The Irish spirit was alive and well on Saturday as about 4500 people enjoyed a Guinness and a baked spud at the Koroit Irish Festival.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Committee member Adele MacDonald said it was record attendance for the three-day festival that started 23 years ago.
"There is more than double the population of this town here in one weekend and that is just incredible," she said.
"It's been such an overwhelming turn out. When the festival is on, the energy here in Koroit just explodes."
Ms MacDonald said people came from all over the world to take part in the festivities.
"I think in the early years it was mainly just Koroit people but word is really growing and now we have people coming from all over Victoria, as well as interstate and a lot of people from Ireland," she said.
"There's quite a large group that sets up at the caravan park each year and it's just amazing to see how many people turn out for the event.
"The caliber of performers also blows me away every year. It's not just song and dance or comedy, there is so much more for the patrons to get involved in."
A street procession kicked off day two of the festival, with the main street of Koroit painted green, orange and white.
Leprechauns, Irish wolfhounds and Mrs. Brown's Boys were all part of the colourful street parade that marched up Commercial Road before meeting at the Village Green.
A group of natural red-heads showed off their flaming locks before entering the Flaming Folk Person of The Year competition.
The competition was introduced in 2016 and it was seven-year-old Zara Walsh that caught the eye of this year's judges.
Koroit police officer and red-head Sergeant Pat Day judged the competition with the help of ABC Back Roads presenter Heather Ewart.
Zara donned a green crown and jewels and a big cheesy smile. She was presented a large sash and over $300 worth of prizes.
Zara said it was the third time she had entered the competition alongside her sister Caitlin, 13.
"I was a bit nervous," she said.
"I was very happy when I won."
Zara has lived in Koroit all her life, her grandparents were born in Ireland and she has attended the Koroit Irish Festival each year. She said she loved having fun with her friends and family.
Meanwhile, the Irish Fashion Parade saw a number of quirky entries, including several potatoes, mischievous leprechauns and a cheeky nun, but it was Kirkstall's Rachael Houlihan that took the cake with her Mr Potato Head costume.
Ms Houlihan received the loudest crowd applause in the grand final and was awarded best dressed of the day.
Over at the Village Green, the pressure was on during the spud picking and peeling championships.
Irish-born Zander Conway, from Surrey Hills, peeled a whole potato in about 20 seconds and claimed the crown for a second year running.
And keen-potato pickers Grainne O'Malley and Megan Gavigan filled their potato bag in just over 10 seconds during the grand final of the spud picking competition, which followed two qualifying rounds.
The pair are part of the Garryowen Gaelic football team that travelled from Melbourne to defeat its title at Sunday's Gaelic Games Carnival. The girls will take on the South Warrnambool women's football team at Victoria Park.
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.