The Life & Times of Bridie's Irish Faire!
Bridie's Irish Faire was born of my unquenchable "soul level" desire to live in Ireland. Eventually I realized that try as I may, and after much research and heartache, an international move was just out of my reach. I decided to bloom where I was planted by opening an Irish shop, hoping that owning an Irish business would allow for travel to Ireland to help quench the thirst. And it has!
With a deep and abiding love of Irish culture, a good measure of ancestor worship, and handcrafted Irish jewelry, apparel and gifts as a successful recipe, Bridie's Irish Faire was born in May of 2006! In Bridie's previous location (Salem, Oregon from 2006-08), the shop became the "retail heartbeat" of Salem's Irish community. Bridie's was a lovely place to gather, drink a "cuppa", and visit with friends. If musicians were playing, we danced on the sidewalk, if a bit of shopping took place, so much the better! I had fun with my customers every day.
And it wasn't long before the Céilí of the Valley Society was created and began sponsoring a weekly Irish dance class and holding a monthly Céilí at the local VFW Hall. An Irish language class emerged from Bridie's infamous "kitchen table", home of the ever-boiling tea kettle!
We built a new Irish community one activity at a time.
