Irish Festival Seattle 2025
Experience the Spirit & Culture of Ireland at Irish Festival Seattle 2025
March 15-16 At The Seattle Center
Join us for Irish Festival Seattle 2025, this two day festival at the end Irish Week is the largest celebration of Irish culture in the Pacific Northwest!
Held during St. Patrick’s Day weekend, this family-friendly event brings the music, dance, history, art, food, drink and traditions of Ireland to life.
Enjoy Live Irish music, Irish step dancing, cultural exhibits, genealogy workshops, and engaging activities for all ages. Meet special guests, explore authentic Irish goods, and take part in interactive experiences that celebrate the rich heritage of the Irish in Seattle.
Whether you’re Irish by birth or just Irish at heart, you’re invited to immerse yourself in the warmth and hospitality of Ireland—right here in Seattle!
Festival Highlights
This year, we celebrate Ireland’s impact on global technology. We Celebrate its rich history and ongoing contributions to groundbreaking innovative advancements.
The Festival will feature a Digital Art Display showcasing contemporary Irish artists along with a talk entitled “To Hell with Trad! Irish Digital and Tech Art Now”.
Professor Micheal O’Connell from Ireland will present “Artificial Stupidity and the Overlooked History of Ireland’s ‘Tech Bros,’ Sisters, and Disruptors.”
In the Film Room ‘The Cable That Changed The World’ and ‘The Genius Of George Boole‘
On The Stage
Hanz Araki Band – Sunday 3:00 PM
Hanz Araki is considered one of the most talented Irish musicians in America today, flautist, whistle player, singer, and Juno Award-winner he has been lauded by publications and audiences alike. Three decades of musical exploration into Irish, Scottish, Japanese, and American traditions has yielded his distinct style described by Fatea Magazine as “achingly beautiful.”
The Band came about in the tried and true manner of Irish music bands throughout the centuries, which is to say, at the session. It became clear that these horses could pull in the same direction, and thus a band was born. Three of the four members have connections to Maine, but they all managed to find their way to the northwest corner of these United States—fortunately for them, you can get heeyah from theyah.
On The Stage
Carrigaline Celtic Band Saturday 12:00
Traditional instruments include Uilleann Pipes, Bodhran, Fiddle, Whistles, Cittern, Harp and vocals. Kieran is from the village of Carrigaline in Co Cork, Ireland and lives today in Seattle WA. The band has toured Ireland, played with the Chieftains and are a regular feature in venues Irish and American Irish in Seattle, Portland and Vancouver BC. Songs are in Irish and English, dancers are available to complete the ensemble.
On The Stage
Cavort Sunday 10:30 PM
Goat, strings, and flutey things make this Celtic band! Their songs will launch you straight out of your seat and propel you back to Ireland.
With spirited songs and instrumentals, CAVORT brings the sounds of Ireland closer to the Pacific Northwest. Their infectious rhythms and rhymes appeal to all generations with their continuation of centuries-old musical traditions.
On The Stage
Irish Twist Saturday 5:00 PM
Irish Twist culminated as a result of good friends playing with each other for many years. Thier folk music experience crosses over many genres, including Scandinavian, Scottish, and Celtic music. We hope you enjoy their Irish set at this Irish Festival.
On The Stage
Seattle’s Irish Dance Schools
Irish step dancing is a unique art form and there is a vibrant tradition of tuition and performance amongst Seattle’s Irish Community.
The Irish Festival Seattle provides an opportunity for pupils and schools to showcase their hard work and talent.
9 Local schools will perform over the two days:
On Saturday:
- Cladach Dance 1:30 pm
- Haley Prendergast School of Irish Dance 2:00 pm
- Carroll-Henderson School of Irish Dance 2:45 pm
- Grafton Street Academy of Irish Dance 3:30 pm
- Comerford Irish Dance Seattle 4:00 pm
- West Seattle Irish Dance 4:30 pm
On Sunday:
- Rowan Fae Irish Dance Company 12:30 pm
- Fire and Ice Irish Dance Caompany 1:00 pm
- Tara Academy of Irish Dance 2:00 pm
In The Loft
Digital Art Display
Sat 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm / Sun 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Come and view a virtual display of the work from 5 of Ireland’s contemporary Digital artists;
In The Loft
Talks & Lectures
Artificial Stupidity
The Overlooked History of Ireland’s ‘Tech Bros’, Sisters, and Disruptors.
Sun 1:00-2:00 pm
Who controls technology, and what are the implications? Professor Micheal O’Connell of Sussex University explores Ireland’s role as a tech hub and its overlooked history.
The talk will revisit historical contributions, including how Cork based George Boole’s logic from the nineteenth century fuels modern computing, how Skibbereen’s Percy Ludgate built an analytical engine, Donegal’s Kay McNulty programmed the first digital computer, and how Richard Hayes cracked Nazi codes.
In The Loft
Talks & Lectures
To Hell with Trad!
Irish Digital and Tech Art Now
Sat & Sun 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Micheál O’Connell, a.k.a. Mocksim, explores Ireland’s digital art scene, where artists navigate technology and cultural identity.
It highlights the diversity of Irish digital art, from Aoife Dunne’s vibrant installations and Bassam Al-Sabah’s CGI identity explorations to John Gerrard’s simulated landscapes critiquing geopolitics. Katie Nolan examines power through counter-surveillance, Daniel Murray’s Loom.cafe explores network aesthetics, and Elinor O’Donovan adds a surreal, playful touch to digital media.
In The Loft
Talks & Lectures
Advice on Irish Citizenship
Sun 11:00 am -12:00 pm
Interested in learning how to get Irish Citizenship by descent from your parents or grandparents? Hear advise on how to go about it, and the concerns you should have in mind.
In The Loft
Talks & Lectures
The Wild Geese Players
Sat 2:00 – 3:00 pm
The Wild Geese Players will be reading selections from Irish writers, including Joyce, Yeats, and other Irish literary luminaries.
In The Loft
Talks & Lectures
Genealogy Lecture
Sat 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Sun 12:00 -1:00 pm
Seattle Genealogy Society will be host on help to find your Celtic routes
In The Loft
Music Lessons
Tin Whistle Class
Sat 5:00 – 6:00 pm / Sun 1:00 – 11:00 am
Rob Garanda from Carbony Winds will be teach a Tin Whistle Class
In the Loft
Irish Bar
Join us upstairs for a pint and a chat in the Lobby Bar.
Take a rest from the crowd, bump into some old friends and enjoy a Guinness or Harp on tap
On The Festival Floor
Irish Food
The best traditional Irish Food in Seattle will be served up by the brilliant folks from Shawn O’Donnells.
In the Loft
Film
The Cable That Changed The World
This Landmark documentary explores the challenges faced by the cable pioneers during their 8-year journey to connect North America and Europe with near instant communication streams.
On The Festival Floor
Irish & Celtic Vendors
Our Festival Sponsors
