1988
The first festival opened in October, on Columbus Day weekend, with a Rugby Night in the Bethlehem School District Stadium at Liberty High School. The preliminary match pitted the Bethlehem Rugby Club against the Philadelphia/Whitemarsh Rugby Club. The featured match pitted the American All-Stars against the Celtic All-Stars from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Tickets were $1: for the rugby matches, music by Freedom High School Patriot Marching Band and Liberty High School Grenadier Marching Band, and exhibitions for the Caber Toss and Highland Dancing. An estimated 30,000 watched during snow squalls.
Festival venues included the Sun Inn Courtyard, the Community Arts Pavilion, the Grand Pavilion and Parade Grounds, where the games were held. A new North American record was set by Paul Ferency in the 56 lb. weight for distance with a throw of 42 feet, 9 inches. The official beer of the festival was Rolling Rock, advertising with the slogan of, “Ireland has its Blarney Stone; America has its Rolling Rock”.
Attendance was good, but revenues were not, and there almost wasn’t a second Celtic Classic.
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1988 Celtic Classic Performers List
- Tommy Makem
- The Clan
- Patrick Ball
- Brian Cunningham
- Nightnoise
- The House Band
- Mabsant
- The Irish Lads
- Mick Maloney
- Malarky
- Pendragon
- Rare Air
- Timlin and Kane
- The Shanachians
1988 Pipe Bands:
- Manchester Pipe Band
- Parlin & District Pipe Band
- Scottish & Irish Imports Pipe Band
- Worcester Kiltie Pipe Band
- Grandfather Mountain Highlanders Pipe Band
- Inis Fada Gaelic Pipe Band
- North Coast Pipe Band
- Saffron Kilts Ceol Mor Pipe Band
- Schenectady Pipe Band
- Trumbull Pipe Band
- Ulster Scottish Pipe Band