South West Music Archive: Koroit Irish Festival 2000

"Irish smiles abound" -- Warrnambool Standard 1st May 2000 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2000 All rights reserved

WITH sore heads, strained voices and lacking sleep, organisers yesterday hailed the fourth annual Koroit Irish Festival as a winner. Despite uncomfortable weather conditions thousands of people turned out to dance, sing, eat, drink and celebrate the region's Irish heritage. Festival committee president Maurice Molan said an extra stage and added attractions meant this year's festival offered something for everyone.While rain clouds threatened to dampen Saturday's street market and outdoor performances, not a drop fell in the gusty winds until the evening when festival events were inside the town's theatre and hotels. Mr Molan said the highlight was Saturday night's concert in the theatre, incorporating thefinal of the Australian Danny Boy Championship. "You couldn't move in the theatre. Both the pubs were also busy, so everyone's happy," he said. Local businesses, as well as stall holders, did a roaring trade during the street market. Daly's supermarket assistant manager Paul Brooks said a pallet and a half of Guinness and a pallet of Kilkenny beers had been ordered especially for the event."We keep a record each year on the computer and it tells us it's getting bigger every year," he said. In a festival first, entry to Saturday's street events and theatre performances included a ticket in a draw for a return airfare to Ireland and a car for seven days. Warrnambool's Leigh Moore won the trip to Ireland. "Someone gave me a phone call; I didn't know whether to believe them or not," she said. "I know a couple of people in Ireland." Mr Molan commended the festival committee, saying its hard work had paid off. "People don't realise how much work goes into one of these things," he said. Dinkum Irishman Michael Morgan won the Danny Boy double at the Koroit Irish Festival. A REAL Irishman has been declared this year's Australian Danny Boy Champion at the Koroit Irish Festival. Michael Morgan, who hails from Nenagh in county Tipperary, has lived in Warrnambool for 24 years. He entered the competition for the first time this year. Michael won the local vocal section (for residents of Moyne Shire and Warrnambool City Council area), and the overall Australian championship. Koroit, in the Moyne Shire, is 17km north-west of Warrnambool. He had not intended to enter when he had a look at the festival on Friday night. "I went into the pub and they were calling for entries. Someone said `Mick Morgan, you'll go in it'," Michael said.He was a little nervous at first. "The crowd was really terrific. I couldn't believe when I got up there - all these people. Once I started singing I was right." Michael said he had set about learning the Danny Boy tune only after moving to Australia because people were always asking him to sing an Irish song. Max Heininger and Elsa Turner, of Warrnambool, won the instrumental category of the competition. Max played the violin and Elsa the piano accordion. They have been performing together for three months but had decided only late last week to enter the competition. "We decided Thursday night we were going to have a go and it came off," Max said. "We got a very nice applause and the judges said some good things about us. "Organiser Howard Nichol said moving the final of the competition to the Koroit Theatre and adding instrumental and local vocal categories had enhanced the championship. Mr Nichol said 20 contestants entered the heats of the championship and were judged by audience response and eisteddfod judging criteria. He said seven finalists were chosen to compete in the theatre on Saturday evening. Mr Nichol said the Danny Boy championship gave the festival "a point of difference". The championship was introduced in the festival's second year. He said organisers would move to secure sponsorship for the event next year.