KINGSTON – Perfect weather greeted festival-goers along the Rondout waterfront in Downtown Kingston Sunday afternoon, for the 17th annual Hooley on the Hudson festival, celebrating Irish culture.
The word Hooley, of unknown origin, means Irish party, with song and dance.
Three stages entertained thousands of attendees – many clad in green attire, kilts, and other traditional garb – who enjoyed day-long performances of Irish music, including bagpipes, step dancing, drums, and spoken word.
Americans celebrate being Irish
The festivities filled the Rondout waterfront
“We have vendors of all shapes and sizes, all kinds of food, from Mexican to Polish to Italian,” said Bill Kearney, one of the local Hibernians who helped organize the event. “The Irish aren’t very good at cooking, I can tell you right now.”
Nearly 40 core organizers worked since March to pull all the permits and bands together, joined by 250 volunteers helping maintain order on Hooley Day.
“If it wasn’t for our local sponsors in this town, we couldn’t put this event on as free to the public,” Kearney added. “This is about Irish culture, music, step-dancing, story-telling, it’s all about teaching our kids where we came from, and what it means to be Irish.”
The Hibernians currently hold Irish language classes at other venues but hope to complete their pending Irish Cultural Center as a downtown venue in the near future, Kearney said.
Mayor Steven Noble joined in the fun with his wife and son.
“It’s so great to see so many people come out and help celebrate all of our Irish-American culture that we’ve got going on in the community,” Noble said. “There’s things for all ages and my seven-year-old is having a great time.”
Lei Isaacs, author and socialite, is a regular festival fixture in town. She camped herself in front of the main stage, enjoying a bagpipe band, followed by female step-dancing routines.
“They’re all so young and they’re all so talented, and they have beautiful smiles,” Isaacs said.
