The Big E Agricultural Fair in West Springfield MA showcases County Kerry's Dingle Peninsula

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Photo courtesy of The Big E

Ireland’s famous, picturesque Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry is on full display at The Big E in West Springfield, MA, the largest agricultural fair on the eastern seaboard of the United States. The Dingle exhibit is located in the Young Building, and features Ireland's finest handcrafted products, cultural and educational offerings as well as tourism information.  

Also known as The Eastern States Exposition, The Big E is a 17-Day annual fall celebration of the agricultural, small business, cultural, historical and culinary riches of the six New England states, which include Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. The fair opened on September 13 and runs through September 29, 2024.


Siamsa Tíre, The National Folk Theatre of Ireland, Photo courtesy of The Big E

The Irish portion of The Big E, sponsored by Aer Lingus, kicked off last weekend at the fair with a Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day celebration featuring the band the Young Dubliners, and a dance performance by Siamsa Tíre, The National Folk Theatre of Ireland.

Local sponsors include Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England. 

US Congressman Richard Neal, whose family comes from County Kerry, has been a leader in  Irish promoting the historic connections between County Kerry and West Springfield.  

According to organizers, the Dingle Peninsula, or Corca Dhuibhne, stretches 30 miles into the Atlantic Ocean on the south-west coast on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. The includes a range of mountains that form its spine, running from the Slieve Mish range to the Conor Pass and Mount Brandon, Ireland’s second highest peak. The coastline consists of steep sea-cliffs such as Slea Head, dramatic headlands broken by sandy beaches, with the award-winning beach at Inch in the south and the tombolo of Maharees to the north. The Blasket Islands lie to the west and the peninsula is dotted with lovely villages that each offer their own unique Sense of Place

For information about western Massachusetts, visit explorewesternmass.com

For information about visiting Ireland, go to Ireland.com

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