Plattsburgh locals show Irish pride

By Eve Barnofsky

PLATTSBURGH NY- On the Durkee Street Parking Lot, in downtown Plattsburgh the first

annual Plattsburgh Irish festival paints the city green.

Bouncy houses, vendors, and live music, the parking lot down town was packed.

Children running around with their faces painted. Parents enjoying the Adirondack Hard cider

tavern. Everyone enjoying the free ice cream provided by Stewarts.

Sandra Geddes, special events coordinator for the City of Plattsburgh, put together this

even with the help of First Weekends in Plattsburgh and Adirondack Brewery.

“I wanted to create an event that can be ongoing and return over the years and show the

community that plattsburgh has a lot to offer.” said Geddes.

Geddes, the first special events coordinator for the City of Plattsburgh had the idea to put

together an even series like she said to show what Plattsburgh has to offer. After her first event

she was excited to plan more and she thought of Saint Patricks day. She has been planing this

event since November.

 She and ADK Brewery had worked together on other events for the city. When she asked

they were more then happy to participate.

“At the end of the festival ADK Brewery will donate all the funds they made today back

to the city.” Said Geddes.

Ryan Bliss an ADK Brewery representative and bar tender at the Irish festival. It’s the

first event of the year and the weather is unbelievable Bliss commented. For a Plattsburgh winter

the sun was out and the weather was warm.

“We didn’t know how much beer to bring, it was very new to us and we just had someone

go back to the brewery to get more beer because its going so well.” said Bliss.

With beer flowing, Bliss servers costumer after costumer. People were loving the hard

cider and you could tell they kept going back for more.

While live music played and children ran around. People seemed to be enjoying the

event. There was a scavenger hunt that the kids could participate in. They had to go to the local

businesses downtown and solve the riddle that one of the workers gave them. Kids could be seen

running around in green trying to solve the scavenger hunt.

Local vendors such as the Celtic Crafters were loving the days event. Bridget the

Celtic Crafter thought the event was going good and is busy.

Finding the listing on Facebook to be a vendor, she filled it out the application and went

from there.

“We will definitely be here next year.” said Bridget.

The town was out to enjoy this event. Sheila Rowlands a festival goer was enjoying the

event with her friend and her dog.

Rowlands originally from Syracuse was excited to hear that Plattsburgh was having an

Irish festival because where she is from on the weekend before Saint Patricks day, syracuse, has

a big parade.

“I love it, were going to sample some sider and I love the live music. I think theres

something for everyone, its really nice.”