The United Irish Cultural Center of San Francisco has partnered up with the annual Marin Irish Festival to present a unrivalled showcase for Irish culture and music in the Bay Area.
2025 saw double the crowds and the addition of a feis component which was hosted by the Jackie Flynn Academy of Irish Dance. With more than 200 competitors and the presentation of the Western Belt coupled with an easy to get to location, lovely medals, a great crowd—a new tradition has surely begun!
Irish culture took center stage across the fairgrounds as people from all walks of life came to enjoy the unifying magic of Irish music, dance, and tradition. Entertainment on six stages, craft and food vendors, sheepdog demos, falconry, a lakeside pub, and a feis all made for a wonderful weekend of cultural sharing. With the feis in particular, many festiva- goers got an opportunity to see an Irish Dance competition for the first time.
As a sponsor of the Marin Irish Festival, the United Irish Cultural Center had a large booth where Eileen Mize and Anne Cassidy Carew led the charge to promote the UICC’s many cultural programs including the Dowling Library, Irish Camp, concerts and events, and even a mini Irish Shoppe.
A fitting highlight for many visitors was the Keepers of the Steps Irish dance archive pop-up exhibit. Since the booth was right next to the feis tents, there was a lot of traffic from dancers, families, and adjudicators who were taking mental notes to bring home to their regions—among them were Russell Beaton, ADCRG and Joseph Seletski, ADCRG. Each spoke with program co-chair, Eileen Mize, and were energized by the efforts that have been made to preserve this precious history.
“We are endeavoring to create a template to empower other communities and towns across the country and even around the world, to document their local history and collect artifacts and ephemera and the stories that go with them,” said Eileen Mize who initiated the Keepers of the Steps exhibition.
Also on the menu during festival were a Pop-Up Gaeltacht, St. Brigid yard doll-making and tips on researching Irish genealogy.
The final demo of the weekend was a bagpipe demonstration by Maggie Baglin who was also able to share the Rose of Tralee tradition.
Sign up for the festival mailing list here to make sure you get next year’s date on the calendar and make plans to attend.
