North Texas is a lively and diverse community. So much so, the most diverse zip code in the U.S. is here in the region. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that we’re home to one of the largest and longest running Irish festivals in the country.
For nearly four decades, the Irish Festival of North Texas has celebrated the culture, song, dance, food and drink of the Emerald Isle.
The first such festival was held on March 5, 1983, at the legendary Nick Farrelly’s Lounge on Oak Lawn and was billed as the First Texas Céilí. This event was so popular that it has continued every year since on the first weekend in March as the North Texas Irish Festival.
Shortly after the first festival, the all-volunteer Southwest Celtic Music Association Inc. was formed to promote the study, performance and preservation of traditional Celtic music, dance and culture. In 1984, the event was moved to Fair Park and its name changed to the North Texas Irish Festival. The Southwest Celtic Music Association Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit cultural corporation headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and serves a five-state regional area. The Southwest Celtic Music Association utilizes proceeds from the North Texas Irish Festival to fund dance and music scholarships bestowed annually on youth in its service area.
This year, the event was held virtually, but that was still a huge success, with more than 50,000 people from across the world checking in on one of the many different channels featuring Irish music, dance and more. The festival reminded everyone that North Texas is a tapestry of cultures, and we’re all eager to celebrate and embrace the fabric of our community.