Join the South Carolina State Museum Saturday, March 10 for its annual celebration of Irish heritage.
Beginning in the morning, kids can try their luck at finding Irish-related notables in the “Irish Leprechauns and Legends” scavenger hunt, where they will receive a small prize. Youngsters also will search for small leprechauns painted in some of the museum’s murals, a trademark of the museum’s former muralist, Kent Pendleton.
At 11 a.m., Alexia Helsley, archivist with the S.C. Department of Archives and History, will present a genealogy workshop on finding your Irish roots. In addition, entertainment during the afternoon includes Irish step-dancing by Rince na h’ Eireann and music by the Wild Irish Band.
More entertainment follows with tales from Irish storyteller Batt Burns, who has been performing in the United States for nearly 13 years. Accompanied by his wife Maura on the concertina, Burns combines storytelling with poetry from a variety of 19th and 20th century Irish authors and poets and expresses Irish heritage through haunting accounts of ghosts, great adventure stories, tales of heroes, farcical stories and witty jokes. The performance is laced with Irish wit and humor, as Burns brings alive on stage some colorful characters from the Hills of Kerry, where he lived for most of his life.
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hrough the month of March, guests also can see the exhibit Coming to America. Located on the mezzanine, this exhibit relates personal stories of those whose families immigrated to America and displays artifacts connected to Irish culture.
All activities are included with museum admission or membership. For more information, call (803) 898-4952 or visit www.museum.state.sc.us.
Irish dancing will be just one of the highlights of Irish Heritage Day at the South Carolina State Museum Saturday, March 10. The celebration includes music, a special scavenger hunt for kids and stories from Irish storyteller Batt Burns. Events begin at 10 a.m. and are included with museum admission.
Photo courtesy Alan Geoghegan