Around Queens: Queens Irish Heritage Festival

The NY Irish Center presents five continuous hours of music and dance set against the backdrop of Queens at the fourth annual “Queens Irish Heritage Festival” takes place at Culture Lab LIC, 5-25 46th Avenue, in Long Island City, and is co-presented by Culture Lab LIC and McManus Irish Dance. For information visit www.NewYorkIrishCenter.org

Among the featured performers (list in formation) are the groundbreaking folk-contemporary dance combo JigGiG (with former Riverdance principals Brandon Asazawa, Andy O’Reilly and Belle Brenton); sean-nós singing sensation Madelyn Monaghan; violin virtuoso Gregory Harrington; folk balladeer Allen Gogarty; folk legend Donie Carroll; Cillian Vallely from Lunasa; Broadway’s Tim Connell, and the singer-songwriter Niamh Hyland with Shu Sakae.

Among the dance groups are the gleefully exuberant folk dance and music youth corps of McManus Irish Dance, plus Darrah Carr Dance, and the Geraldine Murphy Dancers. And showcasing NYIC’s current “Crossroads Concerts” series, in which Irish folk traditions blend with heritages from around the world, will be the world-class musicians Dylan James, Amos Gabia, Raymond Odai Laryea, Julian Bortey Kwandahor, and Colin Harte, who is the series’ curator.

“On our 20th anniversary season we are especially honored to welcome friends from other communities in Queens.” says George C. Heslin, NYIC’s executive director. “This year has been amazing since we have collaborated with artists of Puerto Rican, Indian/Desi, West African, Bulgarian and Brazilian decent. What a pleasure to count ourselves among the many vibrant immigrant communities that remind us every day that Queens is indeed the ‘world’s borough!”

Edjo Wheeler, Culture Lab LIC’s executive director, adds: “Hosting the NY Irish Center’s Queens Irish Heritage Festival is a perfect reflection of our mission, celebrating culture, community, and collaboration.”