irish culture. I mean, she's the patron
saint of beer. Most people don't know that, you know.
I mean some people turn water into wine, but she
turned water and a beer and I think people love
that too.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
So that's a great event we do throughout the year.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
We also participate in the People's Guest Holiday Market and
Market Square every year, making sure that the Irish culture
is represented there. We host an annual golf outing, and
then throughout the year we do smaller things where we
go to schools or senior centers and will present Irish
culture and programming and educational opportunities. What do you do
so depending on the scenario. For example, we hosted an
(08:48):
assembly at Sacred Heart Elementary School back in February about
Saint Bridget and we taught the kids who she was,
the history, the.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Significant of the beer.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
We left out the beer for sure, So but this
was a we had students from kindergarten through eighth grade,
actually preschool through eighth grade come out that we taught
them and Irish stands. They learned about Irish music, they
learned about Saint Bridget and her ties to poetry and
Bridget's crosses, And there was over five hundred students that
just got to get exposed to Irish culture and have
(09:20):
another None of them had heard of Saint Bridget prior
to that assembly.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
This is my first my first time too.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Yeah, okay, well there we go. So we got to
do a better job.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
You mentioned she's connected the beer.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
I was all in, all right, yeah, but she's so
much more than that too. I mean, she's, you know,
like the goddess of fertility and the goddess of physicians
and poetry, and she really has had a significant role
on culture.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
Good good for her. All right, So the Irish Festival,
we'll get to the adult drinks, but let's talk about
the food that's happening at the festival.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
Oh my favorite part.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
You mean, so we have, what I would say, and
no offense to my other festival director friends, the Irish
food at any festival in the country that you can get.
We are making my great great great grandmother Hannah Mary's
recipes that she brought over when she came over from
Ireland to the Pittsburgh area.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
And so we've got Irish.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Stew we've got bread pudding, We've got shepherd's pie, We've
got cold cannon, We've got Dublin cottle, We've got fish
and chips, We've got scones and soda bread, and you know,
I can go.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
On and on and on. I know you're hungry.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Almost launched time, so but new this year, and we've
been kind of flirting with doing this for some time.
We're going to be featuring a traditional Irish breakfast, which
for those who go to Ireland and well, you can
have one. We're not going to tell you no if
you want to have one, though it does usually include
an Irish coffee. But we're going to be on Sunday,
(10:48):
September seventh. You can pre order an Irish breakfast and
it's going to include all of the traditional things imported
from Ireland, like the black and white pudding, Irish sausages.
Well so so black pudding, also known as blood pudding,
is actually a breakfast item made from the blood and
(11:09):
the fat and other pieces of the animal that they
didn't want to waste. We didn't waste anything in Ireland,
and they put it with oats and it's fried up
and it maybe sounds not as good as it tastes.
I can assure you it's delicious, but it also includes
you know, iro sausage, scrambled eggs, fried tomatoes, and it'll
(11:29):
come with a coffee or a tea and we've you know,
it's I coffee or an Irish coffee or on Iris tea,
depending on your preferences on a Sunday morning. And I
think people are gonna.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
Really like it.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
That's awesome. So you talked about your grandmother and the recipes.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Great, great, great, Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
What was what was so unique about their recipes?
Speaker 2 (11:50):
Well, I think that it was just the I don't
think Ireland gets enough credit for the deliciousness and the
hardiness of the food.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
I think that that catches people by surprise.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
So you talk a lot about Mexican food or text
mex or Italian food or even Chinese food, but Irish
food is really really wonderful, and especially in September, a
little stew to warm you up at night. And so
I think that what was important is the authenticity and
the heartiness of a meal that you know, we altered
(12:21):
the recipes slightly to serve a cast of thousands as
opposed to a small family dinner. But what's really cool
is we have a sponsored by five Farms Irish Cream.
We have a Celtic Kitchen demo area, so a lot
of the recipes and the baked goods that we're making
and selling at our food booths, you can come and
learn how we're doing it. You can learn the recipe,
(12:42):
you can take a sample, and you can really understand
the process of the cooking, the ingredients involved from experts
and chefs that and bakers that are really really good
at this.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
What are some of your favorites the Irish do?
Speaker 2 (12:55):
I just have the almost full stop there. I can't
get enough of it. We made some for a golf
out we had this past weekend and I had to
take three takeout containers home to freeze for some point
for me. But it is a you know, there's there's
something for everyone. We even have a vendor coming and
doing a vegan vegetarian spin on a lot of the
traditional Irish dishes, so there's really something for everyone. You know,
(13:17):
even if you've got you know, special dietary need a restriction,
we've got you covered well.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
Speaking of special dietary needs, you know, you can't have
an Irish festival without some adult beverages. That's true, and
you have what do you have this? What are some
some featured beverages this year.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Yeah, So the first thing I gotta mention is the
beer Guinness Harpsmittis. They're going to be, you know, our
featured beers and they are well loved. The new thing
we're doing this year is we're offering a reasonable cup,
so if you to for environmentally reason, So if you
get a reasonable cup, you get to discount on all
the remaining beers that you drink while you're there. So
worth noting that our sustainability and initiatives are growing. But
(13:56):
we also have a cider which is great for a
gluten free option. Got different flavors from coming from cider boys.
We're partnering with five Farms Irish Cream to be the
official Irish cream in the festival. Dublin or Irish Whiskey
which has a Steeler select specialty whiskey. We'll be doing
sampling and some fun cocktails throughout the site. And new
(14:17):
this year is we're going to be featuring bun Raddy mead,
which is a honey based wine that comes out of Ireland.
Some people may have gone over and gone to the
Bunratty Castle and had some fun experiencing what those those
Castle dinners are like. And we're going to be doing
some fun drinks with them and it's going to be
a really great, great Irish product to feature.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
The Pittsburgh Irish Festival. It's been going on for over
thirty years September fifth through the seventh. This year, once again,
it's going to be at the same location as last year,
the carry Blast Furnaces. Get more information at Pgirishfest dot org.
We're talking to their executive director, Mareon Patron. I want
to get into the music, but you mentioned ear about
(15:00):
the Pittsburgh Steeler connection. Let's yeah, for those just tuning in,
tell us what's that's happening on the sixth.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Right, Yeah, So on Saturday, September sixth, folks can come
out and there'll be a big activation from the Steelers
who are kicking off their Ireland Game celebrations which will
be happening a few weeks later. There's going to be
forty yard dash is going to be giveaways of specialty
Ireland Steelers Ireland logo apparel and other items, and so
that is going to be a really fun activation that
(15:27):
we hope people come out and and right next to them,
we're going to be featuring some of our local Gaelic sports,
so it's going to be a really fun sport and
athletics area. We'll have stone lifting competitions, we'll have Gaelic football,
whirling camogie which is women's hurling, and there'll be a
lot of fun activation. What is it called camogi Camogi? Yeah,
(15:47):
it's the women's version.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
I like that. I like the name.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Come out, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
So there'll be a lot of fun activations for people
to kind of try their hand at different things and
also get a cultural historical lesson as well.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Well. You can't have an Irish Fest without Irish music,
and I'm sure you have plenty of entertainment throughout the weekend,
so let's talk about that for sure.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
I think it's an important to say that one of
the things that we really like doing is featuring different
kinds of Irish music, anything from balladeer's to traditional to
Celtic rock to some modern takes, and there's something for everyone.
So if you're more of a traditional taste and Irish music,
we've got that for you. If you want something new
and fresh, we've got that for you. If you like dancers,
we've got that for you too. A new thing we're
(16:30):
doing this year. We're calling it the Bauron Blitz, and
the Bauern is the official Irish drum that has played.
We've got tons of bowron players that perform at the
festival every year. They're coming together to do we've never
done this before. We did it with the fiddles, but
they're coming together to do kind of.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
Like a Bauron drums.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Like, Yeah, they're going to be maybe doing some fun solos,
They're going to be doing some little Baueron competitions. We
might throw in a dancer to help with some of
the beats. So that's going to be really cool. Going
to feature all of the festivals Bawern players from all
of the bands, So we're talking you know, local musicians
through national and international Baeron players that are going to
be participating.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
You're not at all passionate about this, No, not at all? Yeah,
well yeah, what what are you looking forward to seeing
Bawon Blitz?
Speaker 3 (17:19):
For sure?
Speaker 2 (17:19):
I mean that's that's going to be something unique that
no other festival's done. You may have never seen before.
So I'm really excited about that. There's also some some
new musicians and some returning musicians that I love. One
I'll mention is Elias Alexander. This this guy has taken
traditional Celtic music and sampled them into electronic dance music.
(17:41):
And we're going to throw a wild party when he's
on stage. Also kind of young and fresh and who's
been with the festival for This will be her fourth years.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
Ali the Piper.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
She's coming with her full band, and I think if
you haven't seen her yet or heard of her yet,
follow her online. I promise you won't regret it. And
if you come out to see her, you're going to
really love what she does on the bagpipes. Some of
the another returning groups of the Drowsey Lads, really awesome
traditional band out of the Columbus area, the Bridgidines founded
(18:10):
in honor of same Bridget's and so we've talked about
her and featuring Grammy Award winner an Emmy nominated Eileen Ivers,
the original fiddle player from Urba Dance. Oh, she'll be
there with her band, the Brigidines, the FitzGeralds, which is
an awesome family band who do this really great mix
of music and dance and I think people are going
to be really pleasantly surprised to see that band. And
I got to mention the Screaming Orphans in Gaelic Storm.
(18:32):
They have been longtime festival favorites and we have just
been honored to have them perform at our festival for
so long and they throw quite the party as well.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
Do other cities have Irish festivals? And yeah, how do
we compare well?
Speaker 3 (18:47):
So you know we're there's no competition.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
There's actually an association of Irish and Celtic Festivals and
I'm actually the vice president of the organization and there
are i would say at least one hundred and fifty
Irish and Celtic festival highland game organizations throughout the country
and Canada, and we actually have an annual conference and
we get together and we share best practices. We talk
about music, we talk about vendors, we talk about all
(19:12):
the things.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
That can continue.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
You know, I think it's strengthen numbers to make sure
our festivals continue to exist. In terms of comparisons, I
will for sure say we've got the best food, no
offense to my fellow colleagues, We've got the best food.
We all have the same things, maybe just on a
different scale. So Milwaukee, Doublin, Ohio, Kansas City, they all
have really amazing large scale festivals. We're probably on the
(19:37):
medium range getting about twenty to twenty five thousand people.
They get over one hundred thousand people in three days.
But there's also festivals in the area that get one
to three thousand people that are phenomenal festivals, and they've
got all the same things, some of the same bands,
some of the same vendor, some of the same food,
and so as far as comparison goes, you know, we
want if I were listening to this, I recommend you
(19:59):
travel the country attending all the festivals and you might
have the best year of your life.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
Yeah, I bet so. Do you get to visit some
of these festivals?
Speaker 3 (20:07):
Yeah, fortunately I do.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Yeah. Have you ever been? Have you been to Ireland?
Speaker 3 (20:11):
I have been Ireland. I'm the director of the Pittsburgh
Irish Festival in Ireland. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
I've been very fortunate enough to go, and also fortunate
enough to go to visit the other ars festivals. I mean,
some of these festival directors are my best friends. We've
got a group chat. We talked about a lot.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Right, Okay, Well, you know I didn't mean to offend
you that I didn't think you were capable of going
to Ireland.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Oh no, no.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
But if you go to Ireland, do they accept you
as like, you know, like a special VIP for somebody
who puts on who extends their their Irish culture.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
I don't know if I.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Would use the word VIP, but the Government of Ireland
is incredibly supportive and they we even received grant funding
from them because part of their mission is to engage
the Irish diaspora. I mean, there's more Irish in the
world outside of Ireland than the population of Ireland, and
for many different reasons. And I think that they're thrilled
(21:03):
with what we do. And one of the important things
we do at festivals is we want to share the
history of Ireland and the traditions of Ireland, but we
also want to talk about what Ireland is like now.
So we feature as much as we can about their
current culture and current interests and also what their goals
are going into the future as a country. And so
it's not just about hey, you know, we do this
(21:24):
and this, but it's really about why certain things are
happening the way that they are, and.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
So yeah, I wouldn't say VIP.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
I just think that they appreciate the desire to celebrate
celebrate their country.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
You know, I love to travel, and yeah, I've met
so many people who've gone to Ireland and each one
says it's life changing. It's like, oh my god, it
is the most beautiful country you've ever seen. You have
to go.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
Yes, absolutely, it's gorgeous. I mean people forget it's an island.
I mean the sea surrounding it, the cliffs of More.
I mean that we're not kidding when we talk about
many shades of green there are. It is beautiful landscapes.
There's also cities. When you go in to Dublin, it's
a city.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
And compare the cities to maybe a city here in
the United States. Is there any kind of comparison.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
It depends on which city you're going to, Okay, so
I would say in Dublin, yes, I think Dublin is
similar to Pittsburgh and all the things that are offered
in terms of transportation, in terms of infrastructure.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
Businesses. There's a lot of businesses.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
That are headquartered in Ireland, A lot of pharmaceutical companies,
a lot of cred card companies. There's a lot of
companies that have chosen to be there. But then when
you go out into the countryside, you know they have
I guess similar to Pennsylvania, but like vast land farmlands
with roaming animals, sheep like they're not kidding when you
might have to stop your car for a sheep or
(22:47):
a call in the middle of the road. But it
is older, right, I mean, you're seeing a much older
country with a very very vast history all the way
back to ancient Celtic roots and then some mix between
them because of the way that Ireland was conquered people
that were traveling in and out of it, the Celtic
nations as a whole. We're giving away a trip to
(23:08):
Ireland at the festival Nice. So if you're listening, come
on out to the festival. You can buy a raffle
ticket and you can get over there and see it
all for yourself.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
And when did your family come to the New World?
Speaker 2 (23:19):
So I don't know if I have an exact date
on that, but I know my ancestors came to Pittsburgh
for opportunity. And what's cool about being at the Carey
furnace property is. That's where a lot of Irish people.
That's why a lot of Irish people came to Pittsburgh
was because there was opportunities in industry with the steel
mills and the furnaces and people.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
Not everybody wanted to hire.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
The Irish, but they came over and they there. I mean,
they helped build railroads, they helped build some of the
skyscrapers we have here in the city and throughout the
country was built by irishmen and women.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
All Right, So we're talking about the Irish Festival, which
will be here before you know it September fifth through
the seventh. Uh. It's going to be at the Carrie
Blast Furnaces. This is the fourth year in a row. Right.
You can get your tickets and get more information on
some of the events at pg hirishfest dot org. We're
talking to Maren, who's the executive director. So tell me
(24:17):
about your team, the people who are working behind the
scenes for this for this event.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
You know, I appreciate you asking that because that every
everybody I'm going to mention as people that I love dearly.
This or this festival is put on by a group
of primarily volunteers who give their time because they love
the Irish Festival, they love the culture, they love supporting
(24:44):
this organization and the camaraderie that we've created. We joke
that the Ars Festival is a family and it's you know,
my cousin says, the Irish Festival is like Hotel California.
You can check in, but you can't check back out.
We scoop you in and you become part of the
folds of the love of our Irish Festival family. And
(25:06):
you know, the number one supporter of the festival for
me is my wife Brittany, who listens to every idea
that I have. She helps me figure things out, and
then she's there serving Irish do all weekend long and
helping us set up and make the food. I mentioned
My mom and my aunt Nan, who found at the festival.
They're there helping my dad. He's our operations director. I
(25:27):
don't think I could do this thing without him, and
I hope I never have to. But we also have
you know, my brother and sister are in law involved,
my my nephews are involved, my cousins and family friends
are involved. My best friends are involved that I've known
for my whole life that they come out and support,
and so it really is a family. And I have
yet to be able to find the words to thank
(25:50):
them accurately for their contributions to this organization. And so
I hope they listen to this and.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
Grateful I'm the award winning all right, So we only
have a couple of minutes left, So let's kind of
recap everything that people need to know. I already said.
It's at the carry Blast furnaces September fifth through the seventh.
It's always the week after Labor Day. Let's talk about
the food.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
Okay, delicious food, Irish stew, Shepherd's pie, fish and chips, Doublin, Coddle,
cold Canon, the list goes on and on and on.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
And you have a special breakfast on Sunday morning.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
Sunday September seventh. You can pre order our traditional Irish breakfast.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
And of course we can't mention the Irish Festival without
mentioning some of the adult beverages.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
Yeah, for sure, Guinness, Harps midtis Bunratty meat, Doublin or
Irish whiskey, cider, Boys Cider, and we also have non
alcoholic options.
Speaker 3 (26:46):
It's worth mentioning and.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
Of course it's family friendly too. And let's talk about
the entertainment.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Gaelic storm, screaming Orphans, Ali the Piper, Elias, Alexander Bastard,
Bearded Irishman, the Low Kings, the Fitzgairer Old's County Mayo,
Abbotts Cross, Devilish Mary, on and on and on.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
Are you going to miss some of those? And they're
they're all going.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
To hear this, yes, well they all they are all
loved very much by I mean, do you.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
Have any special sponsors that you want to mention?
Speaker 2 (27:14):
Well, I got to mention Doublin or Irish Whiskey. They
are the official Amphitheater sponsor of our festival this year
and they have come in a big way to support
us and they've got some new products out. They've got
a Doublin Air Fiery Whiskey which is kind of similar
to Fireball but like way better so them for sure
and bun Raddy Mead, you know, product out of Ireland
(27:37):
and you know, and againness of course, I we're.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
Grateful for their support.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
And of course if you're just tuning in and there's
a connection with the Pittsburgh Steelers this year. About that.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
Yeah, come on out Saturday September sixth to uh see
an activation from the group at the Steelers forty Yard
Dash giveaways with their Ireland and logo.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
You won't be disappointed.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
You're getting ready for the game that's going to be
playing in Ireland later in the in September.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
I recommend coming and getting the traditional Irish breakfast and
then you'll know what to cook for the nine thirty
am kickoff time.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
All right, we only have one minute left. Is there
anything that we didn't cover that you really want people
to know about the Irish Festival?
Speaker 2 (28:15):
Get your tickets now, they're cheaper in advance. Kids are
free and everything you need to know is available at
our website Pgchirishfest dot org. And if you want to
come in for free, sign up for a volunteer shift.
Speaker 3 (28:26):
We can. We can really use you.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
There you go, food and beverages and entertainment. It's the
thirty fourth year. Although I say twenty, I still say
twenty five. The Pittsburgh Irish Festival September fifth through the seventh,
carry blast furnaces. Get more information at Pghirishfest dot org.
Marit it's always a pleasure. This is always fun. Thank
(28:49):
you so much and good luck with you V Thank you.
I appreciate it as always. If you have any comments, concerns,
or an idea for a future program, please email us
from this radio station's website. I'm Johnny Hart. Well, thank
you so much much for listening. Hi.
Speaker 4 (29:14):
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the road for us. I've learned a lot on this
journey with my Grandpa Lou, and the memories of my
grandpa will always be with me. It's important to notice
(29:35):
if older family members are acting differently, experiencing problems with
their memory.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
Or having trouble with routine tasks.
Speaker 4 (29:40):
Talking about Alzheimer's can be really tough, but if you
notice something, have a conversation with your level, encourage them
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(30:03):
your family are noticing changes, it could be Alzheimer's talk
about seeing a doctor together. Visit alz dot org slash
time to talk. A message from the Alzheimer's Association and
the ad Counsel
And welcome in. This is a public affairs program shedding
the light on the interest and issues and concerns of
the greater Pittsburgh area. My name is Johnny Hartwell, thank
you for joining us this morning. I'm sorry I have
to make a correction. It's the award winning public affairs program.
We have executive director of the Pittsburgh Irish Festival, Maren
Patrol back in the studio. You Yeah, we won.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
A prize, won an award of the best Media Program
from the International Festival and Events Association.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Not only is it a an award, but it's an
international It is never won anything alone internationally.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
We were up against events and programs from throughout the
entire world and we won in our category.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
It couldn't have been me. It must have been you.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I think it was. It was a dual effort. Yes,
I couldn't have done it alone and you could have
done alone.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
It's so good to see you again. How's the family,
how's the how's the how's the baby?
Speaker 2 (01:00):
The baby's great Parker. She's fifteen months old. Now she's
running around. She's keeping us on our toes. But we're excited.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Okay, what's more work putting on the Pittsburgh Irish Festival
or taking care of a fifteen year old that fifteen
month old.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Well, the fifteen month old's cuter, but I'll tell you
probably the hardest thing is taking care of a fifteen
month old while also planning the pittsf Festival.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Well, it's going to be here before you know it, Yes,
September fifth through the seventh, and once again it's going
to be at the Carrie Carrie Blast Furnaces. So tell
us everything we need to know about the event.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Well, we're back for our fourth year at Carrie Furnace
and we're celebrating our thirty fourth annual Pittsburgh Irish Festival.
We've been in business for thirty five years. We just
said the one year off for COVID and we have
You don't count that year, Well, we count that year
as being in business, but we didn't host the.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Festival, Okay, Well, we were there in spirit.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
We were all there in spirit. We did a lot
of fundational programming, but that's all in the past now.
So we're excited to be welcoming everybody back to our
wonderful festival and we've got a lot of fun and
new exciting things going on, and there's particular attention on
Ireland and Irish culture right now with the Steelers set
it over to Dublin.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Kind of just a few weeks after the festival.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
I hadn't heard.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Oh, I know, we're certainly getting.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
The word out about it, but there's a lot of
fun stuff going on, and we hope everyone will we'll
come out and join us this year.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
All right, So September fifth through the seventh, and you're
back in the same location as the last year. But
to tell us all the events, I mean, it's we've
got we only have thirty minutes, so let's go.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Okay, we won't overdo. We'll get to the important stuff.
So the first thing I want to mention is, speaking
of the Pittsburgh Steelers. They're going to be doing an
activation at the festival on Saturday, September sixth as sort
of the official kickoff to the excitement around the Dublin
game that they're having at the end of September.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Gotcha.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
So they're going to be on site.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
They're going to be doing some giveaways of their Dublin
Ireland logo appair. We're going to be allowing guests to
run a forty yard dash and see how they do.
There's going to be maybe an inflatable for kicking field goals,
but there should be a lot of fun activities from
the Steelers on the sixth.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
So how did you make the connection? Did you go
to the steeling Well, so, we've always.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Had a slight connection because of their Irish history with
the Rooneys and the Ireland Fund, and this year they
reached out and wanting to support local Irish organizations and
really get people excited about this trip. And I think
as much attention that we're going to have on Dublin, Ireland,
Ireland's going to have on Pittsburgh and so this is
a great opportunity to showcase the way we celebrate Irish
(03:36):
culture here.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
The Steelers needed to raise some excitement about the trip
to Ireland. It was the worst cap secret for six months.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Right right.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Well, you know, I think that that this is really
an opportunity for them. They're very excited to be getting
back to the community and doing some outreaching.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
It is kind of a cool location that no doubt,
and with the you know, the Rooney family, with the
Irish connection, that makes makes all the sense in the
world in Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh's we have the right to be
excited about anything the Stealers do, but something like this
is even cooler.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Well, and it all ties together, right, So it's the
Pittsburgh Steelers doing an activation at the Pittsburgh Irish Festival
on like a old former US steel property. So we're
just kind of tired tying it all together for everyone.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Can you name names? Do you know any of the
names that are going to be stopping by?
Speaker 2 (04:23):
So I'm not sure yet, but I can tell you
that there will be a lot of fun giveaways. I
don't know how many appearances from Steelers will get considering
they have their season opener on the Sunday of our festival, right,
but we will have a lot of their marketing team
on site.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Oh some really cool stuff, all right.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
So it starts on the fifth, So tell me what
goes on on that day.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Well, so the first day, the most important thing I
should mention is that if you arrive before six pm,
you can get into the festival for just ten dollars.
We call it our happy hour pricing, and it's an
opportunity for people to get in and get a good
look at the festival before anybody else at a pretty
low rate. But that night we're going to be doing
a really fun.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Let me stop you there. Yeah, so Irish people are
interested in happy Hour.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
I did choking, I know, right, shocking, But there's more
to see than.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Just suggesting overflowing with sarcism.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
I know, I understand, but there's gonna be more to
do than just than just you know, enjoy a beer.
But we've got some really great new musicians that'll be
there on Friday night, and were we always invite college
students to come out on Friday night and and other
young people. We're going to be having some sort of
Celtic electronic dance music fusion going on that night with
(05:32):
a gentleman named Elias Alexander who has really put his
Celtic musical roots onto some fun, new exciting technology. I'm
really excited for people to see that. But that's just
the big kickoff of a really fun weekend that day.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
So it's music, food, and lots and lots of music,
and it goes you said thirty five years, although this
is thirty fourth. You don't count the COVID year. I am,
I am all right, all right, So how did this
all start because it started with your family.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Right, Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
So in nineteen ninety one, my mom, Mara Kushinsky, and
her sister Nan Krishinsky had the idea to create a
celebration beyond St. Patrick's Day in Pittsburgh for the Irish culture.
And the first year was at the Station Square property
that is now High Market Stadium for the soccer teams
and it was a great success. People were really interested
(06:21):
in attending it. It was kind of that halfway point
in the calendar, so it was a nice diside just
about yeah. And so it's been the weekend after Labor
Day since that very first festival, and it's grown tremendously.
And since then the nonprofit has launched our Irish Education
and Outreach program that has been for these thirty five
years doing educational and cultural programming all year round beyond
(06:45):
just the festival, and we've really grown tremendously. We host
other events throughout the year, We participate in other events
throughout the year, and our goal ad mission really is
to just have as much Irish celebration and education going
on as possible.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
All Right, the Pittsburgh Irish Festival, Carrie Blast furnaces coming
up on September fifth and seventh the website. If somebody
wants more information.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
People can find more information and get their tickets at
pg irishfest dot org.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
You said, you mentioned just a few minutes ago that
you do something more than just the festival. Let's dig
in a little deeper to that. What exactly do you do.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Yeah, So one of our biggest new signature events that
we started a few years ago was Bridget and Bridget
is a celebration of Saint Bridget, who is It's a
non religious celebration of Saint Bridget, who is one of
the three patron saints of Ireland. There's Saint Patrick, Saint
Bridget and Saint Clunkil, and we really realized not that
many people know about her, and we said, let's start
(07:44):
getting the word out about her and creating awareness. And
so we've started this event to sold out crowds for
the last the last three years and it happens in February,
so it's a few months after the festival. It features
all female headlining bands and entertainers, female dan We bring
in women owned vendors and crafts persons and it's a
(08:04):
really really fun musical celebration and awareness creator of this
really amazing woman who had so much to do with
the development of Irish culture. I mean, she's the patron
saint of beer. Most people don't know that, you know.
I mean some people turn water into wine, but she
turned water and a beer and I think people love
that too.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
So that's a great event we do throughout the year.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
We also participate in the People's Guest Holiday Market and
Market Square every year, making sure that the Irish culture
is represented there. We host an annual golf outing, and
then throughout the year we do smaller things where we
go to schools or senior centers and will present Irish
culture and programming and educational opportunities. What do you do
so depending on the scenario. For example, we hosted an
(08:48):
assembly at Sacred Heart Elementary School back in February about
Saint Bridget and we taught the kids who she was,
the history, the.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Significant of the beer.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
We left out the beer for sure, So but this
was a we had students from kindergarten through eighth grade,
actually preschool through eighth grade come out that we taught
them and Irish stands. They learned about Irish music, they
learned about Saint Bridget and her ties to poetry and
Bridget's crosses, And there was over five hundred students that
just got to get exposed to Irish culture and have
(09:20):
another None of them had heard of Saint Bridget prior
to that assembly.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
This is my first my first time too.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Yeah, okay, well there we go. So we got to
do a better job.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
You mentioned she's connected the beer.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
I was all in, all right, yeah, but she's so
much more than that too. I mean, she's, you know,
like the goddess of fertility and the goddess of physicians
and poetry, and she really has had a significant role
on culture.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
Good good for her. All right, So the Irish Festival,
we'll get to the adult drinks, but let's talk about
the food that's happening at the festival.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
Oh my favorite part.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
You mean, so we have, what I would say, and
no offense to my other festival director friends, the Irish
food at any festival in the country that you can get.
We are making my great great great grandmother Hannah Mary's
recipes that she brought over when she came over from
Ireland to the Pittsburgh area.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
And so we've got Irish.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Stew we've got bread pudding, We've got shepherd's pie, We've
got cold cannon, We've got Dublin cottle, We've got fish
and chips, We've got scones and soda bread, and you know,
I can go.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
On and on and on. I know you're hungry.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Almost launched time, so but new this year, and we've
been kind of flirting with doing this for some time.
We're going to be featuring a traditional Irish breakfast, which
for those who go to Ireland and well, you can
have one. We're not going to tell you no if
you want to have one, though it does usually include
an Irish coffee. But we're going to be on Sunday,
(10:48):
September seventh. You can pre order an Irish breakfast and
it's going to include all of the traditional things imported
from Ireland, like the black and white pudding, Irish sausages.
Well so so black pudding, also known as blood pudding,
is actually a breakfast item made from the blood and
(11:09):
the fat and other pieces of the animal that they
didn't want to waste. We didn't waste anything in Ireland,
and they put it with oats and it's fried up
and it maybe sounds not as good as it tastes.
I can assure you it's delicious, but it also includes
you know, iro sausage, scrambled eggs, fried tomatoes, and it'll
(11:29):
come with a coffee or a tea and we've you know,
it's I coffee or an Irish coffee or on Iris tea,
depending on your preferences on a Sunday morning. And I
think people are gonna.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
Really like it.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
That's awesome. So you talked about your grandmother and the recipes.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Great, great, great, Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
What was what was so unique about their recipes?
Speaker 2 (11:50):
Well, I think that it was just the I don't
think Ireland gets enough credit for the deliciousness and the
hardiness of the food.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
I think that that catches people by surprise.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
So you talk a lot about Mexican food or text
mex or Italian food or even Chinese food, but Irish
food is really really wonderful, and especially in September, a
little stew to warm you up at night. And so
I think that what was important is the authenticity and
the heartiness of a meal that you know, we altered
(12:21):
the recipes slightly to serve a cast of thousands as
opposed to a small family dinner. But what's really cool
is we have a sponsored by five Farms Irish Cream.
We have a Celtic Kitchen demo area, so a lot
of the recipes and the baked goods that we're making
and selling at our food booths, you can come and
learn how we're doing it. You can learn the recipe,
(12:42):
you can take a sample, and you can really understand
the process of the cooking, the ingredients involved from experts
and chefs that and bakers that are really really good
at this.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
What are some of your favorites the Irish do?
Speaker 2 (12:55):
I just have the almost full stop there. I can't
get enough of it. We made some for a golf
out we had this past weekend and I had to
take three takeout containers home to freeze for some point
for me. But it is a you know, there's there's
something for everyone. We even have a vendor coming and
doing a vegan vegetarian spin on a lot of the
traditional Irish dishes, so there's really something for everyone. You know,
(13:17):
even if you've got you know, special dietary need a restriction,
we've got you covered well.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
Speaking of special dietary needs, you know, you can't have
an Irish festival without some adult beverages. That's true, and
you have what do you have this? What are some
some featured beverages this year.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Yeah, So the first thing I gotta mention is the
beer Guinness Harpsmittis. They're going to be, you know, our
featured beers and they are well loved. The new thing
we're doing this year is we're offering a reasonable cup,
so if you to for environmentally reason, So if you
get a reasonable cup, you get to discount on all
the remaining beers that you drink while you're there. So
worth noting that our sustainability and initiatives are growing. But
(13:56):
we also have a cider which is great for a
gluten free option. Got different flavors from coming from cider boys.
We're partnering with five Farms Irish Cream to be the
official Irish cream in the festival. Dublin or Irish Whiskey
which has a Steeler select specialty whiskey. We'll be doing
sampling and some fun cocktails throughout the site. And new
(14:17):
this year is we're going to be featuring bun Raddy mead,
which is a honey based wine that comes out of Ireland.
Some people may have gone over and gone to the
Bunratty Castle and had some fun experiencing what those those
Castle dinners are like. And we're going to be doing
some fun drinks with them and it's going to be
a really great, great Irish product to feature.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
The Pittsburgh Irish Festival. It's been going on for over
thirty years September fifth through the seventh. This year, once again,
it's going to be at the same location as last year,
the carry Blast Furnaces. Get more information at Pgirishfest dot org.
We're talking to their executive director, Mareon Patron. I want
to get into the music, but you mentioned ear about
(15:00):
the Pittsburgh Steeler connection. Let's yeah, for those just tuning in,
tell us what's that's happening on the sixth.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Right, Yeah, So on Saturday, September sixth, folks can come
out and there'll be a big activation from the Steelers
who are kicking off their Ireland Game celebrations which will
be happening a few weeks later. There's going to be
forty yard dash is going to be giveaways of specialty
Ireland Steelers Ireland logo apparel and other items, and so
that is going to be a really fun activation that
(15:27):
we hope people come out and and right next to them,
we're going to be featuring some of our local Gaelic sports,
so it's going to be a really fun sport and
athletics area. We'll have stone lifting competitions, we'll have Gaelic football,
whirling camogie which is women's hurling, and there'll be a
lot of fun activation. What is it called camogi Camogi? Yeah,
(15:47):
it's the women's version.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
I like that. I like the name.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Come out, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
So there'll be a lot of fun activations for people
to kind of try their hand at different things and
also get a cultural historical lesson as well.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Well. You can't have an Irish Fest without Irish music,
and I'm sure you have plenty of entertainment throughout the weekend,
so let's talk about that for sure.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
I think it's an important to say that one of
the things that we really like doing is featuring different
kinds of Irish music, anything from balladeer's to traditional to
Celtic rock to some modern takes, and there's something for everyone.
So if you're more of a traditional taste and Irish music,
we've got that for you. If you want something new
and fresh, we've got that for you. If you like dancers,
we've got that for you too. A new thing we're
(16:30):
doing this year. We're calling it the Bauron Blitz, and
the Bauern is the official Irish drum that has played.
We've got tons of bowron players that perform at the
festival every year. They're coming together to do we've never
done this before. We did it with the fiddles, but
they're coming together to do kind of.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
Like a Bauron drums.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Like, Yeah, they're going to be maybe doing some fun solos,
They're going to be doing some little Baueron competitions. We
might throw in a dancer to help with some of
the beats. So that's going to be really cool. Going
to feature all of the festivals Bawern players from all
of the bands, So we're talking you know, local musicians
through national and international Baeron players that are going to
be participating.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
You're not at all passionate about this, No, not at all? Yeah,
well yeah, what what are you looking forward to seeing
Bawon Blitz?
Speaker 3 (17:19):
For sure?
Speaker 2 (17:19):
I mean that's that's going to be something unique that
no other festival's done. You may have never seen before.
So I'm really excited about that. There's also some some
new musicians and some returning musicians that I love. One
I'll mention is Elias Alexander. This this guy has taken
traditional Celtic music and sampled them into electronic dance music.
(17:41):
And we're going to throw a wild party when he's
on stage. Also kind of young and fresh and who's
been with the festival for This will be her fourth years.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
Ali the Piper.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
She's coming with her full band, and I think if
you haven't seen her yet or heard of her yet,
follow her online. I promise you won't regret it. And
if you come out to see her, you're going to
really love what she does on the bagpipes. Some of
the another returning groups of the Drowsey Lads, really awesome
traditional band out of the Columbus area, the Bridgidines founded
(18:10):
in honor of same Bridget's and so we've talked about
her and featuring Grammy Award winner an Emmy nominated Eileen Ivers,
the original fiddle player from Urba Dance. Oh, she'll be
there with her band, the Brigidines, the FitzGeralds, which is
an awesome family band who do this really great mix
of music and dance and I think people are going
to be really pleasantly surprised to see that band. And
I got to mention the Screaming Orphans in Gaelic Storm.
(18:32):
They have been longtime festival favorites and we have just
been honored to have them perform at our festival for
so long and they throw quite the party as well.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
Do other cities have Irish festivals? And yeah, how do
we compare well?
Speaker 3 (18:47):
So you know we're there's no competition.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
There's actually an association of Irish and Celtic Festivals and
I'm actually the vice president of the organization and there
are i would say at least one hundred and fifty
Irish and Celtic festival highland game organizations throughout the country
and Canada, and we actually have an annual conference and
we get together and we share best practices. We talk
about music, we talk about vendors, we talk about all
(19:12):
the things.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
That can continue.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
You know, I think it's strengthen numbers to make sure
our festivals continue to exist. In terms of comparisons, I
will for sure say we've got the best food, no
offense to my fellow colleagues, We've got the best food.
We all have the same things, maybe just on a
different scale. So Milwaukee, Doublin, Ohio, Kansas City, they all
have really amazing large scale festivals. We're probably on the
(19:37):
medium range getting about twenty to twenty five thousand people.
They get over one hundred thousand people in three days.
But there's also festivals in the area that get one
to three thousand people that are phenomenal festivals, and they've
got all the same things, some of the same bands,
some of the same vendor, some of the same food,
and so as far as comparison goes, you know, we
want if I were listening to this, I recommend you
(19:59):
travel the country attending all the festivals and you might
have the best year of your life.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
Yeah, I bet so. Do you get to visit some
of these festivals?
Speaker 3 (20:07):
Yeah, fortunately I do.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Yeah. Have you ever been? Have you been to Ireland?
Speaker 3 (20:11):
I have been Ireland. I'm the director of the Pittsburgh
Irish Festival in Ireland. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
I've been very fortunate enough to go, and also fortunate
enough to go to visit the other ars festivals. I mean,
some of these festival directors are my best friends. We've
got a group chat. We talked about a lot.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Right, Okay, Well, you know I didn't mean to offend
you that I didn't think you were capable of going
to Ireland.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Oh no, no.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
But if you go to Ireland, do they accept you
as like, you know, like a special VIP for somebody
who puts on who extends their their Irish culture.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
I don't know if I.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Would use the word VIP, but the Government of Ireland
is incredibly supportive and they we even received grant funding
from them because part of their mission is to engage
the Irish diaspora. I mean, there's more Irish in the
world outside of Ireland than the population of Ireland, and
for many different reasons. And I think that they're thrilled
(21:03):
with what we do. And one of the important things
we do at festivals is we want to share the
history of Ireland and the traditions of Ireland, but we
also want to talk about what Ireland is like now.
So we feature as much as we can about their
current culture and current interests and also what their goals
are going into the future as a country. And so
it's not just about hey, you know, we do this
(21:24):
and this, but it's really about why certain things are
happening the way that they are, and.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
So yeah, I wouldn't say VIP.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
I just think that they appreciate the desire to celebrate
celebrate their country.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
You know, I love to travel, and yeah, I've met
so many people who've gone to Ireland and each one
says it's life changing. It's like, oh my god, it
is the most beautiful country you've ever seen. You have
to go.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
Yes, absolutely, it's gorgeous. I mean people forget it's an island.
I mean the sea surrounding it, the cliffs of More.
I mean that we're not kidding when we talk about
many shades of green there are. It is beautiful landscapes.
There's also cities. When you go in to Dublin, it's
a city.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
And compare the cities to maybe a city here in
the United States. Is there any kind of comparison.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
It depends on which city you're going to, Okay, so
I would say in Dublin, yes, I think Dublin is
similar to Pittsburgh and all the things that are offered
in terms of transportation, in terms of infrastructure.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
Businesses. There's a lot of businesses.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
That are headquartered in Ireland, A lot of pharmaceutical companies,
a lot of cred card companies. There's a lot of
companies that have chosen to be there. But then when
you go out into the countryside, you know they have
I guess similar to Pennsylvania, but like vast land farmlands
with roaming animals, sheep like they're not kidding when you
might have to stop your car for a sheep or
(22:47):
a call in the middle of the road. But it
is older, right, I mean, you're seeing a much older
country with a very very vast history all the way
back to ancient Celtic roots and then some mix between
them because of the way that Ireland was conquered people
that were traveling in and out of it, the Celtic
nations as a whole. We're giving away a trip to
(23:08):
Ireland at the festival Nice. So if you're listening, come
on out to the festival. You can buy a raffle
ticket and you can get over there and see it
all for yourself.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
And when did your family come to the New World?
Speaker 2 (23:19):
So I don't know if I have an exact date
on that, but I know my ancestors came to Pittsburgh
for opportunity. And what's cool about being at the Carey
furnace property is. That's where a lot of Irish people.
That's why a lot of Irish people came to Pittsburgh
was because there was opportunities in industry with the steel
mills and the furnaces and people.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
Not everybody wanted to hire.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
The Irish, but they came over and they there. I mean,
they helped build railroads, they helped build some of the
skyscrapers we have here in the city and throughout the
country was built by irishmen and women.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
All Right, So we're talking about the Irish Festival, which
will be here before you know it September fifth through
the seventh. Uh. It's going to be at the Carrie
Blast Furnaces. This is the fourth year in a row. Right.
You can get your tickets and get more information on
some of the events at pg hirishfest dot org. We're
talking to Maren, who's the executive director. So tell me
(24:17):
about your team, the people who are working behind the
scenes for this for this event.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
You know, I appreciate you asking that because that every
everybody I'm going to mention as people that I love dearly.
This or this festival is put on by a group
of primarily volunteers who give their time because they love
the Irish Festival, they love the culture, they love supporting
(24:44):
this organization and the camaraderie that we've created. We joke
that the Ars Festival is a family and it's you know,
my cousin says, the Irish Festival is like Hotel California.
You can check in, but you can't check back out.
We scoop you in and you become part of the
folds of the love of our Irish Festival family. And
(25:06):
you know, the number one supporter of the festival for
me is my wife Brittany, who listens to every idea
that I have. She helps me figure things out, and
then she's there serving Irish do all weekend long and
helping us set up and make the food. I mentioned
My mom and my aunt Nan, who found at the festival.
They're there helping my dad. He's our operations director. I
(25:27):
don't think I could do this thing without him, and
I hope I never have to. But we also have
you know, my brother and sister are in law involved,
my my nephews are involved, my cousins and family friends
are involved. My best friends are involved that I've known
for my whole life that they come out and support,
and so it really is a family. And I have
yet to be able to find the words to thank
(25:50):
them accurately for their contributions to this organization. And so
I hope they listen to this and.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
Grateful I'm the award winning all right, So we only
have a couple of minutes left, So let's kind of
recap everything that people need to know. I already said.
It's at the carry Blast furnaces September fifth through the seventh.
It's always the week after Labor Day. Let's talk about
the food.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
Okay, delicious food, Irish stew, Shepherd's pie, fish and chips, Doublin, Coddle,
cold Canon, the list goes on and on and on.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
And you have a special breakfast on Sunday morning.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
Sunday September seventh. You can pre order our traditional Irish breakfast.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
And of course we can't mention the Irish Festival without
mentioning some of the adult beverages.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
Yeah, for sure, Guinness, Harps midtis Bunratty meat, Doublin or
Irish whiskey, cider, Boys Cider, and we also have non
alcoholic options.
Speaker 3 (26:46):
It's worth mentioning and.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
Of course it's family friendly too. And let's talk about
the entertainment.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Gaelic storm, screaming Orphans, Ali the Piper, Elias, Alexander Bastard,
Bearded Irishman, the Low Kings, the Fitzgairer Old's County Mayo,
Abbotts Cross, Devilish Mary, on and on and on.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
Are you going to miss some of those? And they're
they're all going.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
To hear this, yes, well they all they are all
loved very much by I mean, do you.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
Have any special sponsors that you want to mention?
Speaker 2 (27:14):
Well, I got to mention Doublin or Irish Whiskey. They
are the official Amphitheater sponsor of our festival this year
and they have come in a big way to support
us and they've got some new products out. They've got
a Doublin Air Fiery Whiskey which is kind of similar
to Fireball but like way better so them for sure
and bun Raddy Mead, you know, product out of Ireland
(27:37):
and you know, and againness of course, I we're.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
Grateful for their support.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
And of course if you're just tuning in and there's
a connection with the Pittsburgh Steelers this year. About that.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
Yeah, come on out Saturday September sixth to uh see
an activation from the group at the Steelers forty Yard
Dash giveaways with their Ireland and logo.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
You won't be disappointed.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
You're getting ready for the game that's going to be
playing in Ireland later in the in September.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
I recommend coming and getting the traditional Irish breakfast and
then you'll know what to cook for the nine thirty
am kickoff time.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
All right, we only have one minute left. Is there
anything that we didn't cover that you really want people
to know about the Irish Festival?
Speaker 2 (28:15):
Get your tickets now, they're cheaper in advance. Kids are
free and everything you need to know is available at
our website Pgchirishfest dot org. And if you want to
come in for free, sign up for a volunteer shift.
Speaker 3 (28:26):
We can. We can really use you.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
There you go, food and beverages and entertainment. It's the
thirty fourth year. Although I say twenty, I still say
twenty five. The Pittsburgh Irish Festival September fifth through the seventh,
carry blast furnaces. Get more information at Pghirishfest dot org.
Marit it's always a pleasure. This is always fun. Thank
(28:49):
you so much and good luck with you V Thank you.
I appreciate it as always. If you have any comments, concerns,
or an idea for a future program, please email us
from this radio station's website. I'm Johnny Hart. Well, thank
you so much much for listening. Hi.
Speaker 4 (29:14):
I'm Ryan Blaney, a third generation race car driver, and
we dedicate a lot of our time to going as
fast as possible. My Grandpa Loo is the reason why
my dad and I started racing, and I'm really proud
to follow on his tracks. But when my grandpa was
diagnosed with Alzheimer's, it was a very unexpected bump in
the road for us. I've learned a lot on this
journey with my Grandpa Lou, and the memories of my
grandpa will always be with me. It's important to notice
(29:35):
if older family members are acting differently, experiencing problems with
their memory.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
Or having trouble with routine tasks.
Speaker 4 (29:40):
Talking about Alzheimer's can be really tough, but if you
notice something, have a conversation with your level, encourage them
to see a doctor or offer to go with them.
Early detection of Alzheimer's can give your family time to
explore support services, make a plan for the future, and
access available treatments. The Alzheimer's Association provides care, support and
research to help you take control of this situation with
your family and manage the disease together. If you or
(30:03):
your family are noticing changes, it could be Alzheimer's talk
about seeing a doctor together. Visit alz dot org slash
time to talk. A message from the Alzheimer's Association and
the ad Counsel
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