In Partnership with Circle City Irish Fest
On August 30, 2024, the Indianapolis Indians welcomed the Irish community of central Indiana to Victory Field for a night of recognition and authentic Irish entertainment. Fans in attendance enjoyed listening to a bagpipe band, watching Irish dancing performances, learning about the Gaelic game of Hurling and reading Irish facts on the video boards. In addition, Irish traditional music and pop music from Irish artists sounded throughout the ballpark during the inning breaks.
Friday, August 30
vs. Louisville Bats
About Irish Community Night 2024
Pregame Performances
Fans were welcomed into Victory Field with the sounds of Ireland thanks to a performance by the St. Patrick’s Day Rogues Pipes & Drums in the Center Field Plaza. Following the pregame bagpipe performance, a group of Irish dancers from the Richens/Timm Irish Dance Academy danced on the field pregame, and later danced on the dugouts during the fifth inning break.
Pregame Ceremonies
Prior to game start, two Hurlers and a Ladies Gaelic Footballer each took part in two Ceremonial First "Hit", where they passed a small ball, called a "sliotar", with a wood stick, called a "hurley", from the pitchers mound to their teammate at home plate. In addition, the St. Patrick’s Day Rogues Pipes & Drums played the Irish National Anthem behind home plate before the Star-Spangled Banner was sung. A mix of Irish traditional music and pop music by Irish artists was played over the speakers during the Indians starting lineups and throughout inning breaks.
Educational Booths and Boards
Throughout the game, fans could visit the Circle City Irish Fest table in front of the lineup boards for more information on the festival happening in late September. Attendees could also try their hand at hurling in the left field berm, where a batting cage was set up for fans to be able to hit a ball with a wooden hurley. During each inning break, facts about the Irish community were presented to fans on the video board. In addition, some of the Ladies of the Ancient Order of Hibernians participated in the seventh inning stretch with Rowdie on the home dugout.