DOVER — The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire will celebrate its first-ever Irish Heritage Day on Sunday, March 21, from noon to 5 p.m. This family-friendly event comes on the heels of St. Patrick’s Day and highlights the vibrant Irish heritage of the Greater Dover community.

Irish Heritage day features five live music and dance performances, all underwritten by Celtic Crossing of Portsmouth. Local five-piece band Bradigan will play half-hour sets at 1 and 2 p.m. Plus, Dover-based Blarneys will perform at 3 and 4 p.m.

Students from the Murray Irish Dance Academy will demonstrate traditional Irish step dancing at 2:30 p.m. The owners of Celtic Crossing will showcase examples of goods made in the Emerald Isles. And children can try their hand at traditional Irish crafts with free make-and-take activities, including making Irish proverb signs and creating Irish straw designs.

Celtic Crossing has been in business for 12 years on Congress Street in Portsmouth. The shop delivers goods from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Cornwall to the area.  The interior of the shop was designed to feel like the inside of an Irish cottage. Celtic Crossing carries fine Irish jewelry, woolens, music, books and heraldry, and rents kilts for special occasions.

Regular museum admission applies for all Irish Heritage Day festivities: $8 for children and adults, $7 for adults age 65 and over, and there is no charge for museum members or children under 12 months old.
For more information call 742-2002 or visit www.childrens-museum.org.