Festival patrons sang Molly Malone for those at the pub who performed Dirty Old Town back in return, with the Koroit audience singing and clapping in time in response.

The live cross, complete with an Irish dancer in Dublin, was part of the sold out opening night at the Koroit Theatre. It included an Irish singalong with The Borderers, an Irish quiz and an energetic performance by headline act the String Loaded Celtic Fiddle Band.

Jo Brooks and Frank "Tuddy" Bowman performed My Lovely Rose of Clare and One Day at a Time in a moving tribute to late Koroit resident and musician Tom Brooks.

For more than 50 years, Brooks and Bowman entertained audiences, later joined by Irish-born Mick Morgan, becoming known as Tommy, Tuddy and Mick. In 2014, they were the inaugural Koroit Irish Festival Artist of the Year.

Committee member Adele MacDonald said it was the first time the festival had crossed to Ireland and it was a huge success.

"It felt like we were in Dublin and I'm sure Dublin felt like they were in Koroit," she said. "It was an honour to be able to sing Molly Malone to the Irish and we absolutely loved their version of Dirty Old Town, a song that's very true to the heart of Koroit."

Other upcoming performers across the weekend include more from the String Loaded Celtic Fiddle Band and The Borderers, Maria Forde, Christine Ayres School of Irish Dancing and various other artists.

The festival fun continues today with the Flaming Folk Person of the Year, the Australian Danny Boy Championships, an Irish line dancing flash mob and an Irish fashion parade.

The Koroit Pub Singers will make its festival debut at 1.30pm, singing two Irish classics Dirty Old Town and Zombie and everyone is encouraged to join in.

For more information or tickets go to koroitirishfestival.com.au

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