Published: September 14, 2008 12:41 am      

FESTIVAL: Celtic fun

Drizzle makes Olcott Beach a little like old sod

By Bill Wolcott

wolcottb@gnnewspaper.com

NEWFANE — Overcast skies and threatening weather made it a perfect Celtic day early Saturday. Drizzles may have changed Olcott Beach a tad to look a little too much like home, but it was not dreary for the good-natured folks from the British Isles.

There was cheer, beer, dancing, singing, bag piping and games for the children, who threw little bean bags, played miniature golf and had their faces painted. Meanwhile, the big kids were throwing heavy things in the Highland games.

Music came from the Celtic Art Stage and the main stage. That’s where Maureen Daniels, Liz Moffit and Kathy Murphy danced to the music of Boughton Hill Band. Their dance wasn’t on the program — it was spontaneous merry-making by the silver-haired ladies who held hands and went in circles and then locked arms and went in circles.

“I don’t even live around here,” said Daniels who was catching her breath. “I live in South Carolina and I’m just visiting. They made me dance.”

It’s true. “Wherever we go, she’s got to go,” Murphy said. “She’s

having a great old time.”

Moffit, who is originally from Limerick, Ireland, was the queen of the crew. The women offered a song and Kitty O’Shea recited a limerick.

“I have the most dangerous name in Irish history,” she said. “I’m only carrying the name. I’m not carrying the blame.”

Kitty O'Shea was an English woman of aristocratic background whose relationship with Charles Stewart Parnell eventually caused his political downfall.

A woman of high rank left her husband, Capt. William O'Shea, a Catholic Nationalist Member of Parliament, to live with Parnell who fathered three of her children.

It was a scandalous story that had to do with First Irish Home Rule Bill in 1886.

There were several full-bosomed women, many who played wenches. Others were of the merchant class.

Sarah Keidel came with the Sterling Invaders from the Sterling Renaissance Festival. Although she enjoyed Guinness in a mug, she was not barmaid, but from the merchant class.

Men in kilts threw long poles and a fellow with a red beard shot off a blunderbuss. Clans were re-enacting; sheep, goats and donkeys were being fed by the children.

Rachael Gaines, 13, of Hilton, was carrying a terrier in a shamrock-embroider pouch. A member of the Sterling Invaders, she was dog-sitting while in a costume.

Rachael has been coming to the Olcott festival since she was 7. “I like the fact that they allow the animals to come in and run around and let the children be involved in some things, instead of just shops.”

There were plenty of shops and a Gaelic libations tent where one could buy mead, perhaps the first wine, made of honey.

“We came to check it out,” Carl Creasey of Hamlin said of the festival. “It sounded like a fun day and my wife, Brenda, is Irish. Alexis and Nicolina were anxious to go to the play area.

Diane Donner of Lockport brought her twin sons, Jason and Michael, 8 at the urging of her sister Doreen Haseley. The kids liked to hand feed and pet the animals.

Gil Paul of Niagara Falls enjoyed a Scottish hard-boiled egg topped with sausage and horseradish sauce. Sharon Paul tried the shepherd’s pie.

The festival resumes today at 11 a.m. The McCarthy School of Irish Dance will perform on the main stage at 12:30 p.m. The O’Sullivan Academy of Irish Dance performs at 4 p.m.

Closing ceremonies are at 5 p.m.

Contact reporter Bill Wolcott

439-9222, ext. 6246.