If you can’t afford a trip to Ireland — and honestly, who can — hopefully you can still afford a trip to Long Grove.
Long Grove Irish Days, a time the community comes together to celebrate Irish culture, music, dance and more, is from Sept. 2 to 4. Hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sept. 2, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 3 and 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 4.
It’s held in Fountain Square in downtown Long Grove. There will be bagpipers, folk bands, Irish dancers, Irish food, fun contests and beer.
New this year is Irish Days After Dark with the U2 tribute band, Without U2, performing from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 2. From Chicago, Without U2 formed in 2013 and plays songs by the mega-popular Irish band.
Drummer Jeff Kropp, who plays the role of Larry Mullen, Jr., formed the band in 2013. Michael Koelling is bassist Adam Clayton, Kevin Ward is lead singer Bono and Matthew Sutton is guitarist The Edge. They play festivals, private parties, intimate clubs, large venues and even a memorial once, he said.
“The idea is that it’s the ultimate U2 experience,” Kropp said. “We’re playing the music note for note as they would. We try to re-create the live versions of the songs.”
That includes looks from different U2 tours, including the “Elevation” look, the modern-later 2000s look and finally the Zoo TV Tour.
“People familiar with U2 will instantly recognize the wardrobe we’re wearing for that period,” he said.
They play all the hits, as well as some of the deep cuts, he said.
“They’re a legendary, iconic Irish band — probably the most famous band that’s ever come out of Ireland,” he said. “People should expect the real U2 experience — the music, the spirit, the energy, the look of the real thing. Pardon the pun.”
Favorite pastime
A favorite event at Irish Days is the Irish Dog Competition, where all dogs dressed in costume are paraded around with hopes of earning votes from a panel of children judges, said event organizer John Kopecky, owner of Country House of Long Grove. A doggy queen, king, princess and prince are crowned. Kopecky serves as the emcee.
Irish Days is held over Labor Day weekend because the weather is usually nice — nicer than March, anyway — and people are off work, he said.
“It was a good fit.”
Naturally, the biggest laughs of the weekend come from the Best-Looking Men’s Legs in a Kilt contest, where men in kilts put their best legs forward in hopes of winning a trophy.
“It’s definitely a hometown event,” he said.
The Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band will perform all three days of the event. Other acts performing include The Boils, the Larkin and Moran Brothers, The Joyce Boys, The Chancers, The Dooley’s and Jimmy Moore, Kathleen Keane and Jim Conway, Gavin Coyle and performers from the Academy of Irish Music.
Coyle will also provide musical accompaniment at an Irish mass at 10 a.m. Sept. 3, officiated by Tim Fairman and Matt Jamesson.
Dancers from McNulty School of Dance, Trinity School of Dance and Hogan School of Dance will perform.
A Wee Ones booth will have activities for kids, he said.
You don’t have to be Irish to attend, he said.
“If you can’t afford to go to Ireland, I would say come to Irish Days,” Kopecky said.
Long Grove Irish Days
When: Sept. 2-4
Where: Fountain Square, 228 Robert Parker Coffin Road, Long Grove
Tickets: free
Information: 847-634-0888; longgrove.org
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.
