The North Texas Irish Festival Presents a Celtic Musical Blockbuster - 55,000 Expected To Attend

The North Texas Irish Festival (NTIF), held at Fair Park in Dallas, runs from Friday February 28 through Sunday March 2nd.  One of the major American Celtic Festivals, a spokesman for the NTIF who was contacted by Transceltic stated that an estimated 55,000 attendees are expected at 2014 event.

The NTIF is recognized around the world as a premiere venue for Celtic entertainment and boasts a very impressive lineup of entertainment at this year’s Festival.  Amongst the Celtic bands scheduled to perform are Dervish, one of Ireland’s most exciting traditional bands,  The Nuala Kenney band who recently  recorded their latest album “Noble Stranger” in Scotland,  the Irish folk music band Makem and the Spain Brothers, Edinburgh native Ed Miller a product of the 1960’s folk revival, Celtic  rock band Town Pants, The Mairtin de Cogain Project led by Cork native de Cogain who is a former All Ireland Storytelling Champion and accomplished on the Celtic Bodhran drum, Celtic rock band Town Pants and from Galway the brothers who make up the We Banjo 3+1 band who combine Celtic derived BlueGrass music with tradition Irish songs.

International superstar Natalie MacMaster tops off this impressive display of talent.  MacMaster along with her band comprised of Mac Morin, Nathanial Smith, Shane Hendrickson, Eric Breton, Nate Douglas and Matt MacIsaac tour throughout North America. Natalie and her musician husband, Donnell Leahy, will headline this year’s entertainment.  The Boston Herald has this to stay about the star power of MacMaster: “To call Natalie MacMaster the most dynamic performer in Celtic music today is high praise but doesn’t get at just how remarkable a performer this Cape Breton fiddler has become.”

 From the Web Page of the NTIF we have the following:

Musicians : International headlining performers at the 32nd Annual North Texas Irish Festival include: Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, Solas, Dervish, Nuala Kennedy Trio, Makem and Spain Brothers, Ed Miller, The Máirtín de Cógáin Project, The Town Pants, and We Banjo 3. Featured performers from the North Texas area and as far away as Florida, Kansas and Tennessee include: 5 Second Rule, BEHAN, Beyond the Pale, Blaggards, Blue Fiddle, Celtica, Coyne and Reeves, Don Gabbert, Finnvara's Wren, Flashpoint, Irish Rogues, Jiggernaut, Jigsaw, Michael William Harrison, North Texas Caledonian Pipes & Drums, Poor Man's Fortune, Seamus Stout, Sweet Colleens, Tea Merchants, The Jig Is Up!, The Selkie Girls, Threadneedle Street, Trinity River Whalers, Tröen, Tullamore, and Vintage Wildflowers. The music goes on all weekend and encompasses myriad approaches to Irish music.

Dance :The colorful traditional and modern Irish dancers with their hand-embroidered dresses and fast foot- tapping rhythms will delight audiences at the festival. Some of the finest dancers in the world are located in local schools in the DFW Metroplex, including the well-known Emerald School of Irish Dance, the Shandon School of Irish Dance, the McTeggart Irish Dancers and the Maguire Academy of Irish Dance. Performers from these schools will delight audiences with continuous performances on the dance stage. In addition, there will be dance workshops throughout the weekend, and everyone is encouraged to get into the spirit of Ireland at Saturday night’s Dance “Ceili,” a traditional Irish party led by a local Irish Dance instructor.

Cultural: The North Texas Irish Festival brings together a wide variety of exhibitors, workshops and demonstrations. The popular Celtic Village will return to feature archery and a number of local members of Scottish clans will be on hand to assist you in tracing your Celtic roots to the highlands. Urchin Street will offer a special place where kids can find entertainment, education, play and fun, including crafts, music, dance, storytelling, magic and mystery. Storytellers -- or “seanchaí” in Gaelic – will perform traditional Irish stories in the way that the Irish learned of their history for hundreds of years on the Schanachie Stage devoted to this historic craft. The Spirit of the Celtic Horse and several other equestrian shows, blacksmithing, archery and other amazing demonstrations will be performed in the Marine Square and Fountain Plaza area of Fair Park. And not to forget that the Irish do love their “sport,” hurling and Gaelic football will also be featured throughout the weekend and in two special demonstrations.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.ntif.org. Admission is FREE on Friday from 6 to 7 p.m.; $10 after (50% off coupons online at www.ntif.org). A one-day ticket is $20 on Saturday and $15 on Sunday at the gate, while a two-day ticket is $25 and a weekend pass is $30. Discount tickets for all three days will be available at area Tom Thumb stores in February. Children 11 and under are FREE when accompanied by adult family member. Seniors over 65 or current military members (with valid military ID) receive $5 off all gate prices. Dogs are allowed in on a short leash with a $1 requested donation to animal rescue groups supported by the festival. Leprechauns (in full ceremonial dress and carrying pot of gold) are FREE.