Irish Festival in Sea Girt: sweet voices, Irish beer, and penny whistles

BY LORI SENDER

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

THE MAYBE CHRONICLES

The sky was gray, pregnant with heavy, low clouds you could practically reach up and touch, the chill in the air pushing summer firmly out of memories’ way. It was a fitting day for the Irish Festival, held here in Sea Girt, NJ. The sky did remind me of my time in Ireland back in the 80’s with the wet, cold air blowing off the water.

The food was good and appropriate, for me, fried clams with a cold Guinness to wash it down, followed by some hot funnel cake to warm the hands. But of course the Irish music was why we were all there and it was the real deal, authentic and vibrant. I walked from penny whistle to Irish tin whistle to the sweet high voice of Teresa Kane (of The Jameson Sisters with harpist Ellen Tepper). Here she is (pardon my amateur filming). She did remind me of Maura O’Connell, whom I loved so much in my youth.

The event takes place at The Sea Girt National Guard Armory every September.