mmg.com.au

Cooler weather did not dampen Irish spirits at the Echuca-Moama Celtic Festival on the weekend.

Festival committee chairman Ross Veale said the festival was a stand-alone event this year, whereas in previous years it had been supplemented by another events.

Gallery: Echuca-Moama Celtic Festival 2013

He said the entertainment had been great and international act Wouter Kellerman was ‘‘sensational’’.

‘‘I think visitors and locals alike have had a wonderful weekend,’’ Mr Veale said.

He said the concert at Kerrabee Soundshell in Moama on Saturday had been well attended, as had the Victorian Male Welsh Choir concert yesterday.

Mr Veale said the weather could not be controlled and, in any case, was better than in Melbourne.

‘‘Overall, I think its been a wow of a weekend,’’ he said.

Julie Rowbottom, who is on the festival musical subcommittee, said the consensus from the various artists was positive.

‘‘(There were) 88 gigs over the weekend to organise, so it’s been flat strap,’’ she said.

Musical co-ordinator Kate Wright said the number of gigs had grown by about 30 per cent this year.

‘‘It’s just been a step up I suppose,’’ she said.

‘‘For me it’s about seeing the smiles on people’s faces.’’

Other events included in the festival schedule were an ecumenical service at the Aquatic Reserve on yesterday morning and the community dog walk at Lions Park, run by the Lost Dogs’ Home.