By Deborah Rose

A celebration of all things Irish will be held this weekend in downtown New Milford.

The Irish Festival, a two-day event that will have something for people of all ages, will kick off with an opening ceremony Saturday at noon.

It will continue that day until mid-evening, and be open again Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. on the picturesque Village Green.

Irish music, dancing, food and drinks, history, games, and more will be available. Among the entertainment will be The Ruffians, an Irish rock band that previously opened several times for Black 47; the local Thorne Academy Irish Dancing; and off-Broadway’s Thrapp Theatrics.

Local vendors, nonprofits and small businesses will also be on hand at the free festival.

Food and beverages, such as corned beef sandwiches, hamburgers, and hot dogs, Guinness, Harp and Smithwicks, will round out the event.

“We are very excited to share this (event),” said resident Chris Cosgrove, one of 13 founding members of the newly-formed Litchfield County Irish American Club (see story, below), which is co-sponsoring the event with the Town of New Milford. 

“We’re going to have a very authentically Irish festival with games, displays, music and dancing,” Cosgrove added.

This will be the second year in a row an Irish Festival will be held on the Green. Last year’s event, the Greater Danbury Irish Festival, was sponsored by the Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Center and the Ancient Order of Hibernians of Danbury, of which several members of the Litchfield County Irish American Club are also a part.

“What we found was the community loved the event last year,” Cosgrove related. “They loved it, not only for the music and the dance, which was spectacular, but they also loved the venue.”

“Having an event like that on the green is really special,” he said.

This year’s LCIAC-sponsored Irish Festival will be like last year’s event, bringing a sampling of Irish culture to the town’s center for all to enjoy.

“We want it to be a sense of community,” Cosgrove said of the event.

Cosgrove recalled the jovial atmosphere he recently experienced at one of the Bank Street Group-sponsored Rock the Block events. 

Once a month from summer through fall, Bank Street is closed, a live band performs, and guests set up lawn chairs and bring food and beverages to listen to the music. In addition, mini golf are life-size games are offered.

On a recent visit, as Cosgrove walked away from Bank Street to take his chairs to the car, he heard the music echo, children yelling to one another and laughing, and the crowd cheering.

“That’s what I want for the Irish Festival,” he said. “For people to be happy, having a good time.”

Two large tents will be set up. Entertainment will be provided under a 30’x90’ entertainment tent, while many activities will take place under guise of a cultural tent. 

In addition to top-notch entertainment, some of this year’s unique offerings include hands-on harp playing for children, sheaf throwing, and a display from the Ireland Great Hunger Museum.

“We’re really excited to have that and share the story behind it,” Cosgrove said.

ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP

SATURDAY

• Music by Kyle Mcgloughlin and guest at 12:15 p.m.
• Dancing with Thorne Academy Irish Dancing at 1:45 and 4 p.m.
• Music by Madz & The Ladz at 2:30 p.m.
• Music by Dave Patton Band at 4:45 p.m.
• Music by the Celtic Cross Pipe & Drums at 6:15 p.m.
• Music/performance by Thrapp Theatrics at 7 p.m.
• Music by The Ruffians at 7:30 p.m.

SUNDAY

• Music by Kyle Mcgloughlin and guest at 12:15 p.m.
• Dancing with Thorne Academy Irish Dancing at 1:45 p.m.
• Harpist at 2:15 p.m.
• Music by the Dave Patton Band at 3 p.m.
• Music The Kerry Boys at 4:30 p.m.

Note: Irish dancing will be performed at the cultural tent, while Irish games will be offered both days from 2 to 4 p.m. at the bandstand.

Who is the LCIAC?

Organization aims to ‘give back’ and make ‘impact on community’

The Litchfield County Irish American Club was formed by a group of individuals that wanted to honor and share Irish history and culture, while giving back to the community it serves.

In 2022, several members of the Ancient Order of the Hibernians and Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Center decided to form the LCIAC, a 501c3-pending organization. 

“As a group, we felt – and we want – to enjoy doing events (like the Irish Festival) because we have a passion for Irish culture and history,” said Chris Cosgrove, of New Milford, one of 13 founding members. 

Fellow founding member Stephen Looney, who remains a member with the Danbury group, agreed, adding that the LCIAC wants to have “a true impact on the community.”

That is accomplished by infusing the funds raised at events back into the community, according to Cosgrove.

One of the New Milford events several LCIAC members have been involved in is Irish Road Bowling.

This year, the Mike Douskey Memorial Irish Road Bowling Tournament was held in July. It is named for one of the first general LCIAC members who passed away in February. A portion of the proceeds from the event went to support the Douskey family, which continues to face health challenges.

“That’s the type of thing we want to do – give back,” Cosgrove said of the mission of the LCIAC.

Looney said his enjoyment of being part of the fabric of the community goes beyond their events. He appreciates the fact the group also supports local businesses by holding its meetings at restaurants around the community.

In addition to Irish Road Bowling and the Irish Festival, the organization is eager to get involved in community service projects.

Looney emphasized the LCIAC’s October work day at the American Legion hall. Members are going help repair steps with some supplies provided through a Home Depot donation.

“The idea is for us to make some money (at events) so we can do more, like the American Legion steps, or maybe give baskets to families at Thanksgiving or Christmas, or help a family in need if, for example, there’s a fire,” Looney explained. “We want to be able to help.”

Membership has already grown, with four new members, all their early 20s, joining at the organization’s last meeting. 

Not all are of Irish descent, but many are, according to Looney.

He credits members’ family as being an integral part of the club, too, with members’ spouses playing an active role.

Courtesy of the Litchfield County Irish American Club (LCIAC)

Courtesy of the LCIAC

Deborah Rose/A variety of food will be served at the Irish Festival, just like at last year's event, above.