By Kate Lohnes
Columbus Feis without the Dublin Irish Festival?
That’s like asking for corned beef without the cabbage.
For two decades, these events have co-existed in Dublin. In Central Ohio, where many festivals compete for attention, Columbus Feis and the Dublin Irish Festival have found the ideal marriage to benefit guests.
A “feis” is a fair or festival. “Feissana,” festivals celebrating Irish culture, are held around the world, says Columbus Feis co-founder and event chairman Joe Regan.
Before finding a home in Dublin, Columbus Feis held its first competition in 1981 at St. Charles Preparatory School in Bexley.
“There were other feissana we attended in Akron and Dayton,” Regan says. “They had feissana, so why didn’t we have one?”
Regan, whose daughters are Irish step dancers, decided to organize a Columbus-area feis with other Irish step dance enthusiasts, among them Ann Richens of the Richens/Timm Academy of Irish Dance. It took time to find the right venue, but the Feis finally came to Dublin Coffman High School in 1988.
The same year, Dublin hosted its first Irish Festival in Coffman Park. The move was a joint effort by festival board members and Feis organizers, including former Feis chairwoman Kay McGovern and former Feis treasurer Charlie Hicks.
The events have enjoyed a healthy relationship ever since, as their coinciding dates attract dancers, spectators and more. The Feis’ adult dance competition takes place at the Irish Festival on Friday night of the three-day event, beginning July 31 this year. The festival also has a “Parade of Champions” – featuring the Feis’ best dancers – Saturday night at the festival’s Thunder Stage.
Columbus Feis enjoys robust attendance in part thanks to the festival. When the Feis moved to Dublin Coffman, approximately 300 dancers competed, down from 600 its first year. Now the Feis features 1,200 to 1,300 dancers of various ages and skill sets.
Likewise, the influx of Feis competitors benefits the Irish Festival, Regan says.
“We bring 1,200 to 1,300 dancers to Dublin, which helps with the bed tax revenue for the City of Dublin, plus gate revenue for the Dublin Irish Festival and what folks may purchase at the festival,” he says. “The Feis competitors like the fact there is a festival in conjunction with the Feis, where they can see all sorts of Irish bands and activities. (They can) have a mini-vacation at a reasonable cost.”
Competitors travel long distances for the Columbus Feis, as well: Regan says dancers come from at least 25 states, as well as from Canada and Ireland.
Step dancer Michael Holland, 19, has competed in Feis every year since he was 5 years old. The Hilliard native and Ohio State University student has traveled the world for dance competitions (he won the World Championships when he was 12, and has taken second and fifth place the past two years). Even though Columbus Feis is closest to him, Holland says it’s not an easy contest.
“It’s not as nerve-wracking as the worlds or nationals, but it usually brings in quite a bit of good competition,” he says.
While dancing is the Feis’ focus, the event has continued expanding. Other events added over the years include arts and crafts, an essay competition, vocal and instrumental contests and a soda bread baking contest.
According to Regan’s wife Betty, who helps with registration, these activities make the Feis fun for parents and kids. And with the Irish Festival next door, many people bring their families for a weekend trip.
“It’s different from other competitions because it brings in the whole family,” she says.
Regan says the partnership between Columbus Feis and the Dublin Irish Festival is a lasting one.
“I think we both benefit from each other,” he says. “It’s a mutual admiration society, with the two of us.”
Kate Lohnes is assistant editor of Dublin Life.
BONUS: For more information about Columbus Feis, visit www.columbusfeis.com, or www.dublinirishfestival.org/dance/feis.php.