When Irish eyes are smiling

We tried to sing “When Irish eyes are smiling” to our granddaughter Saturday night, but it turned out none of us actually knew the words.

I can tell you this, though, Irish eyes were smiling all weekend at Irish Fest of the Fox Cities. Everyone else’s eyes were smiling too.

And in the lilt of Irish laughter you could hear an angel sing.

Tributes to founder Matt Miller, who passed away in May, abounded and pictures of him showed up everywhere, even in the program at the Celtic Mass.

Skerryvore’s Martin Gillespie and his bagpipes kicked off that service with a beautiful prelude through the church. He headed out to join his bandmates later that night for the second of their two raucous sets on the Jones Park stage that had the crowd up and dancing.

We had a fantastic time at Irish Fest, ate some tasty shepherds pie, learned a little Gaelic and met a member of the Fox Cities Hurling Club, who’s going to teach me how to play.

Hats off to Mark and Amanda Hudson and the whole Irish Fest committee for putting together another amazing festival, and turning the tragic loss of your friend into a celebration of all he brought to this world.

We can’t wait until next year.