The three-day festival, which finished yesterday, drew visitors to the town from across Victoria and interstate, kicking off on Friday evening with a fun run/walk before the Family Feud-style trivia night at the Koroit Theatre.

Festival ambassador Mike Brady delighted punters, singing three songs and having a question and answer session with compere and festival committee member Leon Carey. 

Killarney musician Nancy Schipper also gave a show-stopping performance, singing Danny Boy. 

Sunny skies greeted festival goers on Saturday as thousands of people made their way through the gates. 

Festival committee president Chris Evans said there were more people at the festival than ever.

“It was definitely up on last year,” he said.

“We had great online ticket sales before the festival and at about 11am on Saturday the floodgates opened and people started coming in from everywhere.”

The town was a sea of green as Irish-Australians and homesick expats took to Koroit’s main thoroughfare to watch the street parade.

“Barry Brody and Anthony Dowling organise the parade and it’s getting bigger and bigger each year,” Mr Evans said.

Headline acts Mike Brady and Damien Leith were highlights on Saturday evening, playing to a full house at the Koroit Theatre.

Mr Evans said Leith loved the festival and the casual atmosphere of the weekend.

“He’s a lovely person,” he said.

“He was walking through the streets having a chat to everyone.”

The festival’s annual Danny Boy competition was contested by a range of singers on Saturday night. Melbourne’s Shannon Salisbury took out the top prize.

Yesterday women’s hurling teams the Melbourne Shamrocks played Sinn Fein in the hotly-contested Koroit Camogie Cup. Next year the Irish festival will celebrate its 20th anniversary.