St Patrick’s and St. Brigid’s 30th Annual Irish Festival

Down the street from the nation’s only known traffic light where the green is on top, members of Syracuse’s proud Irish community gathered to celebrate the 30th annual Irish Festival at St. Patrick’s and St. Brigid’s Parish. 

 The festival was founded in 1992 by a few members of the community, including Tom and Karen Gaughan, whose son Tim Gaughan, is now the chairman of the festival. Two of the most important aspects of the festival since the beginning are the church and the community. 

“We’ve all grown up together, we feel like we’re all a part of one big huge family. It’s wonderful to be a part of and I’m very blessed with the people here,” said Tim Guaghan. 

For Ellen and Bill Graser it was a magical experience growing up on Tipperary Hill. Now the Grasers carry on the legacy of Bill’s grandfather by displaying handmade Irish crafts such as clover wreaths, bracelets, and more. Tip Hill, as locals call it, is a place that thrives off communal bonds. Ellen said of her experience growing up on Tip Hill, “everybody knew everybody and everyone was looking out for everyone.” 

Tipperary Hill natives showed their pride by wearing a shirt designed with the famous traffic light where green is above the red. When the light was first installed in 1925, locals did not like the British red over their Irish green. 

“They quickly became known as the stone throwers because they would come out throw stones at the traffic light, keep breaking the traffic light,” Gaughan 

Emcee John Dalgety said one of the most special parts of the festival is the Irish dancers. “When the dancers get underneath the tent, the tent fills up and...it’s like everybody wishes they could Irish dance,” Dalgety said. The Heritage Mass is another big part of the festival and has a designated time slot where locals celebrate mass with Father Kevin Maloney, an active member of Tipperary Hill. Following the release of the 4pm mass the parishioners were welcomed back to the festival with live music performed by Attractive Nuisance. 

If you were unable to make this festival you’ll have the opportunity to experience some more Irish flare downtown on September 8th and 9th marking the halfway point to St. Patrick's Day. “There’s a saying in Ireland that to have a good time it’s called good craic,” said Dalgety. From the sounds of Ireland ringing throughout the festival, a community of welcoming people, and traditional Irish stout or ale you’re bound to have good craic.