More than a year ago, the Consul General of the United States of America was driving along the Great Ocean Road when she spotted a Koroit Irish Festival sign.
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The Melbourne-based Kathleen Lively took it as a sign to attend the festival in 2023.
"I came back to the consulate and I said 'they've got an Irish festival, have you ever been?' They said no and I said 'we're going to go next year'," she told The Standard.
Ms Lively said Koroit was a tight-knit and welcoming community.
"They're so happy to have guests and talk to people from near and far," she said.
The festival held a book club session on Thursday before its opening night on Friday, with festivities including Irish sports and music and competitions across the rest of the weekend.
It has become a gathering not just for people from the south-west and interstate, but also Irish expats.
Lorraine Monaghan, who lives in Adelaide, attended with a group of disability carers, and her sister, Sinead, who travelled from Dublin.
"When I was over here last year at the festival I got so emotional in the pub one night I had to leave," Lorraine said.
"I was crying because the songs reminded me of home."
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Lillian Altman
Lillian is an experienced journalist who joined Warrnambool Standard in late 2021. She has a particular interest in writing stories on the arts and culture, health, education, breaking news, police stories, as well as human interest and profiles.
Lillian is an experienced journalist who joined Warrnambool Standard in late 2021. She has a particular interest in writing stories on the arts and culture, health, education, breaking news, police stories, as well as human interest and profiles.
