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Can we keep it clean, please? My work blocked this page because it's now considered "obscene". At least obscure your cursing so a filter won't key on it.
 
What, are they going to teach them how to Irish dance or something? As cute as they are, this makes zero sense.
 
Not sure where to ask this, but given all the upheaval at the end of last season with Celtic Fyre and Mix it Up, is there any info about the cast of these shows for 2014? What should we expect?
 
With dogs being added to the show, does this mean the tables would be taken away since it could cause a distraction for them?
 
No, I highly doubt the tables would distract the dogs. All animals when being trained for performance, are trained to do what they are supposed to do with/out distraction. Of course, there is always the chance they can be distracted, still it is unlikely that they will be.
 
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Does anyone know if CF will be running on the 15th or the 16th? I seem to recall that they usually wait until the weekend after opening to start shows but I can't really remember.
 
Party Rocker said:
Changes are coming to the show and some very noticeable ones; hopefully soon. The park has taken on two new animals! Both are Irish Setters, a type of dog. They are young and they are currently being trained to perform in Celtic Fyre this year. There is no expected time frame as to when they will be used in the show other than, as soon as they are trained. Until then you may find them hanging out at the Highland Stables.

Here to hoping the show goes out on a positive note.
 
Meet Conner and Finn, the Newest Members of the Busch Gardens® Team
by Busch Gardens in Virginia


If you’re walking around the park this weekend, you might run across two new additions to the Busch Gardens team: two Irish setter puppies named Finn and Conner that were born January 6. The puppies are just about 10 weeks old, so everything is new and exciting to them. The puppies are meeting their trainers as well as learning basic behaviors like how to sit, their names and potty training. But as with a lot of puppies, Conner and Finn love to play and then take really long naps. That’s because right now their main job as puppies is to grow and be well socialized.

One of our two new puppies, Conner, playing in the snow last week
Irish setters are a large breed that is typically used for bird hunting. Irish setter males will grow to weigh between 65 – 75 pounds. Their coats are a red color ranging from mahogany to chestnut red. Irish setters are known to be very intelligent and affectionate. The breed is known for its high energy and the dogs require a lot of exercise.

Conner running through the snow last week
What will Conner and Finn being doing at Busch Gardens? If you guessed by their Irish names, they are going to be a part of the Celtic Fyre show at the Abbey Stone Theatre in Ireland. As they grow up, they will be learning more and more behaviors and eventually they’ll play the role of the Inn Keeper’s dog in the show. I won’t give away the surprises of what they will actually be doing in the show, but be sure to come back over the course of the summer to see the progression of what they are learning.

Finn playing in the snow last week
We will be training Conner and Finn to participate in the Celtic Fyre show using all positive reinforcement training. This is the type of training used with all of our animals. This means that all the behaviors that Conner and Finn are asked to do will be completely voluntary. With this type of training, the puppies will never hear the words “no,” “bad” or “wrong” and they will never be put in a time out. When we ask them to do a behavior like “sit,” and they sit down, they will get a treat or toy as a reward. If they don’t sit when we ask them to, we just try again or move on and ask for a different behavior. This will make for an exciting show every time you see Celtic Fyre as Conner and Finn get to decide which behaviors they want to participate in every time they are asked to do a show.Conner and Finn will be debuting with the Celtic Fyre show March 21.
Come and see them for their first day of shows and watch as they grow throughout the summer.
-Liz, Supervisor of Animal Training and Education


The full blog post and pictures can be seen here: http://www.buschgardensvablog.com/meet-conner-and-finn-newest-members-busch-gardensr-team



Spoiler Alert:
They are so adorable
 
I'm looking forward to catching this show for the first time on our 11th anniversary next Friday! Which happens to be opening day for the show. Any suggestions out there to make this visit extra special for my wife and I?
 
Unexpectedly invited to the reserved tables on stage.  Interesting point of view for the CF 2014 premiere!! Faces new & old. Irish Setter puppies. Some routine changes. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I could feel the heart and soul of Celtic Fyre again! Kudos to all of the performers and stage techs...everyone...GREAT JOB!!

 
Wow. All I can say it wow. Those performers are very different from their predecessors, but they all look to be so passionate and excited about their job. We'll never forget the cast of Celtic Fyre 2013, but I'm sure we'll have a good year with these new friends to be made.

The "keys" man in particular has a very different voice from his portrayals last year; he was a much gentler voice compared to their deep, powerful singing. Of course that was what I liked better, but I'm sure this guy (and everyone else) will make their roles their own eventually.

I seriously got a little emotional watching this. Seriously. Seeing such a powerful show taking on a new group of talented young individuals just got right to my heart.

If any member of the talented cast reads this, I hope they I know how much we appreciate them; let's raise a glass to a great season at Busch Gardens!
 
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We thoroughly enjoyed the premier of this show! The doves freaked me out for a second. This was a 'powerful' show and I can only imagine that it will get better and better throughout the year. Sorry we missed you CK. We were sitting next to Tom who was also recording. Catch you next time. Beans and disease.
 
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