Camp puts kids in touch with their Irish heritage

Along with the traditional music, dancing and food, this year’s Irish Festival will offer a taste of the Emerald Isle for the wee ones.

The 27th annual Buffalo Irish Festival will provide a sampling of Irish culture geared toward youngsters ages 8 to 12. The festival’s first “Irish Kids’ Camp” will feature brief sessions on the Irish language, sports such as Gaelic football and hurling, Book-of-Kells-style artwork, storytelling, both step-and set-dancing, genealogy and playing the tin whistle and bodhran, or Irish drum.

Youngsters will learn to spell and pronounce their own names in the Irish language and will also learn a bit about Irish history and the Irish emigration to Buffalo.

The 27th annual Buffalo Irish Festival will take place from 5 to 11 p. m. Aug. 22; from noon to 11 p. m. Aug. 23; and from noon to 9 p. m. Aug. 24 at the Hamburg Fairgrounds.

The Irish Kids Camp, which is limited to 50 students per day, will run from 9 a. m. to 2 p. m. Aug. 23 and 9 a. m. to 3 p. m. Aug. 24, a session that will include Mass. A fee of $25 per student will cover the classes, lunch and a camp T-shirt. Students ages 8 to 12 may register online at www.BuffaloIrish.com.

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