After a five-year hiatus, “The Biggest Little Irish Festival in the World” transformed the center of Dover into a mini Ireland on June 12. In true Irish spirit, hundreds braved clouds and forecasts of rain to enjoy a full day of traditional Irish music and dance in Henry Law Park at the Seacoast Irish Festival.

 

Local musician Eugene Byrne, an Irish immigrant and one of the “founding fathers” of the festival, assembled the entertainment lineup and performed, himself. He said the first festival, held in 2002, was the product of a dream he’d always had to put on a Celtic and folk festival.

 

“I wanted to do this for my community,” he said. “I’m proud of my heritage. When many people think about Irish happenings, they think of a beer bash. But that’s not the case here. It’s a family day, something the community can dig its teeth into and just have fun. And it’s not just for the Irish. It’s a festival for immigrants, but (the Irish) are throwing the party.”

 

Byrne said the festival had not been held for the past five years because so much work and politics go into it. He said there was great interest this year—the Web site had 120,000 hits during the four days prior to the festival. 

 

From the fiddle to the bodrhan, from a duo to a six-piece musical group, from veteran performers to newly formed acts, the sheer diversity of Celtic music represented at the festival was impressive. Crowd members, some wearing kilts, sat on benches and lawn chairs in Henry Law Park, overlooking the Rotary Arts Pavilion stage. But most were on their feet before long, singing along with Irish classics. The atmosphere was fun and festive.

 

The event was a tribute to Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers, a highly influential Irish folk music group widely credited with popularizing the genre in the United States. Makem, often regarded as the “Godfather of Irish music,” passed away in 2007 in Dover, where he immigrated from Ireland in 1955. Byrne moved to Dover around this time, as well, where he met and played guitar for Makem.

 

“Every time we were on the road, we had good stories,” Byrne reminisced. “I can’t think of one that’s better than the others. It was wonderful to play with an icon and to have him as a friend. It was cool to come home and go to a movie on a Monday night after playing all weekend.”

 

“Anyone in Irish music was influenced by Tommy and the Clancy brothers,” said Kim Starling, of the Seacoast band Bradigan, which also played at the festival. “They brought it (to the United States) in the 1960s.”

 

Starling and two of her cousins formed Bradigan, a six-piece Celtic group that fuses vocals, guitar, mandolin and drums, several months ago. The three are also cousins of Makem. 

 

Starling has sung Irish music her entire life, but began playing formally at weddings and funerals a few years ago. Then, as she put it, “this band came up with my cousins.” In addition to singing, she plays the bodrhan, an Irish drum she picked up a few months ago. 

 

“It’s a high honor to play today. It’s a great festival that’s coming back. It’s nice to see everybody at a festival in the center of Dover. It’s almost like being in a Shakespearian play,” she said.

 

Guitarist and singer Jim Byrne of the McTeggarts, an Irish folk duo with bassist Mick O’Brien, agreed. “This is our first time in Dover and we love it,” he said, recounting how popular and influential Makem was when the McTeggarts started playing together.

 

Three youths who attend the Murray Irish Dance Academy in Stratham step-danced their way across the stage with awe-inspiring skill. One of the participants was Tommy Makem’s granddaughter, 20-year-old Dover resident Molly Makem, who competed in the World Championships for Irish step-dancing earlier this year in Glasgow, Scotland. 

 

Taking the stage early in the afternoon were The Makem & Spain Brothers, a band that includes Tommy Makem’s sons, Shane, Conor and Rory.