The Irish Invade Montana

The Irish, Scots and just about everybody else will be gathering in Hamilton this weekend for the 12th Annual "Bitterroot Celtic Games & Gathering." The two-day event will include the most athletes ever entered in the sanctioned games, over 27 clans will be coming, the pipers are arriving and the entertainment has reached new heights.

The Daly Mansion grounds northeast of Hamilton will be packed with twice as many Highland Games locations, including the caber toss, the sheaf toss, the stone put and more. Dancers of all ages will demonstrating the high-stepping Irish and Highland dances. Scotch Whisky and Mead tasting events are planned and the vendors will have many Celtic offerings for sale to those who attend. The clans will have booths with a great amount of geneology notes for you. The Honored Clan this year is the Thompson Clan.

Musical groups include The Harp Twins (photo below), Camille and Kennerly, back by popular demand, along with TopHouse, Swagger, House of Hamill, Max Armstrong and more at two music stages on the manicured lawns of the Daly Mansion. Admission is $10, with kids age 11 and under admitted free (accompanied by an adult). The gates open at 9 a.m. Saturday, August 21 and Sunday, August 22. There's a free ceilidh Saturday night.

Again this year, the event's free parking will be at the nearby Hamilton High School parking lot on Fairgrounds Road. The shuttle buses will be running constantly both days, taking you to and from the Main Gate entrance at the Bitterroot Celtic Games & Gathering. If you need more information, check the great website for the complete daily schedules and any last-minute changes.