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People You Should Know

North Texas Irish Festival (NTIF)
www.ntif.org

Our History & Cultures Guest Columnist Cornelia Amiri brought this marvelous event to our attention.  The North Texas Irish Festival is an annual event, which is one of the largest Celtic cultural events in the United States.  The event features the finest in Irish and Scottish entertainment including well-known bands, dancers, storytellers and interesting educational workshops.

Betsy Cummings, the Entertainment Coordinator for NTIF, President of the Southwest Celtic Music Association, and performer with the Celtic band, Beyond the Pale, was kind enough to share information about the event including her experience at the Festival.

We thank Betsy for her time.  We encourage you to check out the Links of Interest below for more details.  If you're in the area, make sure and stop by!

Betsy Cummings is shown above with her band mates.  Band members from left to right are:  John Delaney, Betsy Cummings, Christy McLeod, and Gordon McLeod.
Photo: courtesy of www.beyond-the-pale.com

Interview with Betsy Cummings

I've been a part of the festival since 1986, so I'm pleased to convey what excites me about the event and the feeling that other visitors have described to me about the event. This is why I keep coming back every year and continue to work countless hours for NTIF.

I am part Irish and Scottish so having an event in Dallas that celebrates my ancestral heritage is rewarding and endearing, and NTIF has become a labor of love. The Celts, in general, have a rich tradition and gift for art, music, and literature, so each year we celebrate this heritage and offer our event to the Texas Metroplex and to all our visitors. As you know, some of the most romantic poetry, stories, songs, and literature are written and composed by the Irish and Celts and too, our theme (for 2005), "Bluegrass has Green Roots" conveys how the Scots-Irish tradition settled and established itself in American culture and is still very much alive today.

For an entire weekend, visitors immerse themselves in Celtic music, culture, and dance, and come away with a memorable and awe-inspiring experience. Imagine walking into the gates at Fair Park and the first thing you hear is the sound of bagpipes, fiddles, whistles, flutes, and drums playing everything from high-energy jigs and reels to the tearful, haunting lilt of an air or waltz. Combine that with the visual effects of Irish dancers and Appalachian cloggers in colorful costumes with lightening-fast feet and who wouldn't be swept away by the amazing spirit of this beautiful culture?

Appreciators of the music have the opportunity to see and meet some of the best Irish, Celtic, and Bluegrass entertainers in the World. We also offer music and cultural workshops for those who desire further education and our Saturday evening Irish dance ceili allows everyone an opportunity to learn simple Irish dance steps and then dance the night away to the rousing beat of Irish reels, jigs, polkas, and walzes.

The festival also features hundreds of food, cultural, and vendor booths, so visitors can experience everything from mouthwatering Shepherd's Pie, Irish Stew, Fish and chips and other Irish fare as well as traditional Fair cuisine (such as Funnel Cakes, nachos, sausage on a stick, corn dogs and the like). ...and for those who enjoy their Mug of Stout or Lager, of course, the festival offers Guinness and Harp Beer and for the less adventurous, domestic beer is also available. 

Anyone who loves to add eclectic touches to their wardrobe and accessories will be amazed at the array of jewelry and garment vendors: Everything from kilts, to capes, to gorgeous Celtic designs set in stunning jewelry and colorful fabrics. The variety and quality of our artists features some of the loveliest Celtic designs in pottery, painting, and photography. For lovers and collectors of music and literature, we also feature a large variety of music, instrument, and book vendors.

For the kids, there's Urchin Street: An interactive children's area that features storytellers, musicians, and hands-on activities that will both educate and inspire your children's creativity. Urchin Street also features one of the best Petting Zoos in the area and speaking of animals, visitors also have the opportunity to see and learn about the various breeds of Celtic dogs (such as Irish Wolfhounds and Border Collies).

I strongly encourage anyone who's in the Dallas area during March 4-6 2005 to experience the North Texas Irish Festival. The Irish have a lovely and wise saying: "Dance as if no one's watching, sing as if no one's listening, and live everyday as if it were your last." During this one weekend out of the year, why not do them all?

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