“The Beaver Island Irish Heritage Group is a newly formed nonprofit corporation. The goal of it is to showcase and recognize and encourage the continuation of the island’s unique Irish heritage and especially its connection, between Beaver Island and Arranmore Island in County Donegal, Ireland,” said festival coordinator, Kitty Mcnamara.
We are just days away from the Irish Emerald Isle Féile on Beaver Island, and it’s a weekend that allows the community to celebrate their roots.
“It means to the community, an opportunity to really better understand the Irish heritage, its Irish heritage, and that includes the people who are members of the old island clans, whose families came directly from Arranmore Ireland, other parts of Ireland, and also the newer island residents that maybe don’t understand that connection. It’s just a fun weekend where the whole town is involved in putting on the festival,” said Mcnamar.
It’s a weekend of diving into Irish music, dance, food, presentation from Irish artists, ceremonies to honor the people that came before them, and much more.
“I think for a lot of people, this has been a fantastic way to kind of and the summer season and just celebrate our heritage. So, for the community on Beaver Island, which has its roots, a strong root to the Irish heritage, it’s a way that we kind of go, here we are. This is what we honor. This is what’s important to us, culturally and musically,” said board chair, Paul Cole.
The festival is for individuals and families of all ages, drawing in people from all over the world.
I have a unique, kind of experience with Arranmore, particularly. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend school up there for a semester. I graduated high school early, and then my last semester went and lived there. And so, I made a great group of friends, like lasting connections to the island. And so, I just wanted to be a part of helping bolster that intercultural connection that we have with them. And help facilitate a time where people can one learn about it to for them to be able to come over and finally see and experience Beaver Island. So that’s why I wanted to join particularly myself,” said board member, Marlania Cole.
Not only is this a weekend of celebration on Beaver Island, but it also positively impacts the Northern Michigan community as a whole.
“Anybody that comes to Beaver Island comes through Charlevoix County. So, it just automatically we know if we’re drawing 650 or 700 people here for a festival, that’s people staying in hotels in Charlevoix, eating in restaurants in Charlevoix or the greater Charlevoix County area before they come over. and on their way back. obviously, it helps the economy of those areas. And also, I think it helps the Northern Michigan area, understand more the significance of the Irish culture here on Beaver Island,” Mcnamara said.
Whether you are part of the Irish heritage or not, it’s the end of the summer celebration in Northern Michigan that you won’t want to miss.
“I love to hear different musicians in the vein of Irish music. And also, but probably most importantly, is the musicians that come here are blown away by the beauty of the island, but also the community. And there was, a family, the Gavin family last year that Michael Gavin that has traveled and did many, many festivals and he said this is the most authentic festival he has ever been at,” Paul Cole said.