By Michelle Bailey (@MichelleBailey1)
(IRISH PAVILION – FOLKLORAMA / FACEBOOK)
Irish pavilion coordinator Joseph Savage and junior coordinator Aoife Small. (MICHELLE BAILEY / CHRISD.CA)
As I took my seat at the final show of the evening at the Irish pavilion, I noticed a printed sheet listing fun facts about Irish pubs.
“Telling lies is unacceptable. You may, however, grossly exaggerate.”
To say this pavilion is a fun time is not an exaggeration. From the delicious sticky toffee pudding to the Guinness served to you from a delightful makeshift Irish bar, this stop on your Folklorama tour will leave you wanting to book a trip to Dublin!
Folklorama junior coordinator Aoife Small (Aofie meaning “radiant” in Irish) explained that this year, the 47th for this pavilion and the third at this location, is a celebration of the pub.
“It’s not just a drinking place,” she said. “Homes in Ireland can be very small and the local pubs are a gathering place for people young and old to celebrate, whether it’s for a wake or a wedding.”
As soon as you sit down in one of the very comfy chairs, you feel as welcome as you would in a pub in Cork, Ireland.
The music and dance provided by the world-renowned Damhsa make you want to jump up on stage and join them. In fact, a provincial cabinet minister went up and gave it his all during the broom dance. He did make room for the champion dancers from the McDonnell School of Irish Dance, their feet moving so fast I was afraid to blink!
Expect to be so impressed by the friendly hospitality at this venue that you will want to make a return trip before the end of week one.
What to try: The Guinness. Even if you think you don’t like it, you will be happy you gave it a go. Just don’t let it settle (another tip on the Fun Facts sheet).
Traffic notes: There is a lot of construction along Chevrier Boulevard between Pembina Highway and Waverley Boulevard. Make your route to Soul Sanctuary at 2050 Chevrier Boulevard off of Waverley. There is ample parking.
