Former Heralds editor to be honored at Irish Festival

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The 49th Nassau County Ancient Order of Hibernians Feis and Irish Festival is set for Sunday, Sept. 19, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Nickerson Beach in Lido Beach, and this year’s honoree will be John O’Connell, the former executive editor of Herald Community Newspapers, who retired in 2016.

“It’s such a high honor to have been chosen as the honoree of this year's Nassau County Ancient Order of Hibernians Feis and Irish Festival,” O’Connell said. “Having participated in the Nassau AOH Feis for many years, and knowing all the wonderful, hard-working Hibernian volunteers who give of themselves each year to promote and sustain the best of Irish heritage and culture that this feis and festival represents, I am truly blessed and humbled to be selected by those Hibernians as the 2021 honoree.” 

At the feis and festival, there will be Irish step dancing and live music by Bangers and Mash. There will also be Irish vendors, bagpipers, children’s games, Irish language demonstrations, an art competition and a raffle.

Catholic Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m.

The entrance fee is $10 per person. Children under 16 will be free. All local, state and federal Covid-19 safety precautions will be adhered to. For more information, go to www.NassauAOHFeis.com, or email MikeNYAOHsports@gmail.com. Nickerson Beach is at 880 Lido Blvd in Lido.