Sunday, December 11, 2011, 12 PM - 4 PM                                                          

The holiday season sparkles with Irish culture in a day filled with music, storytelling, dance, art, hand-made Irish quilts and stockings, Irish Christmas cakes, pudding and more!  Held in our lovely outdoor Key Courtyard, this festive celebration will allow you shop for the holidays from unique vendors who specialize in quality handcrafted goods.

1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Performance & Storytelling in the Auditorium (Ticketed Event- for pricing please see below) 

Long ago in Ireland, Celtic storytellers were very important people in the community; they had the task of preserving history in their stories.  Bairbre McCarthy continues the oral tradition of the Celts. Featuring stories of ancient kings, fairy folk and historical heroes, the mythological legends she tells blend with the early history of Ireland.  Bairbre is a seanchaí, (storyteller) and author from County Clare on Ireland’s west coast. She is noted for her knowledge of Irish mythology, folklore and language.  McCarthy was honored when her stories were presented to President Barack Obama on Saint Patrick`s Day in 2009.

Following the storytelling will be a musical performance by Irish button accordion virtuoso David Munnelly who toured with The Chieftains and currently plays with the award-winning David Munnelly Band.  It is one of the hottest new bands on the international traditional Celtic music scene. Based in County Mayo, Ireland, virtuoso David Munnelly and his brother  Kieran Munnelly are taking the New World by storm with their one-of-a-kind style of playing - a living link between two centuries of West of Ireland culture and the Golden Age of Irish American Music of the 1920`s incorporating the sound and feel of the Irish-American dance halls of the 1920s and 1930s.

This event will also feature the following vendors:

Irish Import Shop, the No. 1 Irish shop in Southern California with a second shop in San Diego.

Myths & Legands Photography, specializing in iconic images of Ireland, Scotland & Wales.

Sugar & Scribe, Irish Christmas Cakes, Christmas Puddings, Pies & ect.

O'Callahan Travel, leading travel agent for visits to Ireland.

Trina McKillen, prominent Irish Photographer.

Phoenix & Crow, Renowned Celtic jewelry.

Vera Doherty, well-known Irish master weaver/quilter/textile craftswoman.

Kerry Records, preserving ireland's priceless music and spoken arts history.

American Airlines, get information on travel through the airline.

Attendees to the Storytelling & Musical Performance will be entered to win 2 free American Airlines tickets!

Member $10 / Non-member $15/ Festival admission is free.

Purchase tickets to Irish Storytelling & Musical Performance

This event is presented in association with Kerry Records and the generous sponsorship of Culture Ireland, Imagine Ireland and M Finbar Hill, Hon. Consul General of Ireland.