The Feis (pronounced Fesh – an Irish word for dancing competition) and Festival will include a lineup of competitive events, including dancing competitions on all levels, pipe and drum band events, and singing, music, Irish art and soda bread contests.

There will be food, drinks, an Irish village of vendors and games for the young children. A Catholic Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Musical guests will be the Irish band, the Sporting Paddies.

Admission is $10 for adults. Children under 16 will be admitted free.

This year, the Feis will honor its longtime chairman, Edward F. Friel, who retired from heading up the event after the 2009 feis.

“It’s a tremendous honor,” said Friel, who was the chairman from 2003-2009. “It means even more to me because I am following in the footsteps of my Uncle John.”

Friel’s Uncle John is former Feis Chairman and AOH National Life Member John Bownes, who passed away last year.

Friel is a longtime member of the Padraic Pearse Division 3 of the AOH in the Five Towns. He has served on the division, county and state levels of the AOH, while also heading up special events such as the Feis and AOH county ball.

He is also on the board of directors of the Irish Americans in Government and is a member of St. Mary’s Morris Stella Council of the Knights of Columbus and a Fourth Degree Member of the Steven Moylan General Assembly.

He lives in Westbury, NY with his wife, Nina, and they have three married children.

This will be the third consecutive year the Feis and Festival will be held at Molloy College as part of Irish Studies Institute Program. The Feis expects around 2,000 attendees for this year’s celebration.

More information on the Nassau County Ancient Order of Hibernians’ Irish Feis and Festival can be found on its website: www.nassauaohfeis.com.

About Molloy College: Molloy College, an independent Catholic college based in Rockville Centre, was founded in 1955. The College is a mid-sized, comprehensive Master’s institution that serves a student population of approximately 4,200 undergraduate and graduate students.  Molloy students can earn degrees in a variety of outstanding academic programs, including nursing, business, education, social work, music therapy and many more.

About The Irish Studies Institute: The Irish Studies Institute at Molloy College illuminates and documents the central role Irish Americans have played and continue to play in the United States, and extend and enrich exchanges between Irish Americans and those from other cultural backgrounds.  The Institute highlights the rich history, integration and cultural exchanges of the Irish throughout New York, the metropolitan area and beyond.

About the Nassau County Feis Corporation, Inc.: A not for profit company whose members are comprised of the Nassau County Ancient Order of Hibernians. The Feis Corporation’s purpose is to plan, promote and implement the Feis and Festival every year.

About the Nassau County Ancient Order of Hibernians:  Founded in 1836, the Ancient Order of Hibernians is the largest Irish Catholic organization in the United States. With almost 35,000 members nationwide, almost 10,000 in New York State and almost 900 residing in the eight Divisions in Nassau County. Membership is open at all men age 16 and over, who are of Irish birth or ancestry, and are practicing Catholics. For more information, please visit their website at www.nassauaoh.com or contact Nassau County Organizer James Henry at organizer@nassauaoh.com.

“He was a dedicated member of the order,” said fellow National Life Member Michael O’Rourke. “He was very active with the Feis, and helped build the stages. He was a worker.”

John joined Division 5 in Far Rockaway back in 1957 and later transferred to Division 3 in the Five Towns. Over the years he held many positions in the Order, including serving as Assistant National Freedom for All Ireland Chair back in the late in 1970s. He also held a few state appointed positions.

In 2002, John was awarded with National Lifetime Membership for his service to the Order and continued to be active with the division and county up until his accident.

He is survived by his nephew former Nassau County President and State Director Ed Friel, three daughters and four grandchildren.

John will be waked 7-9 pm on Tuesday and  2-4 pm and 7-9 pm and Wednesday this week at Fullerton’s Funeral Home on Merrick Road. Baldwin, NY. With the Mass of Christian Burial taking place on 9:45 am on Thursday at St. Christopher’s Church in Baldwin.