In East Meadow, Irish eyes were smilin' in Eisenhower Park

The sounds of bagpipes, fiddles and tap dancing filled the stage of Eisenhower Park’s Harry Chapin Lakeside Theater on Aug. 4. Through traditional song and dance performances, the Irish American Society of Nassau, Suffolk and Queens celebrated Long Island’s rich Irish heritage and culture for this year’s annual Irish American Night.

John Doyle, president of the Irish American Society’s local chapter, opened the event with a ceremony honoring standout members of the organization. This year’s honorees were former president Brigid McNulty, Patrick Myers, Kit Smith and PJ Smith.

Master of ceremonies and radio host Tony Jackson introduced each of the night’s performing acts, starting with Tommy Mulvihill and Sean Quinn who serenaded the crowd with the Irish and American national anthems.

The entertainment continued with the Inis Fada Gaelic Pipe Band — Inis Fada means Long Island in Irish — donning dark blue kilts and Glengarry bonnets as their powerful harmonies echoed throughout the park.

The Clann Agus Cairde Ceili Band then took the stage — Clann Agus Cairde translates to Family and Friends, and a Ceili is a traditional Irish social gathering that often involves dancing and playing Gaelic folk music. The group embodied the spirit of this tradition, with lively jigs that had the crowd moving around.

The dancing carried on as the Inis Fada Set Dancers got on stage, showcasing their vibrant group dances and encouraging audience members to join in.

This was followed by the Donny Golden School of Champion Irish Step Dancers, a group that has performed at many acclaimed venues, even appearing on television shows and documentaries. The school, regarded as one of the premier Irish dancing schools in the world, was founded by Donny Golden, one of the most renowned Irish dancers in the United States.

During an intermission, the Tommy Mulvihill Band returned to the stage, with Sean Quinn, fiddle in hand, paying homage to the extensive history of traditional Irish music.

As the night came to a close, the park roared with Irish spirit, as everyone sang and danced along to tunes from their homeland, highlighting the long-lasting legacy of Irish culture in America.