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Partly Cloudy Irish eyes were smiling at Eisenhower Park
Long Island’s Irish American Society hosts night full of fanfare at Lakeside Theatre
While it wasn’t St. Patrick’s Day last week, there certainly was a lot to celebrate at Nassau County’s Eisenhower Park. After a weather cancelation earlier this month, Irish American Night went off successfully on Aug. 21, drawing crowds of county residents, who came out to celebrate Irish music, dance and culture.
The event is hosted by the Irish American Society of Nassau, Suffolk & Queens, Inc., which is based in Mineola, alongside the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums.
The evening was organized possibly by co-chairs Bridie Mahoney and Brendan Kerins and its master of ceremonies was Tony Jackson. P.J. Smith, president of the Irish American Society, was also present.
Performances by the Inis Fada Pipe Band, Clann Agus Cairde Ceili Band, Inis Fada Set Dancers and the Donny Golden School of Champion Irish Step Dancers entertained hundreds of fans packed into the fields of the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre.
The National Anthem was performed by Tommy Mulvihill and Sean Quinn. The Tommy Mulvihill Band took the stage later in the evening to put on a complete set. The band features Mulvihill, a Celtic singer.
Frank Alagia, the deputy commissioner of Nassau County parks, recreation and museums, on behalf of County Executive Bruce Blakeman, presented citations to several honorees.
The honorees included Michelle Byrne, Jeff Clark, Michael Flannery, Ed Friel, Don Lavin, Mary Lennon, Rita Lydon-Lenz, Don Mahoney, Frances McLoughlin, Niall Mulligan, Eileen Myers and Kit Smith.
There’s more free concerts and cultural nights in store throughout the remainder of the summer. For more information and a full list of upcoming shows, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.
