October 2nd-5th, 2008
Oulu, Finland
www.irkku.fi

Come visit the northern frontier of Irish music and join us for the 3rd annual Irish Festival of Oulu from October 2nd-5th 2008. Organized by The Irish Music Society of Oulu, the festival celebrates the richness of Irish culture including dance, poetry, story telling, Irish Wolfhounds parade, puppeteering, and plenty of world class traditional Irish music.

The City of Oulu, Finland’s 6th largest City, lies on the Gulf of Bothnia 200 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle, home of Santa Claus. Oulu is a historic, 400 year old City of 131,000 inhabitants, known for high technology, Ice Hockey and more recently recognized as an Irish music centre.

Although very young, the festival has made an impact locally and nationally with past performers like Paddy Keenan and Tommy O’ Sullivan, as well as the band RíRá in 2007. The 2008 line-up continues on that goal of establishing a respectable Irish Festival and we welcome legendary Andy Irvine headlining the festival and the multi-talented, energetic band- Gráda.

Lively Irish music sessions are on daily and open for everyone. The festival features the very talented Oulu-based bands Cascade, The Soap Pig, and the Yläsiirtola Ramblers. Renowned harpist Lily Neill and Galway based band, The Piper Strings are also making their first appearances at the festival. Irish Poetry and music are intertwined for a beautiful performance with very special guests arranged in cooperation with the Irish Embassy.

Numerous activities are organized for the entire family such as Irish story telling, puppet shows by Miriam Lambert of the famous Lambert puppeteer family, and at least 20 Irish Wolfhounds will parade through the City Centre. The weekend long traditional Irish dance course will once again be loads of fun for youth, students and adults.

Fáilte-Tervetuloa-Welcome to the most northerly Irish Festival in the world.