Interest in the 34th Pittsburgh Irish Festival, which runs Friday through Sunday at the Carrie Blast Furnaces in Swissvale, might be higher than usual as the region gears up for the Pittsburgh Steelers game in Ireland.
The team is getting ready for the trip, too, by making an appearance at the festival on Saturday. Football activities, prizes, giveaways and more await eager fans.
There’s a lot packed into the three-day event, so we are breaking it down for you.
Tickets
Tickets are available via Eventbrite.com or at the festival box office. Cost varies by day and age ($17-$24 per person), and single-day and weekend passes are available. Children under 12 are free. Parking will run you another $10 if you pay in advance or $12 at the gate.
Entertainment
Live music abounds this weekend — among the acts on various stages will be Dennis Doyle, Screaming Orphans, The Low Kings, Gaelic Storm and Bastard Bearded Irishmen. Irish ghost stories, dance performances, a Counties of Ireland exhibit, stone lifting competition, Gaelic sports and demos, and more will keep revelers busy. Mini tours of the Carrie Blast Furnaces will also be available — it’s fitting, since many of the workers there in the early 20th century were of Irish origin or descent.
Go on an empty stomach
From children’s cooking classes and demonstrations hosted by the Celtic Kitchen to a traditional Irish breakfast on Sunday (ordering in advance is required) featuring bangers, black and white pudding, eggs, scones and more, there’s no excuse to go hungry.
The A Taste of Ireland Marketplace has quintessential items like Guinness chocolate, Keogh’s potato chips, honey with Jameson, soda bread, scone mixes, Irish teas and coffees, to name a few. And it wouldn’t be an Irish festival without staples like corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie, fish and chips and Irish stew, which can also be found throughout the expansive grounds.
A beverage tasting featuring Irish whiskeys, mead, beers and more is included with the price of admission.
Genological and cultural info
Attendees can explore their Irish heritage at the Genealogy pavilion, where experts will be on hand to help guide family tree searches locally and online. Additionally, one of the most popular areas at the festival is the Hedge School, which were developed in Ireland in response to the bans placed on educating Irish natives about their history, traditions and culture. Lessons were taught in secret in a barn or in the shadow of a hedge. History, legends, music, language, dance, sports and symbols of Ireland are all topics that will be covered on the Hedge School stage.
