DAMARISCOTTA – The Maine Irish Heritage Center will present a celebration of local Irish history and culture at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 8, at the Skidompha Public Library on Main Street. The program is being done in partnership with Ceilidh House, a Celtic educational organization.

Irish settlers arrived in the area in 1729 with Col. David Dunbar, who rebuilt the fort at Pemaquid. In spite of turbulent conditions, they remained and flourished with many families still here today. More immigrants came in the late 1700s and established a thriving shipbuilding industry and profitable merchant community. These people built St Patrick’s Church in Newcastle, the oldest Catholic church in New England, as well as many of the stately homes throughout the region.

Maine Irish Heritage recently produced a book of 10 essays, “They Change Their Sky: The Irish in Maine,” through the University of Maine press. Edited by Dr. Michael C. Connolly, it features two articles about the local region: “The Scotch-Irish” of Maine by R. Stuart Wallace and “The Irish Merchant Community of Lincoln County 1780-1820” by Edward McCarron.

At Sunday’s event, Connolly and McCarron will describe the project and their research. Fidelma McCarron, will speak about her essay, “Ireland along the Passamaquoddy: Rathlin Islanders in Washington County, Maine.”

Live Irish music and refreshments will complete the festivities. Seating is limited. The book will be available for sale and signing by the authors. It also is available for sale at the Maine Coast Book Shop on Main Street in Damariscotta.

Admission: $8 for general admission or $ 5 for elders, students and the “unwaged.” FMI: call 529-5438. For other inquiries, contact the Maine Irish Heritage Center at (207) 780-0118, [email protected], or www.maineirish.com or Ceilidh House at (207)-688-4515 or [email protected].