Workshops

Gaeltacht Midwest provides introductory Irish (Gaelic) language instruction to attendees and connection with other Irish-learning opportunities in the Midwest, US, and abroad. To learn more about their programming please visit them at www.facebook.com/groups/GaeltachtMidwest and www.facebook.com/indianacelticcommunity

Ireland awoke to the beginning of the Great Hunger in 1845. Experience the heartbreaking stories of the Irish during the five long years of the Potato Famine. While it was a time of great injustice when more than one million Irish died, it also became a tragic blessing for over one million Irish who fled to America and survived. As an Irish storyteller and author of the Irish Crossings Trilogy, Terence O’Leary’s quest is to keep the famine story alive and acquaint modern day Irish-Americans with the tragic but also triumphant history of their Irish ancestors.

An Irish-American author, who was born in Chicago, Illinois, but spent his teenage and adult life in Northwest Ohio. Mr. O’Leary’s five critically acclaimed, realistic coming-of-age novels focus on teenagers facing a family crisis. Irish Crossings: Danny’s Story and Irish Crossings: Caitlin & Paddy’s Story are fictional accounts of his family’s struggles during the heartbreak of the Irish Potato Famine. Aside from sharing his novels during the festival, Mr. O’Leary will also talk about life in Ireland during the time of the Great Hunger. He will discuss how the Potato Famine not only changed the destiny of Ireland, but also America.

Meet the magnificent Irish wolfhound, the world’s tallest breed of dog.  Once prized as the war dog of the Celts, this canine is now known as the Gentle Giant. Legends of the wolfhound abound in ancient Irish mythology. It was the dog of royalty in medieval times. During the Celtic Revival, the wolfhound became a symbol of Irish nationalism. See these amazing dogs up close, pet them, and maybe get a free Celtic kiss!

The Irish Wake attempts to explain in a family-friendly way many of the customs and traditions associated with the 3-day period of mourning as it was observed in Ireland.  More information about Cathy Jo’s stories and the Irish Wake info can be found at www.irishteller.com

Have you ever wondered: What is the difference between jigs and reels?  What do you call those instruments?  How can people from all over the world sit in a circle and play the same song?  This workshop will take a big-picture look at what makes Irish music…Irish!  Get a chance to hear tunes, songs, and explanations from some of Dayton Celtic Festival’s top Irish and American headliners.  Feel free to come ready with questions.  Participating Artists:  Shane Hayes (Socks in the Frying Pan) and Joseph McNulty (Boxing Banjo).

Rugby first came to Dayton, Ohio in the fall of 1969 when a group of University of Dayton students played their first rugby match. In the years that followed the interest in the sport evolved to establish official club rugby in 1973 and squads in the Dayton area have been successful ever since.  In 1979, Dayton rugby saw the creation of the first women’s squad, and in 1999, it was reformed into the present day women’s team. Today, DARC is a rugby union club dedicated to the promotion and growth of the sport. They play their home games at Dayton Rugby Grounds located at 620 Shiloh Dr. in Dayton.  For more information on how to get involved, or even just to come out and watch one of their matches, visit www.daytonrugby.com

FRYRF, formed in 2012, is dedicated to the promotion and development of youth rugby. Over the years, they have grown the youth rugby program to six high school teams and a co-ed middle school flag rugby program. To learn more about Dayton’s Youth Rugby, their summer rugby programs and more please visit http://fryrf.org/wordpress/

Shamrocks, Celtic Knots, The Claddagh, The Harp, are all symbols of Ireland but what do they mean? Come listen as author Cindy Thomson walks you through the legends, symbolism, and deep meanings of the designs we love to wear to celebrate all things Irish.

Known for the inspirational Celtic theme employed in most of her books, Cindy Thomson is the author of two novel series and several non-fiction books. A genealogy enthusiast, she writes from her home in Ohio where she lives with her husband Tom near their three grown sons and their families. Visit me on social media, join my email list to download a free novella!

This workshop focuses on the common and divergent histories of two very different instruments with a common origin that have practically become national symbols for two countries. We will discuss the history of the bagpipe in Scotland and Ireland, how Celtic scholars propose the ancient “war pipes” evolved to the Great Highland Bagpipe of Scotland in the late 1700s, and the emergence of the “union” or “elbow” bagpipes of the 1800s that would be come the Uilleann pipes of Ireland. This workshop also
demonstrates the comparative differences between the two instruments by examining how they are constructed and played. The final portion of the workshop will demonstrate the very different styles of playing with demonstrations both Scottish and Irish piping music.

Larry Fortson plays both the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe and Irish Uilleann bagpipe. He was a competition Highland piper for many years and has won awards in both US and UK competitions. Larry also plays 3 other types of bagpipes, Irish whistles, bluegrass banjo, and prefers Irish whiskeys over Scotch.