I2K, A Family Affair

2011 was the 15^th annual Irish 2000 Music and Arts Festival. What started as the brainchild of a group of friends has become one of this countries biggest two day Irish Festivals. The group that came up with the idea was made up mostly of two families, the McSweeneys and the Nelligans, “If we were not related to each other it was something really close” says Festival Vice President Maura McSweeney-Tearno. McSweeney-Tearno along with her sister Sheila, brother Tim, Mother Pat teamed up with Matt and Brian Nelligan and their father to form the core of the group. Family has always been a focal point of the festival.”Family is the always at the heart of the Irish people” according to Festival President Matt Nelligan,  “it is the center of all Irish life”.  The Festival always caters to familys on Saturdays, this year featuring magicians, a bird of prey exhibit, pony rides and a Seanachai (storyteller). “If you don’t have storytelling” said Author and local Seanchai Bairbre McCarthy , “you’re missing out on an important part of the Celtic culture”.  It’s not just in the planning and running of the festival that family stands out. Tucked inbetween the carts and trailers overflowing with carnival food was the Capital District Irish American Assocition’s tent, where you could get family style Corned beef and Irish, soda bread, “The best corned beef this side of Dublin” boasted CDIAA President Pat Hale, “the cows are lining up at the slaughter house just to be a part of it” Many of the bands are made up of family members including The Screaming Orphans (Four Sisters) and Celtic Cross (Two brothers and a sister). “When our parents came to this country they had no one else but their families” Kathleen Fee of Celtic Cross says, “We formed a band with my brothers and they are my best friends”.  The Irish community embraces the family and opens themselves to each other for love and support. When someone dies they whole community is shaken. When founding member Pat McSweeney passed away last year after a long illness, the festival was missing something. This year they got it back by naming the pub stage where the local bands perform, The Patrica McSweeney Memorial Pub Stage.  “Pat was a great friend and fan” said Frank Jaklitsch, “She pushed me into performing when I first moved to the area” Jaklitsch, who has played in all 15 festivals opened his set by being introduced by the McSweeneys and singing Bruce Springsteen’s No Surrender, a song the he played for Pat at her last birthday. Tom Flynn of the Brothers Flynn called it “an Honor and a privilege” to perform on the memorial stage. Kevin MacKrell also a 15 time festival entertainer,  played on two different stages, one as a solo act and on the traditional stage with the band, Quackser Fortune has a cousin in the Bronx, summed it up by saying, “It’s good to have her back with us”.