The Pittsburgh Irish Festival

We spent most of last Saturday at the 2014 Pittsburgh Irish Festival.  The day was hot and muggy, but we had loads of fun. Irish music, Irish food and beverages, dancing, marketplace, Irish dog exhibits (HUGE dogs!).  My youngest son and I both bought hats.  I can't believe he wanted that top hat -- and it WASN'T cheap!

(Poor Gavin...

the day before his NPC competition, 

so food & beverages were off limits)

My hat.  Love.

One of my favorite things was sitting down by the river, listening to the Irish bands.  The atmosphere was inviting, lively and electric, an instant boost to one's mood.  Everyone just seemed so ... well, happy.  But then that's what one might expect from the Irish, me thinks?

  The canopy of trees provided (some) respite from the heat.

 Gotta have a T-shirt

Even when

they have nothing the

Irish

emit a kind of happiness, 

a joy.

~ Fiona Shaw