Polson's Neal Lewing part of inaugural MeagherFest in Helena

Polson musician, actor and storyteller Neal Lewing is part of a group organizing the first-ever MeagherFest, Saturday, July 1 from noon to 10 p.m. on the grounds of the Capitol building in Helena.

MeagherFest celebrates the life of Thomas Meagher (pronounced MAHR), Montana’s first territorial governor, a patriot and convicted traitor in his native Ireland, and a Civil War Union general, leading a brigade of Irishmen. He is credited as one of the designers of Ireland’s current flag.

The nonprofit Thomas Francis Meagher Association is putting together MeagherFest, which is free and open to the public. The day includes music, dance, historical presentations by field experts, displays, panel discussions with authors and historians, demonstrations, kids’ activities and more. All of the action will take place in the shadow of Meagher’s statue on the Capitol lawn.

In addition, a special live presentation of author Paul Wylie’s coroner’s inquest into Meagher’s death will be enacted in the old Supreme Court Chambers, Friday, June 30 at 7:30 p.m.

Lewing and his performance group, the Montana ShamRockers, kicked off MeagherFest in Meagher’s hometown of Waterford, Ireland earlier this year. A performance by the band is part of the day’s festivities in Helena, with their set followed by Irish duo Cassie and Maggie McDonald. The ShamRockers will also perform Lewing’s show “Meagher of the Sword,” which has toured as far away as Ireland. Lewing is the secretary of the Thomas Francis Meagher Association and the managing director of the Port Polson Players theater group. He and his wife, Karen, received the Montana Governor’s Award in 2016.

For more information, visit www.meagherfest.org or find the association on Facebook.