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2025 FESTIVAL THEME - AMBASSADOR
The Koroit Irish Festival will once again use its reach to shine a spotlight on one of the town’s most beloved characters.
BILLY DWYER has been announced as the 2025 Koroit Irish Festival AMBASSADOR.
The festival will run from April 25-27.
Mr Dwyer has lived in Crossley, just down the road from the Koroit township, all his life.
He has many and varied claims to fame, all of which are celebrated by the Koroit Irish Festival.
He is a legend in the Koroit and District spud picking trade, being regarded as one of the fastest and best pickers back in his prime.
Mr Dwyer was one of the few who could regularly pick over 100 bags (50kgs) in a day.
He was also a successful spud grower and dairy farmer.
He was a star footballer for Tower Hill back in the day, winning a senior Warrnambool and District Football League best and fairest in 1968, aged just 19.
He had previously won the league’s top award in the under 17s competition.
Mr Dwyer, a tough and skilful ruck-rover, also played senior football for Koroit.
A father of four and proud grandfather, Mr Dwyer has a rich Irish heritage.
The Dwyer family emigrated from County Limerick in Ireland in the 1850s.
Mr Dwyer’s farm is on the land his ancestors first settled when they came to Australia.
He is one of six children to Jack and Katie Dwyer, with his siblings being Mary (O’Brien), John, Tom, Carmel (Hughson) and Cornelius.
Mr Dwyer served his country in the Vietnam War, his two-year stint in the army including active service.
Koroit Irish Festival president Adele MacDonald said Mr Dwyer was a deserving ambassador.
“We are so happy to be able to honour Bill,” Mrs MacDonald said.
“He is someone we have had in mind for ambassador for a while now and 2025 was the perfect fit.
“Not only is Bill the perfect Koroit and Irish fit, his service to his country is incredible.
“Given the festival’s first day is Anzac Day, honouring Bill gives us a chance to also pay the respect our service men and women deserve on their special day.
“Bill will be the guest of honour at our opening night concert on Anzac Day.”
For the man himself, being selected as the festival ambassador came as a big, but welcome, surprise.
While he is a humble man who lets his hard work and actions do the talking, Mr Dwyer is excited about his new role.
“It’s great to be chosen (as ambassador),” Mr Dwyer said.
“We always go up to Koroit for the festival, it’s a great thing for the town.”
2025 FESTIVAL THEME
Our Koroit Irish Festival theme for 2025 is "My Ireland Home". Koroit holds a special place in the heart of some many of us with Irish blood running through our veins. Come celebrate with us.
2024 FESTIVAL THEME - AMBASSADOR
The theme for the 2024 Koroit Irish Festival is: IRISH LOVE.
Koroit legend MAUREEN KEANE is our 2024 festival AMBASSADOR.
Here is Maureen's story.
An unsung hero will take a well deserved place in the spotlight at the Koroit Irish Festival.
Maureen Keane has been announced as the festival's Ambassador for 2024.
Festival president Adele MacDonald said Mrs Keane was the perfect choice for the role.
"The festival is all about community and Maureen just typifies all that we love about Koroit," Mrs MacDonald said.
"She is such a wonderful person, salt-of-the-earth, and is much loved in Koroit.
"She has done so much for the town and her family and we are just thrilled we are able to honour her in this way."
Mrs Keane is a mother to eight children, a grandmother to 19 and a great grandmother to five.
She married Terry Keane in 1962, with her husband passing away in 2006.
Like many in Koroit and district, the couple were proudly working class and raised their
family with hard work and love.
"We had what we had and we made the most of it," said Mrs Keane.
"I don't think we missed out on anything we needed, the kids were always happy.
"They always found something to do playing around the yard and then there was football and cricket and netball, there was always something happening."
The Keane children were talented players at their chosen sports and their mum was always there doing her bit to help out.
She was a mainstay on the Koroit Football Netball Club committee for many years, with her tireless work being rewarded with life membership of the club.
She also offered a willing pair of hands whenever help was needed for school catering or any other occasion that required Koroit to show its best hospitality to the world.
As for her Irish ties, Mrs Keane has made a visit to Ireland, ironically through a connection with the Koroit Irish Festival.
Star performer Maria Forde was promoting one of her guided tours to Ireland during a show at Koroit and Mrs Keane and her friend Lynette Lewis decided it was the perfect fit for them.
"We had a great trip, Maria was able to take us to some good places, we really enjoyed it," Mrs Keane said.
"I like Irish music and it's great to have the festival each year, it brings a lot of people to
Koroit."
The 2024 festival will be held on the weekend of April 26-28 and is again expected to attract an audience of 4000.
For Mrs Keane, 2024 will take her involvement in the festival to the next level.
She will be a special guest at the opening concert on the Friday night and will lead the famed street procession on the Saturday as part of her ambassador duties.
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