Bay Ridge represented at annual Great Irish Fair of New York

Brooklynites young and old donned green and gold on Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27 as they celebrated the 34th Annual Great Irish Fair of New York, held in the parking lot of Coney Island’s MCU Park.

The annual two-day festival — founded in 1982 by the Brooklyn Chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and hosted, since 2007, by the Irish American Building Society — commemorates the city’s abundant Irish-American culture heritage with live music, food and draft beers served up by local watering holes, including, this year, Bay Ridge bars the Pour House (7901 Third Avenue) and Wicked Monk (9510 Third Avenue).

“It was such a wonderful event to be a part of,” said Pour House co-owner Jason McDermott. “We were so proud over at the Pour House to join forces with the Monk and represent Bay Ridge at the Great Irish Fair of Coney Island.”

2015 honorees included Kenneth Daly (Chief Brehon), James Halpin (Irish Man of the Year), Sister Caroline Tweedy (Kathleen Slattery Woman of the Year), Honorable Mary O’Donoghue (St. Thomas More Award), Sean Fitzpatrick (Paul O’Dwyer Memorial Award), Firefighter Patrick Nash (Captain Timothy Stackpole Memorial Award), Police Chief Kevin Ward (Patrolman Edward Byrne Memorial Award), James McHugh (Jerry Forest Memorial Award), Martin McManus (The Celtic Cross Award), Monsignor Martin Geraghty (Father Mychal Judge Memorial Award), and Saint Saviour High School student Grace Sullivan (Colleen Queen).

“The Great Irish Fair of New York had another successful year with several thousand people in attendance,” said Marty Cottingham, president of the Irish American Building Society. “We had a stellar lineup of honorees who are great leaders in our community and will once again be able to provide scholarships for futures in education.”

Bands included FDNY Pipe and Drums, Unforgettable Fire, and fan-favorites the Narrowbacks and the Canny Brothers, among others.