Indy Irish Festival

Where: Historic Military Park at White River State Park downtown Indianapolis
When: September 13-15, 2019
Contact: 317-713-7117, irishinfo@indyirishfest.com
Mission:
● Preserve, promote and nurture Irish culture, arts, music, sports and history
● Share Irish heritage during a weekend encompassing cultural activities and family fun
● Has helped raise/donated more than $210,000
● Partner with St. Vincent de Paul food bank to help feed the hungry
Founded:
● Formed in 1996
● This year marks the 24th year of the annual festival
● The festival was the vision of a small group of people who wanted to showcase the
heritage, music and culture of the Irish people and the contributions of that culture to
our city and state
Irish Fest Sponsorship:
● Great way for businesses and individuals to support one of Indianapolis’ most popular
cultural events, be recognized as a festival sponsor to an upscale audience and have an
opportunity to enjoy the Indy Irish Fest.
○ Benefits of sponsoring:
■ Business logo/name recognition on large colored sign at festival and in
program
■ Ten single any-day tickets to the festival
■ Ability to purchase additional tickets for $11 (limit: 20)
● Alcohol:
○ Encourages consumption in moderation
Irish Dancers of Indianapolis
Mission:
● The mission of the Irish Dancers of Indianapolis, the parent/family organization, is to
support our dance school, the Richens/Timm Academy, through volunteerism and
teamwork to cultivate a unified environment that supports our dancers and their goals,
overcoming financial obstacles through fundraising events and to provide cultural
enrichment to our community through dance.
Where:
● 4369 West 96th St., Indianapolis, IN
About:
● “Provides a fun, friendly, family atmosphere where each dancer is given the polished
skill set to maximize his/her potential and accomplish personal goals.”
● Accepting requests for performances! Can have their dancers perform at your events
Success:
● Richens/Timms has produced a long line of champions including:
○ 55 regional champions
○ 20 North American Champions
○ 3 All-Ireland champions with 2 runner-up finishes
○ 2 senior men’s world champions
Irish Arts Academy of Indianapolis
Contact: IrishArtsIndy@gmail.com, 317-965-3827
Where: The Ji-Eun Lee Music Academy 10029 E. 126th st. Fishers, IN
Mission: The Irish Arts Academy of Indianapolis is developing all generations of traditional Irish
musicians, dancers and linguists. This organization provides Irish culture and arts to the
Indianapolis community and the Hoosier State through education and performance.
● “We are an organization dedicated to bringing the Irish culture and arts to the Greater
Indianapolis region. We offer classes to all ages and levels of experience in traditional
Irish instruments, song, dance, and language.”
● Have been doing classes in traditional irish music, dance and language since 2013.
Classes
● Begin March 23
● Every saturday morning
● Classes for all levels
● Can pay for all sessions up front (275 dollars) or pay per session (30 dollars)
● 10 sessions
● What is a session? Irish Traditional music sessions are mostly informal gatherings at
which people play Irish traditional music.
● Irish dance classes: for older teens/adults at the Fishers YMCA on Thursdays and Fridays
● Open sessions every Sunday at Nine Irish Brothers Pub 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Ancient Order of Hibernians
● The Ancient Order of Hibernians is America’s oldest Irish Catholic Fraternal Organization
founded concurrently in the coal-mining region of Pennsylvania and New York City in
May,1836
● Seeks to aid the newly arrived Irish, both socially and economically
● The Irish culture (art, dance, music, and sports) are fostered and preserved
Indianapolis
● Kevin Barry Division 3
○ Meets 2nd thursday of month
○ President- Bob McCurdy (317-243-0639)
○ Founded: 1962
○ Funded through several special events and initiatives that members and friends
of the division support.
○ Seeks to tighten bonds of friendship and unity among members through various
social events
○ Motto: “Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity”
Upcoming Event: Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
● Sunday, March 10
● Musical guests: The Willoughby Brothers, on tour from Co. Wicklow, Ireland
● Scholarships and awards given out
● Chance to win two tickets to Ireland
● Mr. David Ruhmkorff as emcee
● $40 adult, $16 children
● Day begins with mass
● Parade up Capitol Ave to Indiana Roof Ballroom
● Over 400 guests for lunch, performance by Irish Dancers of Indianapolis, musical
entertainment and awards
● Mass 10 a.m., parade 11 a.m., celebration 11:30 a.m.
Kitchen Party Ceilidh
About:
● A weekly hour-long Celtic music radio show based in Indianapolis
● Goal: to bring the very best Celtic music, from wherever it originates
● Play a lot of Irish music, also showcase artists from Scotland, Cape Breton and Canada,
the US, Brittany, the Isle of Man, Cornwall, Spain, Scandinavia and right here in
Indianapolis.
● Every month showcase a particular artist, instrument or subgenre on Theme Third
Sunday program.
Host: Dave Bagdade
● Award-winning multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and author who founded the Kitchen
Party Ceilidh in 2013.
● Been performing Celtic music since age of 16
● Member of Murphy Roche Irish Music Club
● Instructor with Irish Arts Academy of Indianapolis
Indianapolis Gaelic Athletic Association (Indianapolis GAA)
About
● “Proud to bring Gaelic games to the Indianapolis community”
● "Our goal and mission for the club is to spread Irish culture and heritage through sports”
● 2006 was the official first season of the club
● Irish sport of Hurling is the main sport/focus (hurling is a traditional field sport)
● Hurling historically hasn’t gained much interest from Americans, so it’s played primarily
by Irish immigrants. However, there have been some Americans who have gained
interest in the sport recently, leading to increased coverage on tv/internet.
● Formerly called Indianapolis Hurling Club
● Established to promote hurling and other Gaelic games in Indiana
● Friendly and socially active club
● Welcomes ANYONE that wants to play, you don’t have to be Irish!!
Goals
● Introduce the sports of hurling, camogie (women’s curling) and Gaelic football to the
community
● Continue to grow local league
● Participate successfully in inner-city and national tournaments
Indianapolis Gaelic football
● Most recent addition to the Indianapolis GAA
● Gaelic football is the most popular sport in Ireland. It’s a “fast-paced sport using a ball
roughly the size of a soccer ball.” Players try to move the ball up the field by
passing/bouncing/kicking it.
● One point for putting the ball over the goal cross-bar and between the uprights, three
points for putting it under the bar past the goalie
● Welcome players at any age above 5
● Youth program available for 17 and under
● Adult league 18+
 ● Send a team to tournaments including NACB Nationals (National tournament, last year
was hosted in Philadelphia)
● Hold the draft for football and hurling at Centerpoint Brewery
● Hold indoor football games
Extra info
● 60-70 people at practice. Some people from Ireland will stop by and say that’s more
than they have back home
● Started because a guy studied abroad in Ireland and fell in love with the sport of hurling.
At the same time, there were some Irish guys looking to get a team started with another
American. Collectively they started a club that included 10-12 people.
● Close to 200 members now
● Six-time national champions
● About 10 Irish people (1:20 ratio of Irish to American)