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Maybe it's 'cause I'm an old guy, but I love history. I read history books, I watch the History Channel, love, love, love it. And since I was a little Irish Fester I've been especially fascinated by American Civil War history. So next on my list Ten Don't-Miss Things At Irish Fest is Derek Warfield's talk on The History Of The Irish in The Civil War, Sunday at 5:00 in the Heritage Tent.

The American Civil War, coming hard on the heels of An Gorta Mór, the terrible famine that drove so many Irish to our shores was disproportionately fought by young Irish men, fighting on both sides for countries that they scarcely knew. It's an incredible story and I can't wait to hear Derek's talk about it.

Of course I'm only partly accurate to call it a talk because Derek is also a musical encyclopedia of Irish songs of that era, and he'll be punctuating his comments with period music. It wouldn't be too much of a stretch to say that he's a leading authority in this field of study and we're incredibly lucky to have him this year, in partnership with our Heritage display on the same subject. Add to all that the appearance of some re-enactors from the Civil War Irish Brigade encamped on our grounds in period costumes, and well, you've got some giddy history buffs Labor Day weekend. Count me among them.