February 2008 

Dear Friends, 

Our 31st Annual East Durham Irish Festival held on May 24th & May 25th 2008 on the grounds of the Michael J. Quill Irish Cultural & Sports Centre promises to be "The Event of The Year." 

New music from around the US, Canada, and Ireland, along with many of your favorite groups certainly will make your visit very exciting and enjoyable.  

New for 2008 will be 16 time Grammy Award Winning group, The Jimmy Sturr Band with 20 consecutive Grammy nominations and 5 gold albums.  This groups showmanship has delighted festival goers around the country for many years.  The band's two shows are on Saturday. 

Also new for 2008 will be two Canadian groups that have made a name for themselves on the festival circuit.  We welcome Enter the Haggis and Greenwich Meantime."  Also from Canada, we are welcoming back the "Glengarry Boys" after their year sabbatical from music.  These high energy groups will be featured on Saturday and Sunday evenings.  

From Ireland, the group "The Screaming Orphans" will surely delight our audience with their high energy mix of music.  The Four Young Ladies are a favorite wherever they appear.  We have added Shannon McNally from New Orleans, by Way of Hempstead, Long Island, to our lineup.  This Capital Record recording star has been compared to Bonnie Raitt and Stevie Nicks.  Her interesting arrangements of Blues Rock and Contemporary Country will delight the audience. 

Add such favorite groups as The Andy Cooney Band, Celtic Cross, Shilelagh Law, The Prodigals, Kitty Kelly Band, Jameson's Revenge, Calley McGrane  and The Exiles, and Kevin and Katie McKrell and The Hard Road Céile Band and St. James Gate, both Capital District favorites, and you are sure to experience a great time.  

The Albany Police Pipe and Drum Band and the Michael Farrell School of Irish Step Dancing will appear both on Saturday and Sunday.  

For the children, there will be rides and games, along with their very own music tent.  Featuring, Driscoll & Smith, with their sing alongs; Carol Spear, Storyteller Extraordinaire; and NEW this year, The First Steps of Irish Dance.  Megan and Ronan will teach children basic steps of Irish Step Dancing. 

Check out our website for area accommodations. 

All of this entertainment, along with the craft & product vendors, the food court, and the Childrens rides and entertainment, add up to a GREAT day or two of enjoyment for ALL ages. 

                           See you at the festival, 

                             Tom McGoldrick

                              Festival Director 

©2008 Michael J. Quill Irish Cultural & Sports Centre, Inc.