Festival puts a little Irish into Labor Day
Kevin Horton of Mundelein first performed at Paddy's on the Square as a young step dancer with the McNulty Irish Dancers.
He's still kicking up his heels in jigs and reels, only on a slightly bigger stage: Riverdance.
Horton spent the summer performing in the 10th anniversary of the show in Ireland, and he will return to the Las Vegas company next week. However, this weekend he returns to his roots, when he performs at Irish Days in Long Grove.
The three-day festival opens Saturday and runs through Monday, in Fountain Square, located in the middle of historic Long Grove. Admission and parking are free.
For five years now, Irish Days has brought all the Irish music, dancing and food to downtown Long Grove over the Labor Day weekend. Many of the same performers return, including: the Shannon Rovers, Baal Tinne, singer Catherine O'Connell, the Jeff Ward Band, Dyed in the Wool, and Donnybrook.
Musical acts open at 11 a.m. Saturday with the Academy of Irish Music, before the McNulty Irish Dancers at 12:20 p.m. and singer Gavin Coyle at 1:10 p.m. and the fun builds from there.
Coyle is a native of Derry, Northern Ireland, and he performs many of the traditional Irish ballads that family audiences love to hear. But this year he plans to include a tribute to Tommy Makem, who died Aug. 5, by singing some of his classics, such as "Four Green Fields."
Different step dancing schools -- including Anam Mor Irish Dance, Sheila Tully Academy, Trinity Academy and O'Hare Irish Step Dancers -- pipe bands, singers and contests rotate every half-hour or so, to keep audiences entertained.
Paddy Barry and his son, John, mount the festival every year and book the acts.
They like to feature some of the performers whose CDs do well in their gift stores, Paddy's on the Square and Irish Boutique, both in Long Grove.
"It's a growing event," John Barry says. "It's small but people seem to enjoy the atmosphere. It's just a perfect setting for a mini-Irish fest."
Fans at the festival have a chance to participate in everything from Best Legs in a Kilt Contest to Best Irish Dog, both of which take place all three days.
"We've had such a response to that," Paddy Barry says of the dog competition. "People bring all kinds of dogs, and then 8- and 9-year-old kids judge them and present the trophies."
The judging takes place at the Dog House, located at 405 Robert Parker Coffin Road, before the dogs and their owners parade over to Irish Days for the trophy presentation.
Rounding out the festival will be tents featuring children's activities, cultural offerings, and authentic food and drink. Winston's Sausage Company has the concession this year, bringing its popular corned beef sandwiches, and bangers and chips.
"We think it's the perfect weekend for it," John Barry adds. "It's after all of the other summer festivals, and, so far, we've always lucked out with the weather."