Sports Events Planned at CT Irish Festival

In case you haven't heard...

The Connecticut Irish Festival featuring the finest in Irish music, dance and sports is coming to the North Haven Fairgrounds, June 23 and 24.  Saturday's sports' activities will start with a registration at 8:30 a.m. for a 5k road race to benefit the ALS Association fighting Lou Gehrig's disease.  Also offered are 2 mile fitness walk and two fun runs for children with "Spiderman."  To sign up, contact the race director, Joe Riccio, EMAIL: wssac-ct@juno.com or Race Coordinator, John O'Donovan at (203) 281-3563.

Later in the day, for the first time at the Festival, two teams comprised of members from the New York Police Department (NYPD) and the Fire Department New York (FDNY) will play an exhibition Gaelic football game at 6 pm.  Prior to the game, a ceremony will be held to recognize the 50th anniversary of the Festival and honor the members of the 1963 Gaelic Football team.  Earlier in the day, the New Haven Gaelic Football Youth program will display their talents against youth teams from Philadelphia.   A "Battle of the Bravest" Tug of War tournament among area professional firefighters competing for the "Bill Miller Trophy" and benefiting the Leary Firefighter Foundation started by actor Denis Leary is scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

Sunday will feature the 48th annual New Haven Feis (prounounced "fesh") with students in colorful costumes competing at various levels in Irish Step dancing.  Competition in Music and Language will be held in the Cultural Building.  

In addition on Sunday, the Youth footballers will compete against teams from Hartford and Boston for a field day of Gaelic football with New Haven in the U8 through U14/16 brackets.

For a complete schedule of activities and times, visit the festival website:  www.ctirishfestival.com or look for CT Irish Festival on Facebook.