Tauranga to celebrate inaugural Irish festival

Laura McCabe says the city’s Irish festival is a way to celebrate alongside Irish communities worldwide ahead of St Patrick’s Day on March 17. Photo / Zoe Hunter

When the strains of fiddle music sound and the first Guinness is poured at Tauranga’s inaugural Irish festival, Laura McCabe will no doubt be thinking of the celebrations back in the Emerald Isle.

She has embraced Aotearoa as her new home but McCabe’s heart will always remain split between two places – her beloved birthplace of Ireland and the Kiwi life she had built in Tauranga.

The first Tauranga Irish Festival in Mount Maunganui on Saturday will be her chance to not only celebrate her heritage, but reconnect with her roots.

“It does make me emotional,” she said. “As an immigrant, your heart is always in two places. You pine for the family you’ve left behind, but you’re also excited about the new life you’ve created.”

McCabe said the city’s Irish festival was a way to celebrate alongside Irish communities worldwide ahead of St Patrick’s Day on March 17.

“St Patrick’s Day is our national holiday. Everybody gets the day off for St Paddy’s Day in Dublin, Ireland. It’s absolutely huge, people travel from all over the world just to be part of the St Patrick’s Day parade and people celebrate all over the world.

“It’s great to put Tauranga on the map. We’re going to paint the city green.”

McCabe said the festival was also a chance for people to connect with the newly established Bay of Plenty Irish Business Network of New Zealand, which she will lead.

“[The Irish business network] will have its 10-year anniversary this year and what better way to celebrate than launching a local chapter. It is a great way for Irish businesspeople, or people with an affiliation or interest in Ireland, to connect, collaborate and create new business opportunities.”

She was also looking forward to hearing some Irish music and sharing a pint of Guinness.

“Apparently, there’s also going to be some Guinness gelato, which might be a world first.”

McCabe moved to New Zealand from Malin, County Donegal, 16 years ago.

After five years in Auckland, she moved to Tauranga where she started a family and her human resource consultancy business.

“I’ve been here for 11 years now and I love it,” she said. “I love the weather. We are so lucky here.”

But there was no doubt McCabe missed her home town in Ireland.

“I used to go home every year before I had children. That feeling you get when you’re flying into Dublin Airport is every sense that you’re home,” she said.

Sipping on a hot cup of tea reminded her of home.

“In Ireland the kettle is constantly on. There is nothing that a cup of tea won’t fix,” she said.

“But it has to be Irish tea. I’ve found a few good Kiwi favourites. But I still get Barry’s Tea sent over.”

An artist in her spare time, McCabe also found solace in painting the rolling hills and sandy beaches of home.

“I paint a lot of Irish and Kiwi landscapes and there’s beaches that could be in either country, they are almost interchangeable.

“I look around and it reminds me where I came from.”

And if she is not painting, McCabe will be cheering on the Irish rugby team.

“I’m a very proud Irish rugby supporter. I’ve been up at 3am the last couple of weeks watching Ireland in the Six Nations Championships.”

Future plans

Tauranga Irish Festival co-organiser Lisa Rooney said the inaugural festival would lay the foundation for what was planned to grow into an annual week-long celebration of Irish culture.

“Cultural events like this are vital for the city, bringing people together and enriching our region.”

Rooney, who grew up in Derry, encouraged everyone in the community to support the first event.

“We’re inviting everyone in the community to come and celebrate a lively day of Irish music, dance, comedy, bagpipes, hearty food and, of course, Guinness on tap.”

The details:

What: Tauranga Irish Festival 2025

When: March 15, 3pm-10pm

Where: Soper Reserve, Mount Maunganui. Door sales available. R18 event.