Reddest hair, freckle contests part of friendly fun at Irish fest
The quintessential Irish-looking person — to most people, at least — is likely less Bono and more Conan O'Brien.
In other words: this person is going to have red hair, green eyes and freckles. Plenty of freckles.
“Irish individuals have these qualities,” said Kendel Kellogg, events coordinator with the city of Dublin.
Those who think they have these qualities in spades can put their Irishness to the test this Sunday at the Dublin Irish Festival, which begins Friday at Coffman Park.
Channel the luck of the Irish during the Reddest Hair, Greenest Eyes and Most Freckles contests, which begin at 3 p.m. in the Wee Folk Area on the southeastern corner. Registration is not required, and anyone is welcome to participate.
A cornerstone of the festival since its early years, the contest is a playful way to celebrate one's Irish heritage, Kellogg said.
“We try to encourage a collection of our attendees who are very Irish to come and participate,” said What: Dublin Irish Festival Where: Coffman Park, 5200 Emerald Parkway Contact: 614-410-4545, www. dublinirishfestival.org Festival hours: 4 p.m. to midnight Friday; 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday Admission: $15 a day, or $12 for students, military members and senior citizens, free for children 12 and younger; free before 11 a.m. on Sunday with a canned-food donation; $25 for a weekend pass Kellogg, who organizes all the activities in the children's area.
The lighthearted competition is split into three age divisions within the three categories: age 8 and younger, ages 9 to 17 and age 18 and older. Every year, judging duties fall to the honorary chairs — this year, it's longtime festival supporters Patrick and Molly Byrne.
The first-place winners go home with a trophy and bragging rights.
“It’s all in fun,” said Mary Jo DiSalvo, Dublin's event-marketing administrator. “They try to make the best choices they can, but everyone’s a winner.”
Maggie Conroy, 20, has been competing since she was 3 years old. Through the years, she's placed first several times in all three categories, but she's mostly there to have fun.
“I think it’s fun just to see a bunch of other people who kind of look like me,” said Conroy, a 2016 graduate of Dublin Jerome High School. “Having red hair isn’t very common.”
During the popular contests, the tent always contains a standing-roomonly crowd.
“It’s super cute to be in that area at the time just to see everyone,” said Sara O’Malley, Dublin's event specialist. “It’s a tradition we have that we’ve been doing forever.”
The competition is one feature on a slate of activities to close out the three-day fair Sunday.
“We really coined Sunday as family day,” O’Malley said.
Admission is free before 11 a.m. on Sunday with the donation of a nonperishable item for the Dublin Food Pantry.
The day begins at 9:30 a.m. with an Irish breakfast before church services of various denominations are hosted on all seven stages.
“How many opportunities do you have to go out with your family in the open air and open field for a church service?” O’Malley said.
At 11:30 a.m., eight bagpipe bands will gather in formation to perform. Sheepherding demonstrations, inflatable attractions and a Columbus Blue Jackets fan zone are also part of the day’s festivities.
Sunday will also see the completion of a sand sculpture on the southwestern end of the park near the Celtic rock stage. Artists work on the sculpture all weekend before unveiling the final design — which always has an Irish theme — at festival's end.
For the festival’s 7:30 p.m. finale, all of the weekend’s performers will gather on the Dublin Stage near the north end of the park for a massive jam session.
“It’s a celebration of every type of music and dance on one stage,” DiSalvo said. “It’s fantastic.”