James McNally Wilson Irish Festival on tap for June 25

The Sons and Daughters of Erin Pawtucket announce that the fifth James McNally Wilson Irish Festival is scheduled for Sunday, June 25, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., in Slater Memorial Park, Pawtucket.

“We are thrilled to be able to bring a day full of Irish and Irish-American music, dancing, food and fun to the community again. We will be returning to where we began, holding the festival on the beautiful grounds of Slater Park, adjacent to the duck pond and carousel so families can spend hours enjoying themselves and learning about the Irish culture,” said club President Chris McDonald.

The James McNally Wilson Irish Festival includes performances on two stages for non-stop entertainment throughout the day. Appearing will be:

•The Band Ireland from Massachusetts

•Sean Connell from Rhode Island

•Colm O’Brien from Massachusetts

•Poor Richard from Connecticut

•The Garda from Rhode Island

•Dancers from the Kelly School of Irish Dance in Rhode Island, the O’Shea Chaplin Academy in Massachusetts, and the Greene-Roy Academy of Irish Dance in Massachusetts

•The Brian Boru Pipe Band from Massachusetts

“By bringing performers in from all over New England for this festival, we’re broadening the exposure area residents have to high-quality music and dancing,” McDonald said. “We will also have food vendors selling Irish foods, including soda bread, and American foods.”

The festival includes a large vendor area with a variety of goods including Irish themed items and handcrafted items. The Sons and Daughters of Erin launched the James McNally Wilson Irish Festival in 2011 and with one exception has expanded it every year. The festival was named for James McNally Wilson who is an enduring symbol of freedom for the Irish people. A rebel imprisoned by the British government in Freemantle, Australia for treason, he was rescued with several other Fenians after he wrote to IrishAmericans for help. His letter, dubbed “the voice from the tomb,” was immortalized in song by Sons and Daughters member Tom Lanigan.