The Irish-American Crossroads Festival is a celebrated cultural event in the San Francisco Bay Area promoting the discovery and understanding of the diverse Irish experience in the Americas.  This annual Festival takes place in many venues throughout the Bay Area and during the months of March and April.

The Festival offers a wide diversity of inspired musical, literary and cultural events that invite the public to come together in the spirit of discovery and celebration.

We are dedicated to creating a dynamic forum every year where relevant, meaningful, and many-sided conversations take place about our Irish and Irish-American histories, our ancient roots, and modern hybridities, our passions, our work, our presence around the globe and our creative efforts to make sense of it all

Schedule:

March 9th,

9pm - Gerry O’Connor and Don Penzien in Concert

This promises to be a wonderful evening of music featuring Gerry O’Connor, founding member of Lá Lugh, Skylark and Oirialla, and Don Penzien, long recognized as a top-flight performer of Irish traditional music.

Gerry O’Connor, considered one of the greatest fiddlers of his generation, was born in Dundalk, Co. Louth, Ireland, and won numerous All Ireland titles. He has played and recorded with Lá Lúgh, Skylark, Planxty, The Bothy Band, De Dannan and The Chieftains. Gerry will be performing with Don Penzien, who is frequently on the road with Gailfrean, The Máirtín de Cógáin Project, and others. Don’s dexterous work on DADGAD-tuned guitar provides solid driving rhythms to traditional tunes. A Michigan native, he founded and directed CelticFest Mississippi for 25 years. Join us for what promises to be a great evening of Irish music!

The Plough and the Stars Pub, 116 Clement Street, San Francisco

Admission: $20 Tickets available at Eventbrite and at the Door.

March 10,

1-3pm - Preservation and Innovation: Irish and Irish-American Arts, Culture and History in the San Francisco Bay Area 

Join us for a unique event where leaders of Irish community organizations discuss the motivations for their work to support Irish/Irish-American culture, arts, and history and share their visions for the future.  The panel includes:

Tony Bucher,  President of the Irish Literary & Historical Society, Columnist for the Irish Herald.

Catherine Barry, Board member of SF Irish Film/ Co-Director of the Irish Oral History Archive of the SF Bay Area, Founder/Director of Irish Culture Bay Area.

Susan Keith, Chair Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Cooley-Keegan Branch.

Eileen Mize, Director of Keepers of the Steps,  Marketing Team of the United Irish Cultural Center.

United Irish Cultural Center, St. Francis Room, 2700 45th Avenue San Francisco.

Admission: Free

March 24,

3.15pm - Connecting Ireland and the Caribbean

Join us to learn about literary and historical intersections between the Caribbean and Ireland.  Dr. Miriam Nyhan Grey, Assistant Professor of History, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, and Dr. Maria McGarrity, Professor of English at Long Island University, will present and engage in conversation about their research.  Presidio Theatre, 99 Moraga Avenue, San Francisco

Admission: Free, book your seats here

April 6,

2pm – 5pm - Crossroads Salon

Bring your creative work about Irish/Irish-American culture, history or experience to share with this warm and appreciative audience. The Crossroads Salon is a convivial gathering where local writers, musicians, singers and visual artists gather to enjoy each other’s work.  Join us at a gracious home with sweeping views of San Francisco for this annual event.

Private Residence in San Francisco, Address provided with RSVP

Admission:  Free, RSVP to: [email protected]

April 13,

1-2.30pm - Irish Sean Nós Singing Workshop with Amelia Hogan

This workshop introduces an overview of what Sean Nos Singing IS, some typical markers and regional differences, the feel and flavor. Workshop attendees will begin learning a traditional Irish song in Irish Gaelic (As Gaeilge) taught through a call and response, and informational approach.

United Irish Cultural Center, St. Francis Room, 2700 45th Avenue, San Francisco

Admission: $20 – RSVP to [email protected] to secure a spot

3-5pm - Oral Histories at the Crossroads

Join us to hear participants in the Irish Oral History Archive of the San Francisco Bay Area share their stories.

United Irish Cultural Center, St. Francis Room, 2700 45th Avenue, San Francisco

Admission: Free

Date: March 9 - April 13, 2024

Location: Various locations in San Francisco

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