The Dublin Irish Festival secured a top three spot in the 2023 USA Today 10Best awards for Best Cultural Festival and was honored with nine IFEA Pinnacle Awards. An Economic impact study was conducted, showing that the Festival brought $12.0 million dollars benefitting the Central Ohio community. The Dublin Irish Festival 5K presented by IGS energy sold out all races and the inaugural post-race party and concert drew a large crowd, kicking off the weekend on the right foot. During Sunday Services, 10 tons of food was donated to the Dublin Food Pantry, setting a new record for the amount of food collected.

The Dublin Irish Festival was a memorable blend of tradition and modern experiences that celebrated Irish culture. We were honored by a visit from Ireland's Ambassador to the United States, Geraldine Byrne Nason. A blacksmith provided a glimpse into the past with metalwork demonstrations, while a virtual reality experience of the Cliffs of Moher brought a modern twist, allowing visitors to virtually explore one of Ireland's most iconic landscapes. This year's festival featured four exciting pop-up shows throughout the Festival, alongside family friendly activities like the darts competition, wee folk crafts, kids Highland games and more. Musical diversity was prominent at the festival as we welcomed bands from across the globe, including Japan’s O’Jizo and Italy’s Gadan featuring Enda Scahill from We Banjo 3. Country music singer, Zac Brown, made a surprise appearance on Friday night with Gaelic Storm. Whiskey enthusiasts were able to enjoy an exclusive Irish Whiskey Experience featuring Midleton Very Rare Forêt de Tronçais. Despite two weather suspensions, our attendees eagerly returned to celebrate the festivities once the skies cleared.