International man of mystery, Adam, wears many hats. Amongst many other things, he is the Fest's office manager and board secretary. #adamdidnotapprovethisbio

A veteran of the Minnesota nonprofit scene, Baarry has spent the last two decades overseeing the Fair's most critical assets: the clover patches. As BCE, he specializes in crowd control, woolen sustainability, and high-level nap management. Though he rarely speaks in board meetings, his "Baaa" carries the weight of a thousand votes. Baarry holds an honorary degree in Advanced Pasture Management from the University of Wool-in-Dubin.

Growing up in an Irish household on the outskirts of London, Irish music and traditions were part of Danny’s upbringing. Whether it was playing the whistle or Irish Dancing, he embraced it all. Having volunteered at Irish Fest for past 10+ years and more recently overseeing the VIP Area as Area Manager, joining the board was the next logical step. You will find him listening to Gaelic Storm or anything Irish even during the Holidays. And perhaps on occasion, even with a pint in his hand.

Derwin joined the board in December of 2025 and has attended Irish Fest every year since 2015. He is a lifelong learner who enjoys making meaningful connections with people. As the co-owner of a local business in the Twin Cities (Rince Na Chroi Irish Dancers) he is committed to supporting and enriching the community. His professional background also includes valuable experience in public accounting, providing a foundation in business and finance.

John joined the board in early 2026 and has been attending Irish Fest for 20+ years. He has been involved in various volunteer roles over the last several years as well. One of his passions is Irish history and culture. John is excited to jump in and do his part to make Irish Fest a great event!

Macy has been involved with the Irish Fest in a variety of capacities and now also serves on the board! She has long been interested in Ireland and Irish history, and has family roots in County Donegal.

Macy is a high school history teacher, currently working in Minneapolis. She travels when she can, and is always excited to see new places!

Mike joined the Irish Fest Board in 2024 after years of volunteering in the Pub Tent and other locations. His love of Irish music and culture was accelerated when he studied at Trinity College in Dublin for his senior year of college. He met his wife Patty (who is even more Irish then he is) at the old MacCafferty’s on Grand Ave in St Paul. Mike is a retired attorney who spent 33 years working in the Minnesota court system in a number of parajudicial and administrative roles. He is looking forward to working with the wonderful volunteers we have every year.

Mike has been involved with Irish Fest for over 20 years. In those 20+ years, he has served as Board Chair, Entertainment Chair, Vice Chair and Dance Tent Manager. Mike currently manages the main stage, along with booking our headline and featured entertainers. Over the years, Mike has built an extensive worldwide network of musicians, managers, agents and fellow festival entertainment directors which he taps into to bring the best entertainers to Irish Fest year after year.

In addition to serving on our board, Mike is on the Executive Committee of the Association of Irish and Celtic Festivals (AIFC), which is a collaborative of over 50 festivals across North America.

Niall has been part of Minnesota’s Irish community his whole life. His parents immigrated to St. Paul in 1970 and ran MacCafferty’s Irish Pub (1976-1982) and MacCafferty’s Irish Village, on Grand Avenue till closing the gift shop in the early 1990s. During his childhood, he spent his summers in the small town of Cushendun, Co Antrim, in the North of Ireland where he developed a deep love for Irish culture and community.

He has had an extensive career in restaurant management, working for Irish Born Hospitality for over 20 years and now with Roce Restaurants as regional manager since 2020. Niall leans on his experience in the hospitality business to assist with food and beverage operations as well as logistics during the Irish Fest and has been a proud member of the board since 2023

Paige Hudson has been involved with the Twin Cities Irish Fest for over 5 years and a part of the local Irish Dance Community for over a decade! After volunteering as the Dance Area Manager for 4 years, she joined the Board in 2025. Co-owner of Hudson Irish Dance in Wayzata, she is looking forward to bringing her love of Irish Culture to Fest-goers and the greater Twin Cities Community!

Richard has attended Irish Fest for many many years. He is now able to give back to the organization that has given him many fond memories of Irish music, culture, and food.

Ryan Mayer is a Minneapolis resident and Twin Cities business owner (Finaltone Painting Company & Woodstone Pressure Washing). As an avid traveler and lover of Celtic music, culture, and whiskey, he enjoys visiting Ireland whenever possible. Ryan is thrilled to bring his entrepreneurial spirit and past community/arts board service and experiences to Irish Fest, in support of the greater Minnesota Irish community.

Serving as the Event Manager, Sarah brings extensive experience in event planning, community engagement, and cultural programming. With a deep appreciation for Irish heritage and traditions, Sarah plays a pivotal role in orchestrating the festival.

Sharon joined the board in 2025 and has been attending Irish Fest since she moved to the US in 2016. Hailing from Cork, she grew up attending Irish dancing and surrounded by Irish sports, music and food.