Editor

The leading festival to introduce the new generation of Irish bands and filmmakers to the US public, The Craic Festival, is currently confirming Irish and Irish-American bands for this year's stellar line-up in the music program. The film series is booked for Tribeca Cinemas and will be bringing the likes of Colm Meaney, Brendan Gleeson and boxing champ Barry McGuigan to its screens. The festival is presented by Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey.

Bands in talks to perform live at this year's Festival include Rubber Bandits, The Mighty Stef, Duke Special, The Minutes & RAMS Pocket Radio. All have a steady following at home in Ireland, and are fast-growing a reputation on this side of the Atlantic too, whether it's for indie rock, tender ballads, or equestrian antics (if this makes no sense to you then take a look online and dip into the weird and wonderful world of the Rubber Bandits, which has taken Ireland by storm!)

So what about film? The festival returns to host the series at the renowned Tribeca Cinemas, and has raised the bar in its fourteenth year. Keith Weckstein from Tribeca commented "The Craic Festival has been a major presence in the film and music scene over the past 13 years we look forward to welcoming them back again this year. Audiences will be delighted with this year's picks, including March 8th opening night with Parked starring Colm Meaney; or the fascinating In Sunshine or In Shadows with former boxing champ Barry McGuigan on closing night March 10th". Parked presents a new challenge for veteran actor Meaney, who plays Fred, a man who returns home to Ireland with nowhere to live but in his car. In Sunshine or In Shadows tells the true story behind the epic world featherweight title match that took place between Barry McGuigan and Eusebio Pedroza, a now legendary fight that gripped an entire Irish nation on one hot summer's night in 1985. Friday March 9th is another fun night with the "Best of Irish Shorts" with after party as well.

For the first time this year, The Craic will also feature the Kids Fleadh, to take place on the closing day of the Festival, Saturday March 10 which will present a special program of family-friendly short films and step dancing suitable for kids of all ages, followed by an Irish breakfast for everyone to enjoy!

It's all part of the Craic.

The Craic Festival presents three days of Irish film and music and takes place between March 8th and 10th, at Tribeca Cinemas (film) and Mercury Lounge (music).

check the full line-up on http://www.thecraicfest.com/!