[Archived] Alexandria Celebrates Annual Irish Festival on Saturday

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	August 1, 2006 PIO# 188-06/rdo	Brian Hannigan, Director of Communications, or Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

ALEXANDRIA CELEBRATES ANNUAL IRISH FESTIVAL ON SATURDAY

Entertainment Includes Irish Dancers, Pipes and Drums and Traditional Folk Music

The City of Alexandria will celebrate local Irish culture at the annual Irish Festival on Saturday, Aug. 5, from noon to 7 pm at Waterfront Park, located at Prince St. and the Potomac River. Admission is free and the festival will be held rain or shine.

“The Irish Festival has become a wonderful occasion for all Alexandria families to enjoy Irish culture in the heart of Alexandria,” said Pat Troy, founder of the Ballyshaners, Inc., a cosponsor of the festival. “We invite Alexandrians of all national origins to join us in celebrating our Irish heritage in dance and music.”

Entertainment includes the Maple School of Dance, Boyle School of Dance, Pat Garvey, Double Down, Jeff Phillips, Rocky Guttman, City of Alexandria Pipes & Drums, Washington Scottish Pipes and Drums, O’Neill-James School of Dance, Culkin School of Dance, The Flying Cows of Ventry, and the Lt. Col. Dowd Division, AOH Color Guard.

The festival will also feature displays and vendors showcasing traditional Irish arts and crafts, souvenirs and food and beverage.

The City’s Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities is cosponsoring the festival with the Ballyshaners, a local nonprofit organization that promotes and preserves Irish heritage. “Ballyshaners” is the Gaelic translation for “Old Towners.”

For additional information on the Irish Festival, call the City's Special Events Hotline at 703.883.4686.

Visitors to the historic district are encouraged to take the Metro Yellow or Blue lines to the King Street Metro Station in Old Town, take DASH or Metro buses, or park in one of the convenient parking garages or lots. For bus route information, call the City=s Office of Transit Services and Programs at 703.838.3800. For a parking map, call the Alexandra Convention and Visitors Association at 703.838.4200.

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