17th Annual Tara Feis Brings Emerald Isle to Emmet Park

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Savannah’s Emmet Park will be transformed into a vision of the Emerald Isle during the City of Savannah’s Tara Feis Irish Celebration, taking place Saturday, March 8 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Now in its seventeenth year, the family-friendly feis – or festival – will be a feast for the eyes, ears and palate, with live performances, food, art activities, crafts and games hosted with Irish ceremony, tradition and hospitality. As in previous years, Tara Feis is a free, non-alcoholic event geared towards families and children.
“It is thrilling to see Tara Feis grow in popularity every year,” said Bernadette Winters, chairperson of the Tara Feis Planning Committee. “Irish heritage is an important aspect of Savannah’s cultural background, and we are pleased that so many people come to Tara Feis every year to learn about, appreciate and celebrate our traditions and heritage.”
Festivities begin at 11 a.m. with an official Irish opening ceremony, headed by local and international dignitaries. The main stage will feature plenty of traditional Irish dancing, as well as live performances by local notables such as Harry O’Donoghue and the Savannah Choral Society, directed by Peter Shannon. Two performances by the internationally-acclaimed Celtic music group Altan will highlight this year’s feis.
Proclaimed “The hottest group in the Celtic realm these days” by The Boston Globe, Altan is arguably Ireland’s biggest name in traditional music. Led by Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, a captivating fiddler and songstress, the six-member band hails from the Donegal region of Ireland and brings over 20 years of award-winning artistry in the Donegal fiddling tradition and virtuosic traditional Irish music to audiences around the world.
The Tara Feis children’s stage will feature a full day of entertainment, including performances from North Carolina-based Clover, the puppets of Conrad Hartz and traditional Irish dancing performances. Leprechauns and banshees will come to life during professional female magician Debbie O’Carroll’s “Irish Magic Show,” an interactive magical theatrical production that explores Irish folklore and fun. O’Carroll is a New-England native and author of the children’s book, “Bridget Boylan, Girl Magician.”
Tara Feis is free and open to the public. Emmet Park is located in downtown Savannah at the east end of Bay Street. For a performance schedule or more information, please contact (912) 651-6417 or visit www.savannahga.gov/arts.

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