Promoting Irish-American Culture
and Preserving Local Histories
Through Year-Round Programs

The 2018 Irish-American Crossroads Festival

The Irish-American Crossroads Festival is a literary, musical, and cultural event that takes place every year in the San Francisco Bay Area during the month of March. It is a celebrated annual festival inviting the public to come together around inspired, creative, and relevant events regarding Irish and Irish-American history and culture.

Scheduled Festival events

Saturday, March 3rd. Indigenous-Irish Relationships and Building Solidarity on Ohlone Land

An Irish community fundraiser for the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust, highlighting the campaign to save the West Berkeley Shellmound while considering local and global relationships between Irish and American Indian peoples. La Peña Cultural Center, Berkeley. 4:30pm – 7:30pm. Information>

photo: Matt Horton

 

Saturday, March 10th. One-day Irish documentary film festival featuring three premiere films

Top documentary films by Irish filmmakers – Kíla: Pota Óir; The Farthest; In the Name of Peace: John Hume in America. Delancey Street Theater, San Francisco. 3pm, 4.30pm, 7.30pm. Information>

 

Sunday, March 11th. Irish-American Autobiography: an Exploration with James Silas Rogers

Is there still a distinct Irish identity in America? James Rogers’ new book, Irish-American Autobiography: the Divided Hearts of Athletes, Priests, Pilgrims and More, says yes, though it’s often an indirect one… 1pm-3pm, Main Public Library, San Francisco. Information>

 

Sunday, March 18th. Crossroads Salon

Join us to share or enjoy creative work inspired by Irish-American life in a comfortable and congenial Salon experience. A forum for writers and artists who have Irish or Irish-American heritages or are interested in exploring Irish-American themes, as well as for readers and viewers who want to participate in this exploration. Private residence, address on RSVP 1pm – 4pm Information>

 

Saturday, March 24th. Tony DeMarco in Concert

Virtuoso Irish fiddle player Tony DeMarco is a product of the vibrant immigrant Irish music scene of New York during the time Italians and Irish lived and played side by side. “It’s hard to imagine an Irish traditional music scene in New York City without Tony DeMarco.” – Mick Moloney. The Plough & Stars. 9pm. Information>

 

Sunday, March 25th. Peig Sayers: an Informance by Storyteller Mary McGrath

Love her or hate her, Peig Sayers was called the Queen of Irish Storytelling for a reason.  She told many folklore collectors over 300 folktales in Irish, from her home on the Blasket. United Irish Cultural Center, San Francisco. 2pm – 4pm Information>

 

Sunday, April 15th, 1pm. Oral Histories of the Irish in San Francisco 

An Afternoon of Storytelling. Families welcome. United Irish Cultural Center, San Francisco. 1pm-3pm
Information>

 

Sunday, April 15th, 5pm. Experiences of Chinese Diplomat Luo Linquan

Luo Linquan will speak about his experiences as Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Ireland and as Chinese Consul General in San Francisco, as well about major contributions of Chinese workers to the construction of the first Transcontinental Railroad in the US. United Irish Cultural Center, San Francisco. Information>