st. patrick's day festival london official guide

M A YO R O F L O N D O N P R E S E N T S

ST PATRICK’SDAY FESTIVAL

Sunday 18 March � 12- 6 pm � molpresents.com/stpatricks

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ContentsPages 4-5 An introduction

to the festivalPage 6 MC Rob BroderickPage 8 Who’s taking part

in the paradePages 10-11 Parade route mapPages 13-23 On stage at

Trafalgar SquarePage 24 How to get therePages 26-27 A summer of sportPages 28-29 St Patrick’s Day

around the world1 Stout and About:

Irish pubsPages 33-37 St Patrick’s events

in LondonPage 38 Useful contacts

St. Patrick’s Day Festival Guide designed andproduced by The Irish Post, Suite A, 1 Lindsey Street, Smithfield, London EC1A 9HP

I’m delighted to be backing London’s St Patrick’s Day celebrationsonce again — amongst the biggest outside Ireland. The annualparade and festival mark the longstanding contribution of many

generations of Irish to the capital, and are enjoyed by people fromacross the city’s diverse communities.This is a big year for London, building towards a summer of sport thatwill bring in an unprecedented number of visitors, showcasing ourstrengths to the world and securing our city’s reputation for anothergeneration.In these difficult times it is vital that we do not lose sight of thepromising future ahead and that we grab every opportunity we have tocreate jobs and growth, remind the world of the unrivalled advantagesof London and equip our people with the skills and attitude to takeadvantage of what is available.The Irish have a proud record in London of creating wealth andemployment, bringing their intellect and imagination to our professionsand enriching our culture with their craic.Lá Fhéile Phádraig Shona Duit!

Boris JohnsonMayor of London

Iam very much looking forward to St Patrick’sDay and I would like to wish a very happy StPatrick’s Day to all the readers of The Irish

Post. I’m delighted that The Irish Post is back inbusiness and as strong and relevant as ever.St Patrick’s Day is an unrivalled occasion for theglobal Irish family to express pride in our sharedheritage and identity. It is an opportunity for Irish

communities everywhere to recall our homelandand celebrate our unique and vibrant culture,

customs and traditions. And it is a time to be proudof the hugely positive contribution that the Irish

community has made to every aspect ofBritish society.

As Ambassador of Ireland inBritain, I am honoured to havethe opportunity to meet with somany members of the Irishcommunity here and I, andthe Embassy team, lookforward to meeting manymore of you over the StPatrick’s period.I wish each and every oneof you an enjoyable StPatrick’s festival.

Bobby McDonagh Ambassador of Ireland

Irish PostTHE

3Celebrate St Patrick’s DayLONDON 2012

A message from the Mayor

A summer of sport for Ireland in Britainkicks off in London with one of thebiggest Irish festivals this side of the Irish

sea.To mark the start of celebrations ahead of theLondon 2012 Olympic Games, the Mayor OfLondon is hosting its best St Patrick’s Day Paradeand Festival yet.On Sunday, March 18 from noon until 6pm,London’s streets will be lined with green as Irishclubs, centres, associations, businesses andorganisations turn out in honour of Ireland’spatron saint.Taking place the day after St Patrick’s Day, thisyear’s Festival is set to be one of London’s liveliestcelebrations of the year.Over 100,000 people attended last year’s eventand a similar crowd is expected again this timearound.The parade, featuring a colourful array of floats,marching bands and groups representing the Irishcounties, will proceed through central Londonfrom Green Park to Trafalgar Square.Trafalgar Square will then host the festivalprogramme of live Irish music and dance on themain performance stage, showcasing the best ofIrish music and dance from traditional tocontemporary.Headlining this year’s concert is phenomenal folkband The High Kings. Performances by GemmaHayes, dance act Hammerstep, vivacious trad bandFour Men and A Dog, Comhaltas, The MulkerrinBrothers, country and Irish group Crystal Swing

4 Celebrate St Patrick’s DayLONDON 2012

HAPPY ST. PATRICKS FROM

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LLaa Fheilee Padraig

Laa Fheilee Padraig

Pictures by Malcolm McNally


and Co. Antrim singer/songwriter RAMS’ PocketRadio are also in store.This fantastic, free family day out is a great way toexperience all things Irish from food and dance tocrafts, culture, music and much more.And as an added bonus this year, a team ofOlympic and Paralympic athletes from TeamIreland will be taking part in the parade, tying inwith the festival theme — Olympic glory.The idea to build this year’s Festival around the2012 Games was first mooted by the St Patrick’sAdvisory Forum. And it promises to be one of thebest yet.A creative consultant was also drafted in tohelp community groups to make the mostof their floats and displays — soexpect a colourful carnival atmosphere.MC for the Trafalgar Square music anddance concert is comedian RobBroderick. The stand-up comic was bornin Dublin but now lives and works inLondon.The Irish Post will also be there onthe day, with a stand offering lotsof St Patrick’s Day goodies — sodrop by and say hi. Keep aneye out too for ourphotographer who will becapturing all the fun of thefestival. You never know,your picture might justappear in the next week’spaper!

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Pictures by Malcolm McNally

Introducing… MC Rob Broderick

Celebrate St. Patrick’s DayLONDON 2012

Dublin-born comedian Rob Broderick will bethis year’s Master of Ceremonies at the St.Patrick’s Day Festival.The Irishman made his foray into comedy byimprovising his way into the final of theprestigious So You Think You’re Funnycompetition at the 2005 Edinburgh FestivalFringe. Then two years later he went on toperform his first solo show entitled AbsintheWithout Leave at the same festival.Broderick, who now lives and works inLondon, also won the 2010 Hackney EmpireNew Act of the Year competition as part ofthe Irish improvising hip-hop trio Abandoman.Abandoman create hilarious musical sketchesat lightning speed in front of a live audience.No two gigs are ever the same.The Independent has described them ashaving ‘comedic timing and witty rhymingthat’s so impressive it could’ve been scripted’so Rob is sure to lead the day with killerpunch-lines and plenty of laughs.As the frontman of his group, Broderick is aregular performer on the Now Show and TheVote Now Show (BBC Radio 4) and a regularcontributor to the Chris Hawkins BreakfastShow (BBC 6 Music). He has also played atfestivals such as Glastonbury, V Festival,Bestival, Latitude and also at the 2010 BritAwards after party. He is bound to make thisSt Patrick’s Day festival a day to remember!

6

Dublin comedian

Rob Broderickwill help make

the festival a dayto remember

0844 338 0000 • www.bookingsdirect.com (agency & credit card bookings subject to booking fee) 24 hr TKT HOTLINE:

CARDIFF WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE Sat 10 - Sun 11 March* 029 2063 6464BRIGHTON DOME Tue 13 - Thu 15 March* 01273 709 709IPSWICH REGENT THEATRE Fri 16 - Sun 18 March* 01473 433 100BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY HALL Tue 20 - Sun 25 March* 0121 780 3333 SHEFFIELD CITY HALL Tue 27 - Thu 29 March 0114 2789 789OXFORD NEW THEATRE Fri 30 Mar - Sun 1 April* 0844 871 3020ABERDEEN AECC P&J ARENA Wed 4 - Thu 5 April 08444 77 9000GLASGOW ROYAL CONCERT HALL Fri 6 - Sun 8 April* 0141 353 8000

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■ Green Isle Camogie Club■ Shannon Academy of Irish Dance■ Kilkenny Association■ Donegal Association London ■ London Kerry Association■ Irish Community Services■ Haringey Irish Cultural and

Community Centre■ Shannon Academy of Irish Dance■ Comhaltas Traditional Irish Music

Group■ Emerald Society / London Fire

Brigade■ Meath Association of London■ Hari Krishna/Food For All■ London Irish RFC■ Offaly Association London■ Offaly Association CICA■ Michael Cusacks Camogie Club■ Scartaglen■ Mayo Association London■ Galway Association London■ The Cork Association■ Tir Chonaill Gaels GFC■ Essex Caledonian Pipe Band■ Limerick Exiles Association■ London School of Samba■ Southwark Irish Pensioners

Project■ Bill Aulsberry — Pacer■ North London Shamrocks Youth ■ London Tipperary Association■ Fermanagh Association London■ Cavan Association London ■ Clare Association London■ Waterford Association London■ Monaghan Association London

■ Council of Irish CountyAssociations London

■ Munster Rugby Supporters Club,London Branch

■ McGovern Brothers Haulage Ltd■ Morenada Intocables■ London Irish Centre, Camden■ New Kilkenny Association London■ Wicklow Association■ London Wexford Association■ Croydon Camogie Club■ Fr Murphy’s Ladies Gaelic

Football and Camogie Club■ Metropolitian Police Emerald

Society■ The Irish Cultural Centre

Hammersmith■ St Kiernans Gaelic football club■ Irish Olympians■ Irish Paralympians■ Leitrim Association London■ Roscommon Association London■ Longford Association London■ Kildare Association London■ Dublin Association London■ Sligo Association London■ Cappagh■ Dublin All Stars Marching Band■ Irish Prison Service Pipe Band■ St Catherine’s Marching Band,

Killybegs, Co Donegal■ MPS Emerald Society Pipe and

Drums■ Mahogany Carnival Group■ Tohokushinsha Film Corporation■ And last but not least...St. Patrick

himself!

8

London on paradeThe

marchers in the big

parade

Parade route10 Celebrate St P

LONDON

11t Patrick’s DayDON 2012

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Music at Trafalgar

Square

12:00 - 12:30 RAMS’ Pocket Radio12:40 - 13:10 Crystal Swing 13:15 - 13:40 Speeches and presentations 13:45 - 14:05 Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann14:15 - 14:40 Mulkerrin Brothers 14:50 - 15:20 Four Men and A Dog 15:30 - 16:00 Hammerstep16:15 - 16:55 Gemma Hayes and band 17:10 - 18:00 The High Kings* All times subject to change.

The High Kingsheadline atTrafalgar Square.

Gemma Hayes willbe taking the stagewith her band.

St Patrick’s Day wouldn’t be complete without afew jigs and reels from a group of traditional Irishmusicians. Comhaltas is the largest group involvedin the preservation and promotion of Irishtraditional music. With hundreds of local branchesaround the world it’s beenworking on the causeof Irish music sincethe middle of thelast century.Like last year,the Londonfestivalwelcomes auniquecollaboration— this timebetweenComhaltas Londonand The MulkerrinBrothers, a trio of traditional Irishmusicians and performers.The three are brothers, Pádraig, Éamonn and SeánMulkerrin, who come from the Aran Islands. Theywere winners of the first series of The All-IrelandTalent Show in 2009 and have appeared ontelevision shows including Seoige and TubridyTonight following their win. They’ve even given aperformance with Sinéad O’Connor in London.This year’s gig at Trafalgar Square is sure to haveyou jigging around with your friends and family andwill no doubt be a highlight of the day’s festivities.

This Country and Irish music group rose tofame in 2010 when a YouTube video oftheir single He Drinks Tequila became aviral sensation. Achieving 80,000 hits injust four days, Crystal Swing have sincebecome a household name across Ireland.The family group consisting of motherMary Murray-Burke and her childrenDervla,19, and Derek, 20, hails fromLisgoold in Co. Cork.On stage since childhood, Mary lives toperform. She started her entertainmentcareer properly eight years ago and formedthe band with her children three years ago.Derek, the lead singer of the band and anaccomplished musician, takes hisinspiration from legendary performers suchas Declan Ryan, Brendan O’Brien and ArtSupple.A rock’n’roller at heart, he is an energeticand comedic performer, which is whyaudiences love it when he takes to thestage.His award-winning sister, Dervla, has aunique Country and Western singing voiceand a sparkling stage presence socomplements the group perfectly.Following their initial performance in CorkOpera House, Crystal Swing has sinceperformed live on television and radionumerous times including a spot on TheLate Late Show and The Ellen DeGeneresShow.

In 2010, Crystal Swing received The BestNewcomer Award at the IrishEntertainment Awards in Dublin and Derekwas the proud winner of RTÉ’s CelebrityBainisteoir.The band’s fans describe them as “anexcellent trio with great stage presence,performance and interaction with theaudience”, so this year’s audience atTrafalgar Square is in for a treat.

Don’t let the name fool you — RAMS’ Pocket Radio is actuallya one-man act. Peter McCauley is a drummer, pianist andsongwriter from Lisburn in the North of Ireland. The name istaken from 1950s product designer Dieter Rams (apparentlythe key inspiration behind the iPod) and RAMS’ first concernsare purity, simplicity and longevity — like the designer.Unfettered personal expression is the drive of the projectwith a piano-rock sound reminiscent of Coldplay and SnowPatrol. RAMS’ Pocket Radio has been described by the BBC’sSteven Rainey as having a “sense of high melodrama, pianoand bass swelling up on a crest of drums and sweepingguitar... and absolutely perfect connection”.McCauley has toured with Darwin Deez and Marina and theDiamonds and he has links to the giants of the classicalcomposition world. He was a percussionist for the NationalYouth Orchestra of Northern Ireland, where he “boldly tackledthe likes of Wagner’s Ring Cycle and Gustav Mahler”, and TheGuardian’s Paul Lester describes him as “not just touching onthe fragility of life but smashing you about the skull with it”.With a pounding piano and dramatic vocals RAMS’ PocketRadio is bound to kick off the St Patrick’s performances witha bang!

RAMS’ Pocket Radio

CrystalSwing

Comhaltas CeoltóiríÉireann and theMulkerrin Brothers


14

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Four Men and a Dog is an eclectic and vivaciousblend of traditional Irish music with a widespectrum of other genres including rap, southernrock, jazz, blues, bluegrass, polka, country swing,and even salsa.The band’s unusual name comes from thenickname for their former member Mick Daly,who is affectionately known as ‘the Black Dog’.

Daly has since been replaced by Kevin Dohertywho joins Cathal Hayden (fiddle), GerryO’Connor (banjo, fiddle), Gino Lupari (bodhrán,bones, vocals), and Donal Murphy (accordion).They made their debut performance as a band inCo. Derry in 1990 before going on to steal theshow at the Belfast Folk Festival later that year.Their high-energy style combines furious

traditional dance tunes with irreverent newmusic and unique covers.Barking Mad, their debut album won the Albumof the Year from Folk Roots magazine in 1991-the first time an Irish group had ever won theprize.As one of the top Irish traditional bands of alltime, this will be a performance not to be missed.

Celebrate St Patrick’s DayLONDON 2012

17

Four Men and A Dog

18 Celebrate St PLONDON

The first touring production of its kind,Hammerstep strives to overcome cultural andsocioeconomic differences through rebelliousforms of urban dance. They are completelyunique in their mixing of traditional Irish step,tap, and hip hop dance forms.By using cutting edge choreography, lights, andsound in a way that reinvents the typical danceshow experience for an audience every show ismemorable.Their entertaining yet thought-provokingmovement not only elevates dance to a newlevel but strives to spark social change in theprocess.Hammerstep was founded in July 2009 by JasonOremus and Garrett Coleman in Boston,Massachusetts. Oremus has been heavilyinvolved in the dancing industry his entire life.Originally from Sydney, Australia, he won fiveconsecutive State and National Solo Irishdancing titles from 1999-2003. He alsoperformed in the Sydney Olympics OpeningCeremony alongside Tap Dogs in 2000 when hewas just 15.Coleman was trained in traditional Irish stepdance at the Burke School under Theresa Burke.

Despite his traditional background, he hasconsistently found himself drawn torhythmically innovative types of movement thatpush the boundaries of athleticism throughdance. Inaddition toIrish step, hehas trained inhip hop, tap,andcontemporarymovement.Chris Naish isan integralpart of theHammerstepmission andhas thepedigree tomatch. Notonly has Naish won every major championshipin traditional Irish dancing, he has extensiveprofessional touring experience — highlightsincluding touring all 50 states of America withLord of the Dance and being invited to dance atMichael Flatley’s personal corporate events.

Hammerstep

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Hailing from Co. Tipperary, Gemma Hayes is a criticallyacclaimed and Mercury Prize-nominated musician

sure to add flair to the day’s proceedings. Herunique style of music combines prog rock, folk and

electronica.Over the years her songs have appeared in countless TV

programmes and films from Grey’s Anatomy to One Tree Hilland most recently The Vampire Diaries. She also featured in a duet

with Norwegian singer Magnet on a Bob Dylan cover, Lay Lady Layin the 2005 feature film Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

Her debut LP, Night on My Side, received much critical acclaimfrom all corners, garnering a UK Mercury Prize nomination

and earning her an award as Ireland’s best female artist.Hayes’ subsequent release, The Roads Don’t Love You,

earned her yet another best female artist nod.Rolling Stone magazine says she ‘possesses a

commanding, alluring voice, winsome goodlooks and lyrics that tend to the lovelorn’.

One of eight children, Hayes immersedherself in music from an early age. Her

father played keyboards in a localband so by the time she left for

boarding school she wasalready proficient at piano.

Although Hayes enrolledat university in Dublin, shesoon left to concentrate on

music — working part-timein a launderette during the

day and playing the city’scircuit at night.

GemmaHayes

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The High Kings23Celebrate St Patrick’s Day

LONDON 2012

Ireland’s Folk band of the year, The High Kings,will be rounding off the day’s proceedings.Since they began, the band has sold out

hundreds of shows in Ireland and the US, madenumerous television appearances, and achievedplatinum status with two albums.The High Kings will showcase their incredibleversatility and skills as multi-instrumentalists(playing 13 instruments between them) bringinga rousing acoustic flavour to brand new songs aswell as some old favourites.The band was formed in Dublin by Celtic Womanmanager Dave Kavanagh. Brian Dunphy (son ofSean Dunphy who represented Ireland in theEurovision Song Contest 1967), and singer DarrenHolden were the first members recruited havingwowed the world with their own solo careers on

Broadway. Finbarr Clancy and Martin Furey wereadded to the mix shortly afterwards.The group was launched amidst a media frenzy in2008 and quickly climbed to the top of Amazonmusic charts worldwide with their debut album.The self-titled release also hit number 2 onBillboard magazine’s world music chart. They went on to stage a mammoth coast tocoast US tour, and appeared on The Today Show,KTLA and ABC, whilst appearing on over 50 PBSstations to promote their live DVD. In May of lastyear The High Kings performed for PresidentObama when he visited Moneygall, Co. Offaly. The High Kings are continuing to live up to theirreputation as a phenomenal live band, servingup laughter, good times and even the oddsingalong.


24

How to get to Trafalgar Square

THE CHURCHILL ARMS

Wishes everyone aHappy St Patrick’s DayCome and raise a glass with us

Saturday 17th March 2012:

6 Nations Rugby shown live

Ireland -v- England

Raffle during the afternoon with rugby prizes in aid of charity

Followed by celebrations late into the night

The Churchill Arms, 119 Kensington Church Street,

Kensington, London W8 7LN

020 7727 4242

THE CHURCHILL ARMS

The festival begins at noon and finishes at 6pm. Alternative route planning for travel is essential.To plan your journey, visit www.tfl.gov.uk/journeyplanner or text TFL to 60835Identify a place to meet up in case you get separated from friends or family

Travel informationTube: The nearest tube stations are Charing Cross, Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus.

Train: Charing Cross

Buses: 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 22, 23, 24, 38, 53, 77A, 88, 91, 94, 139, 159, 176, 453

The Parade RouteThe parade departs at noon.Piccadilly Lower Regent Street Pall Mall East Trafalgar Square Whitehall Whitehall Place


The Irish Olympic team will march intoLondon’s Olympic Stadium in Stratford’sOlympic Park on Friday, July 2, bearing the

hopes and aspirations of Ireland’s sports crazypublic — at home and overseas.The London Olympics’ Opening Ceremonypromises to be a show-stopping spectacular andwill have a possible world TV audience of over8billion people.The President Michael D Higgins and AnTaoiseach Enda Kenny are among the VIPsexpected to attend the Opening Ceremony.

The Irish team will be one of over 200 countriesparticipating in the Parade of Athletes at theOpening Ceremony and will be led into theStadium by a flag bearer carrying the Irish Tri-colour.The flag bearer will be an athlete selected fromthe ranks of the team by the Olympic Council ofIreland a week before the event.Previous flag bearers have included Ronnie

Delany (athletics), WayneMcCullough (boxing),Francie Barrett (boxing),

Sonia O’Sullivan(athletics), Niall Griffin

(equestrian) and, in Beijing,Ciara Peelo (sailing).

The Irish team is a 32 county oneand will compete in approximately 12

sports, subject to upcoming qualificationevents.

Irish competitors will definitely compete inthe following sports — athletics, badminton,

boxing, cycling, equestrian, gymnastics, sailing,shooting, swimming, triathlon. Other possibilitiesare in canoeing, men’s hockey, judo, modernpentathlon and rowing.The team will number approximately 50 (thesame size as the last Olympics in Beijing). Thiswould change dramatically if the Irish men’shockey team qualifies by winning the Olympicqualifying tournament being held in Belfield,Dublin in late March.The team manager (Chef de Mission) is Ireland’sgreatest woman athlete, silver medallist SoniaO’Sullivan from Cobh who is making her OlympicGames debut in a management position. Soniahas already had excellent experience managingathletic squads in Australia and was AssistantChef de Mission for Ireland’s European YouthOlympic team in Finland.The Irish athletes will be supported by individualteam managers and coaches. There is also a topquality medical and sports science team led byDr. Sean Gaine, a consultant at Dublin’s MaterHospital. This team includes doctors,physiotherapists, masseurs and sportspsychologists.Team Ireland will be based in the OlympicVillage, a high rise development in theOlympic Park where they will haveaccess to running trails, a poly clinic anda full range of support services.Managing Team Ireland’s office in theVillage will be Stephen Martin fromHollywood, Co. Down who has won goldand bronze medals for Great Britain inhockey and Corkman Martin Burke who isthe Olympic Council’s sports director.Many of the athletes will be availing of thesuperb Pre-Games training facilities at St.Mary’s University at Twickenham whereTeam Ireland will have its main trainingand preparation base. St. Mary’s,under the guidance of ProfessorDick Fisher, have given theIrish team full use of the

extensive and state of art facilities on thecampus.The university will undoubtedly give Team Irelanda very warm welcome due to the closerelationship built over the years with thehundreds of Irish students who graduated there.This is effectively a ‘home’ Olympics for Irelandand the public will be buoyed by a couple ofOlympic events being held at home, in addition toLondon’s St. Patrick’s Festival.First up was the success of the Olympic Council’scelebration of Ireland’s participation in the 1948London Olympic Games where Ireland won abronze medal in the art section with a paintingby Letitia Hamilton of the Meath Point to Point.Held on March 9 in Farmleigh, the Government’shospitality house beside the Phoenix Park, Dublin,this event was attended by seven survivingmembers of that 1948 team plus their families.All the survivors received a special OlympicMedal of Honour in recognition of theirparticipation 64 years ago at London’s lastOlympics.There is huge public excitement and anticipationof the arrival of the Olympic Flame in theRepublic on June 6. This historic event followsextensive international negotiations by PatHickey, President of the Olympic Council ofIreland with the full support of Lord SebastianCoe and his team at the London OrganisingCommittee (LOCOG).The Flame will cross the border early on themorning of the 6th for a three-hour symbolic visitto celebrate the role of sport in the peace processand the fact that the Irish team for London is anall-Ireland one.Due to the shortness of the visit, the torchbearers will number about 40 and will berepresentative of Irish life and sport. The OlympicFlame will tour around the city of Dublin over a12k route which will include Howth, Croke Parkand the Garden of Remembrance, and will finishat Dublin’s historic Mansion House where anOlympic cauldron will be lit. The Flame will then

be transported by roadconvoy to Belfast for that

city’s tour.The final Irish Olympicsquad will beannounced at a majorfunction in Dublin onJuly 4 before the teamdeparts for London forthe sportingextravaganza of theyear.

Summer of sport for

Paralympic cyclistCatherine Walsh.

Olympic boxer Kenny Egan.


ELITE athletes from Ireland’s 2012Paralympics team are among thecrowds celebrating at this year’s StPatrick’s Day festivities.With an exciting sporting yearahead they hope to drum up asmuch support as possible from theIrish in Britain for the Paralympictournament this summer — whilejoining in the fun of our annualfestival celebrating all things Irish.‘Wear green and support your teamthis summer’ is the message fromLiam Harbison, Paralympic Councilof Ireland CEO and Chef de Missionfor the 2012 team.“2012 is a huge year for Irish sportbut also for the city of London,” hesaid. “The eyes of the world will beon the city for a stunning six-weekfestival of sport covering theOlympic and Paralympic Games,and the Paralympics in London is ahuge opportunity for the IrishDiaspora to become aware of andcelebrate the elite abilities ofIreland’s Paralympians.“We are delighted to be heresupporting the St Patrick’s Festivalwith you in London and we lookforward to receiving your supportlater this year.”Among the Paralympians you mightspot in Trafalgar Square are world-

championtandem-cyclistsCatherineWalsh andFran Meehan and Ireland’s rowingteam Kevin Du Toit, Sarah Caffrey,Shane Ryan, Anne Marie McDaidand Helen Arbuthnot.All of whom have already qualifiedfor the 2012 team, alongsideathletics stars Michael McKiIllop,Jason Smyth and Catherine O’Neill,hand cyclist Mark Rohan and cyclistColin Lynch.“The Irish Team is preparing wellfor the Paralympics and we arelooking to excite and surprise manypeople by exceptional performancesin London,” Mr Harbison said.“We will travel to London with highhopes of achieving our target offive medals and the Irish in Britaincan play a huge part by supportingthe team — so wear green and flythe flag for your Paralympic Teamlater this year.”A total of 22 athletes have qualifiedfor the Irish Paralympic team todate. The PCI expects to field ateam of up to 42 for the 2012Games, which run from August 29 -September 9. Seewww.paralympics.ie

IRISH Olympians are gearing up fora summer of sport in London byattending the St Patrick’s Dayfestival in Trafalgar Square.Catch your favourites at the paradeas Ireland Olympic Chef de Missionand former Olympic silver medallistSonia O’Sullivan leads the chargerepresenting the Ireland team.Keep your eyes peeled for theathletics star, who will be joined byhome-grown Irish gymnast KieranBehan, high-jumper Deirdre Ryanand boxer Kenneth Egan — whohave all qualified to representIreland in the London 2012 Games.Olympic Council of IrelandPresident Pat Hickey won’t makethe St Patrick’s Day Festivalcelebrations but sent the followingmessage to revellers: “The IrishOlympic team salutes the Irish inBritain on the occasion of the StPatrick’s Day Festival.“This superb event is the start ofthe team’s journey to the LondonOlympics in July and it is great thatseveral of our Olympians willparticipate in the Festival Parade tohighlight what will be the sportingevent of the year.”He added: “Team Ireland looksforward to going for gold at theGames with the full support of the

Irish community in London andthroughout Britain.”Ireland’s Olympians will be joinedby member of the OlympicCouncil’s Executive Board, WilliamO’Brien, Peadar Casey, DermotSherlock and Dermot Henihan.To date, 27 athletes have qualifiedfor the Irish Olympic team in sixsports and the OCI expects to fielda team of approximately 50 in 10sports by the end of thequalification period in June.

r the Irish

Ireland’s Paralympians

Olympic team salutes the Irish in Britain

Gymnast Kieran Behan.

Paralympic rowing team Sarah Caffrey, Kevin Du Toit and ShaneRyan on the River Shannon. Pic Malcolm McNally

Chef de Mission and former Olympicsilver medallist Sonia O’Sullivan.


28

According to legend, God will allow StPatrick to judge the Irish on the Last Day.Untroubled by this thought, party-goers

round the world celebrate Patrick’s feast day withlevels of craic ‘n’ roll well in excess of sensiblelimits given the saint’s significant role in grantingadmission to the hereafter.Gargantuan volumes of green beer are consumedin honour of the man who spread Christianitythroughout Ireland — although St Patrick himselfwould have been a complete stranger to thosetwo wild horsemen, merriment and revelry.The words “Did anybody remember the bottleopener?” are unlikely ever to have passed hislips.Austere would probably be too chipper a wordfor the saint’s religious outlook, so it’s somethingof a mystery why he should have become one ofthe three most popular partying saints in theworld — alongside those other saintly A-listers StValentine (also buried in Ireland) and St Nicholas.

From reptiles to racing cars

It’s likely the Apostle of Ireland waschristened Maewyn Succat — thePat was pending, so to speak.The son of a minor Romanofficial, he was probably bornin Scotland — a Roman in thegloamin’ — andis buried inDownpatrick.Asidefromhis

missionary work, Patrick single-handedlylaunched the shamrock as Ireland’s national logo— leading us to a particularly succulent globuleof trivia: the first motor race in these islands, theGordon Bennett Tournament just over 100 yearsago, centred on Athy. According to legend, theBritish participants, the Napier cars, were paintedgreen in honour of the shamrock, and for thebest part of a century British Racing Greenremained the official colour of all UK Grand Prixcars.At the other end of the speed scale, Patrickreputedly drove the snakes out of Ireland —hence his nick-name ‘the snake harmer’.Snakes have a top speed of 8mph, so how thesaint managed this is something of a logisticalmystery. When he first came to Ireland as a slave he tended pigs, so maybe he had a waywith animals. Or maybe he had an oul’ bike that today is rusting away waiting to be turnedinto a holy relic. At any rate, Ireland remains oneof only three places on the planet without snakes — alongside Iceland and New Zealand. StPatrick probably never visited either, but you canbe sure his day is suitably celebrated in bothparishes.

Land of saints and dollarsSt Patrick’s Day is only a statutory holiday in

Ireland, Montserrat and theprovince of Newfoundland —but is today celebrated

worldwide.The largest parades are in Dublin,Britain and the US — a bitterly

cold March 17 parade in Seattleonce spawned the definitive St

Patrick’s Day headline “Eringo brrrr”.The world’s first St Patrick’sDay parade was held inBoston, 1737, although theNew York parade is thelongest continuously heldevent. Today it’s a cross

between Mardi Gras and afleadh with levels of craicprobably way above thosepermitted under the GenevaConvention.Many Irish societies flythousands of miles to marchthe two miles uptown, and

any American politicianstanding for office within atwo hundred mile radiususually finds time to make thetrek. Irish politicians from both sides of the border fetchup in the city once memorablydescribed as being “like abeautiful woman smoking”— but for one day at leastit’s a red-haired colleen fromthe Emerald Isle.

Pat factsIn the ancient grounds of Down Cathedral liesthe grave of St Patrick. According to legendIreland’s two other patron saints, Brigid andColmcille, keep him eternal company in thesimple grave.Although many Pat facts are disputed, it seemsfairly certain he was responsible for spreadingthe Gospel in a country where, according tolegend, no word for ‘sobriety’ existed. Indeedsuch was his success, Ireland became the onlycountry to embrace Christianity withoutbloodshed or martyrdom. Well, almost withoutbloodshed. While baptising Aengus, King ofCashel, in 445, St Patrick unwittingly stuck thespike of his crozier through his new convert’sfoot. When later asked why he had not cried out,Aengus replied that he thought it was all part ofthe ceremony.Today’s celebration of St Patrick’s Day inDownpatrick is quite a sedate affair.Contemplation of how Patrick got his Old AntiochRoadshow underway is high on the agenda.Meanwhile, Dublin’s festival stretches over fivedays and includes music, theatre, family carnivals,giant puppetry, dance, fireworks and whateveryou’re having yourself, while London’scelebrations, despite criticism from Boris Johnson,will proceed at full throttle.

Far flung festivitiesWherever, festivities duly take place. The UlsterMuseum in Belfast has a bone from the saint’shand, while France boasts possession of the relicof the Apostle’s pelvic bone.England also claims the remains of Patrick(presumably minus hand and pelvis). The saint,according to local legend, ended his days atGlastonbury — the Chapel of St Patrick remainspart of Glastonbury Abbey. An Irish pilgrimage tohis tomb around AD 688 may have led to thewhole King Arthur legend, often believed to be amyth thought up and perpetuated by Irish monksliving in the vicinity of Glastonbury trying topublicise their holy presence in Somerset. StPatrick’s Day is still celebrated there with somefervour.

Simply divineDisneyland in Paris boasts a huge St Patrick’s Dayparade and party. The likes of Mickey Mouse andhis good lady Minnie will be dressed for the

Pat’s party-goersMal Rogers

looks at how St Patrick’s Day iscelebrated around

the world


occasion, and ready to sing ‘Celtic songs’.Perhaps Minnie will serenade Mickey with: “Areye right there Michael, are ye right?”, or perhapseven a rewrite of The Fields of Athenry,“Michael Mouse, they are taking you away...”Even Sleeping Beauty Castle will become a glowof green under dazzling bursts of fireworks, justas St Patrick would have wanted.A more subdued religious dimension attaches toproceedings in the Loire valley. A legend persiststhat on making good his escape from Ireland,Patrick headed for Tours where his uncle Martinwas bishop. En route he performed the oddmiracle, and in his honour three towns dedicatedchurches to him: Saint Patrice, Saint Patrice-de-Claids and Saint Patrice-du-Desert.Meanwhile in nearby Sandillon the local churchcontains the afore-mentioned relic of St Patrick’spelvic bone (La relique de l’irlandais) brought toFrance by a neer-do-well aristocrat trying toatone for a very grave deed, which I’m sure you’drather not hear about. Oh go on then — it seemsthe local Comte murdered his chaplain, anIrishman, while celebrating Mass. Consumed withremorse, le Comte went to Ireland to fetch asuitable relic for the church in atonement.

The Czar of the Co. DownAlthough France boasts several towns namedafter the Apostle of Ireland, curiously none existin Ireland — even St Patrick’s Island belongs tothe Isle of Man. Downpatrick and St Patrick’sPurgatory are about as close as you’ll get. (While

on the subject, Dante’s The Divine Comedy wasinfluenced by tales of pilgrimages to Pat’s Purg.) Russia is also conspicuously short on Pat names.The country shares its patron saint with Scotland— St Andrew — but nonetheless the collectiveRussian hair is let down on March 17.Russia has honoured the Co. Down saint over theyears with various celebrations — parades,fireworks, and even a dog-show of Irishwolfhounds. (Wolfhounds were, according tolegend, the first living creatures to meet Patrickon his arrival on Ireland’s shores.So they deserve some canine craic.The Japanese will celebrate St Patrick in Tokyo,Yokohama, Ise and Kyote with bands, paradesand an Emerald Ball. Throughout Spain — wherethere appears to be no direct translation for“Could you calm down a bit?” — the Apostle’sday will be celebrated with fireworks and fiestas.

The Other Emerald Isle

Much of the population of the Caribbean islandof Montserrat is of Irish descent. Their March 17festival includes a “Slave Feast” to commemoratea slave uprising on St Patrick’s Day, 1768 —entirely appropriate as St Patrick was the firstperson in recorded history to speak out againstslavery. The festival also boasts traditionaldancing, kite-flying, parades and a giant knees-up of pagan abandon.Rome also celebrates March 17 in some style —not that surprising given the saint’s Roman

blood. Toasting Patrick with pizza and pizzazz inthe piazza is singularly fitting, as well assatisfyingly alliterative.All countries with a sizeable Irish populationhave their own St Patrick’s Day’s celebration.Australia, Canada, Argentina and South Africa all mark the day with varying degrees ofsaintliness.Only one other country boasts St Patrick as theofficial patron saint - Nigeria. The Apostle ofIreland was promoted to that position in 1961.

Pat at the Pearly Gates

One March 17, sometime around the year 493,was St Patrick’s last day on earth, his first day inheaven. Had he been a betting man — anunlikely scenario, admittedly — it’s doubtful if hewould have laid a wager with St Peter that thename St Patrick would continue to be reveredthroughout the world some 1,500 years later. Butincredibly, that’s what happened. Despiteknowing little about this ascetic man, the worldhas taken him to his heart — if he knew thebacchanalian excesses enacted in his name hewould likely say: “I’m a celibate, get me out ofhere!”But Ireland has much to thank St Patrick for, sothis March 17 raise a toast to the Apostle ofIreland, first Primate of Armagh, missionary,teacher, pig farmer, snake charmer, slave andbotany expert — then head for the nearest partyand set your inner leprechaun free.


Tell us which pub has the best pint of Guinness in Britain

www.irishpost.co.ukGo online and visit The Irish Post’s forum

Stout had a dream about St Patrick. He cameto Ireland in the name of porter. He didn’ttravel by boat but by skiff — it was adecision he made in the interests of speed.The publicans who followed from Britain,they travelled overnight by Rail and Sail,£66 return.St Patrick didn’t carry a staff, but a hugethermometer to test the temperature of allthe black stuff he was going to drink. Ifanyone tried to pull a pint in one go, he saidit would be handy for dishing out a whackor two.There were no snakes, he said, only badpints. His mission was to drive them out ofthe country. Ireland was only a sub-contractthough really. Tackling Britain, that was thebig thing.His first job was to try and drive down theprice. He rounded up all the British-basedpublicans at Dublin Port and had thembussed to the Guinness Brewery at StJames’s Gate. It was early, but they weren’tallowed into the canteen for the famed fry.He said this was no school tour.St Patrick pointed to the Liffey and toldthem all they’d be going for a dip if they

ever poured a pint with bubbles in the head.He demanded the publicans take notes. Hesaid they should have been made to do sothe first time they were over and wasoutraged to learn this was the first time formany of them.St Patrick went into a furious rage andthreated to pull the plug on the wholething, even the visit to the Sky Bar.The publicans pleaded with thethermometer-waving saint. Eventually, thetour continued after a union rep steppedforward to say the publicans agreed tolower the price of a pint of Guinness inBritain.The tour resumed. The Sky Bar was full tobursting. Queen Elizabeth II was behind thecounter pulling pints. She leaned against thebar and said she had decided to return afterher official state visit nine months ago. Itwas because of the Guinness, she said.St Patrick told the publicans to follow herlead. “Hold the glass at a 45-degree angle,”he said. “Then let it rest on the drip try afterit has been filled three-quarters of the wayup.“Stand on the counter, make some small

talk — like the Queen is doing — andcomplete the top up.“That’s right, over the top of the glass,” heinsisted. “So a nice dome is formed.”St Patrick was running late, so he asked oneof the porters to call him a taxi. The portersaid there was no need. Dublin had changedsince his last visit. The porter said it waseasier to hail one off the street, with thederegulation and all.So he left to round up the bad pints andissued instructions on how to pull betterones when the publicans returned to Britain.If he was giving his name to a day ofnational celebration, then the least theycould do was honour that day with goodpints. Heck, the last line is the only part ofStout’s dream that makes sense. Happy StPatrick’s Day, drink sensibly and all that.

The Harp47 Chandos PlaceCovent GardenLondon WC2N 4HS020 7836 0291

The Porterhouse21-22 Maiden Lane Covent GardenLondon WC2 E7NA 020 7379 7917

101 Bar101 New Oxford StreetLondon WC1A 1DB020 7379 3112

Waxy O’Connor’s14-16 Rupert Street Leicester Square London W1D 6DD 020 7287 0255

The Lamb and Flag33 Rose Street Covent GardenLondon WC2E 9EB020 7497 9504

The Porcupine 48 Charing Cross Road London WC2H 0BS 020 7379 9855

The Tipperary (pictured) 66 Fleet Street London EC4Y 1HT 020 7583 6470

Waxy’s Little Sister20 Wardour StreetLondon W1D 6QG 020 7287 8987

Ye Olde CheddarCheese145 Fleet Street London EC4A 2BU 020 7353 6170

The Toucan19 Carlisle Street Off Soho Square London W1V 5RJ 020 7437 4123

The Argyll Arms 18 Argyll Street London W1F 7TP 020 7734 6117

Shakespeare’s Head29 Great MarlboroughStreetLondon W1F 7HZ 0871 258 9604

O’Neill’s 14 New Row Covent Garden London WC2N 4LF 020 3077 1129

The French House 49 Dean StreetLondon W1D 5BG020 7437 2477

Fancy a pint on St Patrick’s Festival day? Here’s a few nearby pubs

Each week in The Irish Post our undercover reviewer gives his verdicton the best pint in town. Here’s his special St Patrick’s Day report... STOUT ’N’

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THURSDAY, FROM MARCH 1Art Exhibition by Award-WinningLondon Irish Artist MarkCahillaneIn Work, Rest, and Play, Cahillanecaptures the grit of the inner-city lifethat he experienced growing up as oneof London’s Irish immigrants in the1960s.The London Irish Centre, 50-52 CamdenSquare, London, NW1 9XB. 020 79162222. Free entry.www.londonirishcentre.org

FRIDAY, MARCH 9Around the Fire StorytellingPresents — Emer O’Connor withBloody BullsThe final Around the Fire Storytellingevent of this season is Emer O’Connorwith Bloody Bulls. O’Connor andmusician Charlie Henry explore mythsof ancient Ulster. This show is about thewomen of ancient Irish myth. They arefighters, leaders and lovers and they areall united by their ties to one man.Emer, Charlie and producer Kerry Irvinedrag myths of Ulster kicking andscreaming into the present.The Irish Cultural Centre, Black’s Road,Hammersmith, London, W6 9DT. 0208563 8232. 8pm, £6.www.irishculturalcentre.co.uk

FRIDAY, MARCH 9Comhaltas Special CelebrationA very special Comhaltas night incelebration of the lives of John andJoan Burke. The Burkes were foundermembers both of the first ComhaltasCeoltóirí Éireann branch in England andof Gasra Na nGael. Gasra promotes céilídancing and Comhaltas promotestraditional Irish music and culture.Live music. All welcome.The Irish Cultural Centre, Black’s Road,Hammersmith, London, W6 9DT. 0208563 8232. 8pm, Free entry.www.irishculturalcentre.co.uk

SATURDAY, MARCH 10Master Workshop: Aidan Burke,Fiddle — The Burke MemorialMaster Class SeriesBorn of Sligo and Tipperary parents,Aidan Burke was brought up in the Irishculture of music, song and dance. Hewas playing and dancing at an earlyage — the drums at age two, dancingat age five. Having Kevin Burke (fiddleplayer in The Bothy Band) as a firstcousin, he was destined to play thefiddle and started at the age of eight.Aidan has won 20 first place titles onhis main instruments between FleadhCheoil na Breataine and Fleadh nahÉireann competitions.

The Irish Cultural Centre, Black’s Road,Hammersmith, London, W6 9DT. TheMaster Workshops run from 11am-4pmwith an hour’s break for lunch. Pleaseemail Brendan Mulkere [email protected] or call 07879811354. £25/£20.www.irishculturalcentre.co.uk

SUNDAY, MARCH 11Mulkere Academy and Friends St Patrick’s ShowcaseThis event showcases the talent andachievements of the students of theMulkere Academy. Customarily they arejoined on stage by friends of theacademy. Guests for this event are yetto be confirmed. A relaxed afternoonopen to all.The Irish Cultural Centre, Black’s Road,Hammersmith, London, W6 9DT. 0208563 8232. 2.30pm, £7/£5.www.irishculturalcentre.co.uk

FRIDAY, MARCH 16Irish Language Night Out(Seachtain Na Gaeilge)It’s Irish language week in Ireland so ifyou’re a learner, a speaker or justinterested in the language, get yourselfdown to the Irish Centre in Camden.There is going to be a night of freelearning, fun and culture.

The London Irish Centre, 50-52 CamdenSquare, London, NW1 9XB. 020 79162222. 7pm. www.londonirishcentre.org

FRIDAY, MARCH 16Film Screening — KingsTom Collins’ Kings chronicles the fate ofa gang of Irishmen who have made themove to the hard streets of London.Adapted from Jimmy Murphy’sacclaimed play The Kings of the KilburnHigh Road, this downbeat affair seesthe four hard-drinking Irish ex-patriotsreunite in Kilburn for the wake of theirfriend Jackie, found dead on the tracksof the Underground. Prepare to bemoved.The London Irish Centre, 50-52 CamdenSquare, London, NW1 9XB. 020 79162222. 8pm, free.www.londonirishcentre.org

FRIDAY, MARCH 16Free Céilí and Celebration of IrishCultureA celebration of Irish music and dancefor families and all ages. Plenty of livemusic and a caller to help you learn themoves — a great start to the weekend.The London Irish Centre, 50-52 CamdenSquare, London, NW1 9XB. 020 79162222. 7.30-10.30am. Free entry.www.londonirishcentre.org

Festival listings… events across London



FRIDAY, MARCH 16Whipping Boy at the BarflyCamdenDon’t miss the first show in ages fromcult Irish rockers Whipping Boy. Thegroup came to prominence in the mid-1990s with their tales of everyday lifeand love, seen through the world-wearyand cynical eyes of frontman FerghalMcKee. Support from Tieranniesaur andDead School.The Bar Fly, 49 Chalk Farm Road,Camden, London, NW1 8AN. 020 76888994. Over 18s, 7.30pm, £8.

FRIDAY, MARCH 16 ANDSATURDAY, MARCH 17New Irish Theatre and DinnerFresh from Bewley’s Theatre in Dublin,Amy De Bhrun presents two shows overtwo nights. Friday is Life: A One WomanShow and Saturday is The Money Man.The London Irish Centre, 50-52 CamdenSquare, London, NW1 9XB. 020 79162222. Theatre and three-course meal:£25, 7.30pm.www.londonirishcentre.org

SATURDAY, MARCH 17St Patrick’s Day at the MedievalBanquetFour-course, medieval-themed banquetswith unlimited ale and wine take place

by torchlight in the vaulted cellar ofIvory House, where, accompanying KingHenry VIII, there are knights, jesters,strongmen, contortionists, dancers andmagicians. Those wishing to get in onye olde act can hire a costume onarrival. The evening concludes with adisco.Ivory House, St Katherine’s Dock,London, E1W 1BP. 020 7480 5353.£49.95/£30 adults/children (age 4-17).www.medievalbanquet.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 17St Patrick’s Day with CamilleO’Sullivan at the Roundhouse: A Celebration of Irish Music andCultureThe evening event in the Main Spacewill be headlined by Ireland’s dynamicchanteuse, Camille O’Sullivan, “a crossbetween Patti Smith, Sally Bowles andPJ Harvey” according to The Scotsman.O’Sullivan will be playing a full set withher band, to be followed by a late-nightcéilí. She has built her award-winningreputation with red hot torch songinterpretations of the work of JacquesBrel, Nick Cave, Tom Waits and KurtWeill.The Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road,London, NW1 8EH. 0844 482 8008.£17.50. www.roundhouse.org.uk

SATURDAY, MARCH 17The Stars of The Commitmentsat the O2Surely one of the biggest St Patrick’sDay gigs London has seen for a longtime. The all-singing, all-playing stars ofAlan Parker’s movie The Commitmentswill rouse an eager audience intodancing along to classics like MustangSally, I Can’t Stand The Rain and Try ALittle Tenderness.The O2, Peninsula Square, SE10 0DX.0844 856 0202. 6.30pm, from £51.25.www.theo2.co.uk

SATURDAY, MARCH 17Searching for the Celtic SoulRebels: The Irish Influence in UKMusicAn enthralling and provocative seminaron the Irish influence on British popularmusic, from the Sex Pistols to theSmiths to Oasis. Lively discussion anddebate guaranteed.The London Irish Centre, 50-52 CamdenSquare, London, NW1 9XB. 020 79162222. 11am-1pm, £8.www.londonirishcentre.org

SATURDAY, 17 MARCHTír Na nÓg St Patrick’s MorningFun for KidsGive the kids a taste of Irish culture and

fun at this special St Patrick’s morning.Expect arts and crafts, games, céilí forkids and Irish myths. Suitable for ages 5to 10.The London Irish Centre, 50-52 CamdenSquare, London, NW1 9XB. 020 79162222. 11am-1pm, £5 per child to covermaterials. www.londonirishcentre.org

SATURDAY, MARCH 17Lunch Lecture: The Story of theIrish in BritainTony Murray of the Irish Studies Centreat London Metropolitan University willpresent a lively lecture on London’soldest migrant community. Expectdiscussion and debate.The London Irish Centre, 50-52 CamdenSquare, London, NW1 9XB. 020 79162222. 2-4pm, £8.www.londonirishcentre.org

SATURDAY, MARCH 17Traditional Irish Music SessionTreat yourself to an after-work pint inthe hub bar and a few tunes to warmup (or wind down) for St Patrick’s night.There will also be some culinary treatson offer from the kitchen.The London Irish Centre, 50-52 CamdenSquare, London, NW1 9XB. 020 79162222. 4.30-7.30pm, free entry.www.londonirishcentre.org

Festival listings… eve

Things to do: Explore the local sights - Glencar Waterfall,Carrowmore Megalithic Tombs. Play Golf at the four

Championship golf courses close by. Golf Packages available.Surf the world renowned Atlantic waves at Strandhill. Take a

river, lake or sea fishing trip. Go hill walking, horseriding,swimming and lots more!

Room rates from €69Stay at a city centre hotel located overlooking lovely Sligo Bay

45 minutes from Knock Airport serviced by bus, taxi or rental Car. Regular departures from all major UK airports.

Visit www.irelandwestairport.com

Room rates from €69Sligo City HotelSligo City Hotel

Book by calling 00 353 719144000Or visit www.sligocityhotel.com

25 Cecil Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA3 5QYTel: 020 8424 7999 Fax: 020 8424 7998


from all at Toureen GroupGroundworks

R.C. Frames

Petrol Forecourt Construction

Demolition

Basement Construction

Drain Surveying


MILTON KEYNES IRISH CENTRE PRESENTS:FESTIVAL OF IRISH CULTURE

SATURDAY 17TH MARCH - SATURDAY 24TH MARCH 2012

St Patrick’s Day ParadeSaturday 17th March

Assemble at Irish Centre at 1.30pmParade starts at 2.00pm – to

Bandstand, Bletchley‘Long Distance’ at bandstand 2pmJoin in our parade – everyone is

welcome!

Downstairs at the centrethere will be Dance displays from Mc Gill School of Irish Dancing

Julie Herlihy School of IrishDancing

Mary Drake School of Irish DancingAt the centre from approx 4-5pm

Milton Keynes Set Dancers 9.45pm

Live music upstairs from 4-8pm8pm till late

Music from ‘Long Distance’and Eamon’s Country Sounds

Admission £2.00 (members)£3.00 (non members)

WEDNESDAY 14TH MARCHBacon & Cabbage lunch

Served at 12.30pm – (must bebooked)

Tel. Mary: 07986089898 orSheila 01908 583774 to book.

£5.00 all proceeds to our charity ‘Little Lives’

MONDAY 19TH MARCH7.30pm

London Irish Theatre presentsA new play

‘SET DANCERS’A comedy written and directed

by John Dunne

Tickets £3.00Children free

FRIDAY 23rd MARCH

FILM SHOW FROM VAGABOND CINEMA

Details to follow

Admission £3.00Children free

SATURDAY 24th MARCHLive music with

Tom Healey Band£5.00 admissionDoors open 7pm

MILTON KEYNES IRISH CENTRE, FENNY STRATFORD (OPPOSITE DOBBIES GARDEN CENTRE) – 01908 375978

Sponsored by: Irish Immigrant Support

Programme – Bletchley & Fenny Town

Council – Milton Keynes Irish Centre

The ShanakeeThe Shanakee9-10 Central Buildings, The Broadway, Ealing W5 2NT

Phone: 020 8567 4737

253 Edgware Road, Colindale NW9Phone: 020 8200 8066

91 High Street, Wealdstone, Middlesex HA3 5DLPhone: 020 8427 5210

Live music and sport every weekend (SKY and ESPN)All G.A.A. Games Shown

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all our Customers

from Bill and everyone at the Shanakee

9-10 Central Buildings, The Broadway, Ealing W5 2NTPhone: 020 8567 4737






9-10 Central Buildings, The Broadway, Ealing W5 2NTPhone: 020 8567 4737






SATURDAY, MARCH 17St Patrick’s Afternoon Dance &Bacon and Cabbage DinnerEvery year the London Irish Centre inCamden throws a huge afternoondinner and dance for the elderly Irish ofthe area. Come along to this afternoonof live music and dance, a bacon andcabbage dinner and a bingo raffle.The London Irish Centre, 50-52 CamdenSquare, London, NW1 9XB. 020 79162222. Doors open at 1pm, buffet lunchat 1.30pm, dinner 4.30pm, £15.www.londonirishcentre.org

SATURDAY, MARCH 17A Proper Irish St Patrick’s PartyJoin the big Irish pub quiz, enjoy greatfood and drink or simply party to thelive house band. Food will also beavailable to order from the kitchen.The London Irish Centre, 50-52 CamdenSquare, London, NW1 9XB. 020 79162222. 8pm. Free entry.www.londonirishcentre.org

SATURDAY, MARCH 17Four Men and A DogFour Men and A Dog emerged in 1990during the Belfast Folk Festival. Theband plays Irish traditional music with amixture of different genres, includingrock, jazz, blues, bluegrass, swing, salsa,

polka and even rap.The Irish Cultural Centre, Black’s Road,Hammersmith, W6 9DT. 020 85638232. Doors 7.30pm, Tickets £18/£15concession.www.irishculturalcentre.co.uk

SATURDAY, MARCH 17Damien Dempsey’s St Patrick’sDay Show 2012Dublin’s favourite singer songwriterDamien Dempsey returns to London fora very special show on St Patrick’s Dayat the HMV Forum, Kentish Town.Damien headlined the 2011 LondonTrafalgar Square St Patrick’s Daycelebrations to huge crowds and isalways assured of a warm welcome inLondon. Damien will be joined by somespecial guests on the night and thispromises to be a rousing way to spendyour St Patrick’s Day evening.HMV Forum, 9-17 Highgate Road,Kentish Town, London, NW5 1JY. 0207428 4099. 7pm, £15. Strictly over 14sonly, under 16s with an adult , photo IDrequired.

SATURDAY, MARCH 17 ANDSUNDAY, MARCH 18Where the String Broke: Irishhistorical walk through CamdenIf you were Irish in the 50s, 60s and 70s

and looking for “the start”, “a doss”,“a bit of a dance” or just a “gargle”and the “craic”, Camden Town wasyour only place! This walk will evokethe golden age of Irish Camden Town. Itvisits one of the great Irish dance halls,the first pub in the world to host atraditional Irish music session and thesite of English v Irish Navvy riot of1846! Take in the canal, Dingwalls,Arlington House and the Roundhouseon this fascinating meander throughIrish London history.Meet at Camden Town Tube station(Kentish Town Road exit — look for theLondon Irish umbrella), 10.30am. Bookin advance by email:[email protected]

SATURDAY, MARCH 17 ANDSUNDAY, MARCH 18Emerald City Walking TourFrom St Paul’s Cathedral to CoventGarden Opera House via Fleet Streetand the Temple, you will be enthralledby this two-hour walking exploration ofthe capital’s Irish connections. WBYeats, Charles Stewart Parnell, GeorgeBernard Shaw, Theobald Wolfe Tone andOscar Wilde are just some of the greatnames of Ireland’s past, whose lives inthe great metropolis will be recountedby your expert London Blue Badge

Tourist Guide.Meet at steps of St Paul’s Cathedral,2pm. Book in advance by email:[email protected]

SUNDAY, MARCH 18St Patrick’s pre-parade IrishBreakfast and MassSt Patrick’s Mass at 9am followed by atasty full Irish breakfast at 9.45am atThe London Irish Centre. Everyone thenwalks to the parade together.The London Irish Centre, 50-52 CamdenSquare, London, NW1 9XB. 020 79162222. £6, must book in advance.www.londonirishcentre.org

SUNDAY, MARCH 18Gaelic Voices Festival: ACelebration of the GaelicLanguages in Music and SongAn evening concert at the London IrishCentre in Camden, with Sean-Nóssinger and piper from ConnemaraMeaiti Jo Sheaumuis Ó Fatharta,Scottish singer and piper Grio GairLabhruid H, and Belfast singer GráinneHolland and band with special guests.The London Irish Centre, 50-52 CamdenSquare, London, NW1 9XB. 020 79162222. Workshops 12-4pm, £4; Freesession, 4-7pm; Concert, 7.30-11pm,£10. www.londonirishcentre.org

events across London

Irish PostTHE

THE VOICE OF THE IRISH IN BRITAIN SINCE 1970

� First for news � First for sport � First choice for the Irish in Britain

ON SALE EVERY WEDNESDAY

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Just a click awayfrom home!

Festival listings…


SUNDAY, MARCH 18St Patrick’s CéilíThe Camden Irish Centre has beenthrowing a weekly céilí for decades.Don your glad rags and learn thesteps from experienced dancers andtutors. A great night out! Starts 8pm,tickets £4.The London Irish Centre, 50-52Camden Square, London, NW1 9XB.020 7916 2222.www.londonirishcentre.org

SATURDAY, MARCH 17St Patrick’s Day Parade,WillesdenCheer on the parade that leavesWillesden Green Station at 2pmalong the route of Willesden HighRoad to the library centre, wherethere will be a stage with manyperformers including Irish dancersand singers. There will also be stallsat the library centre with a variety offood and drink and if all that is notenough, you can even take thechildren on fairground rides from theGeorge Irwin funfair. The event willfinish at 7.30pm — no parking isavailable on or near the site soplease go green and use publictransport.Free, 2pm.

FRIDAY, MARCH 30Brian Kelly, Chris O’Malley,Alex Percy, Sam Proctor andTad SargentAn evening that will bring togethersome of the finest exponents oftraditional Irish music from acrossBritain. Brian Kelly took lessons fromthe influential Brendan Mulkere andwent on to win All-Ireland titles onboth the banjo and mandolin. ChrisO’Malley (piano/piano accordion) isfrom Leeds and is highly sought afterboth as a tune player and backer.Alex Percy is a second-generationfolk musician from Dorset performingmusic from the English, Irish andScottish traditions on fiddle, guitarand vocals. Sam Proctor fromNottingham is on fiddle. He is theanchor musician at many sessions incentral London and has performedextensively throughout Britain. TadSargent is a well-known sessionmusician in London, hosting theThursday evening session at theDukes Head in Richmond, andregularly performs with many of thebest musicians in town.The Irish Cultural Centre, Black’sRoad, Hammersmith, W6 9DT. 0208563 8232. 7.30pm, £10.www.irishculturalcentre.co.uk

Remember your Loved Ones withMemorial Lights

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� Continuous flame in all weather.

� Gold, Silver with or without Cross and a choice of Red, Green or Blue Cylinder.

� The only UK supplier.

CLMEMORIALSWeb: www.clmemorials-lights.co.uk

Email: [email protected]/FAX: 01355 904150

THE GREGORIANBermondsey’s New Irish pubBermondsey’s New Irish pub

FRIDAY 16TH MARCH

KARAOKE & DISCO WITH TOP MARKS SATURDAY 17TH MARCH

ST PATRICK’S DAY WITH TIPP TONY SUNDAY 18TH MARCH

ELVIS MEETS THE BEATLES

FRIDAY 16TH MARCH

KARAOKE & DISCO WITH TOP MARKS SATURDAY 17TH MARCH

ST PATRICK’S DAY WITH TIPP TONY SUNDAY 18TH MARCH

ELVIS MEETS THE BEATLES

96 Jamaica Road, Bermondsey SE16 4SQ

Offaly Association (London)(Affiliated to the Council of Irish County Associations)

Happy St Patrick’s Day to allyou Offaly people

Thanks for the support at our 50th anniversary

celebrations. It was a great night. Thanks to each and

everyone who attended.

Do come along to our AGM on Sunday, March 25th at 3pm

at the London Irish Centre, Camden NW1.

All enquiries see www.offalyassociation1962.co.uk, Contact chairman Denis 020 8200

3039 or Peter, secretary & P.R.O 020 8202 2225, [email protected]

Haven Bay Village ‘A Caring Community’

Apartments

� Fully furnished to highstandard � Secure Enviroment� Public HealthNurse/Home-Help Support� Wheelchair accessible� Emergency Call Bell� Bowling & Putting Green

� Meals available from‘The Asgard’ Restaurant� Residents invited toutilise all Care CentreFacilities� GP Surgery on site� Podiatry on site� Hair Salon

Long or Short

term rentals available

Haven Bay Care Centre, Kinsale, Co. Cork, Ireland

Tel: 00 353 21 4777328 Email [email protected] Web

www.havenbay.ie

(independent living with support if required)

The London Kerry Association wish everyone awonderful St Patrick’s DayCome and join in the St Patrick’s Day Parade and show London how

the Irish celebrate.We are having a St Patricks Day Party on Saturday 3rd March in the

Kingdom Bar Kilburn High Road London NW6 7JG from 9pm all welcome music and buffet no cover charge.

If you would like to be part of the Kerry Association we meet on the first Wednesdayof every month at The Kingdom Bar, 229 Kilburn High Road, NW6 or or email us [email protected] or check us out on facebook

The Irish Cultural Centre LondonREPORT TO ‘CRAIC’ HEADQUARTERS

THIS ST PATRICK’S DAY!Find it all at ICC from midday to late!

� Facepainting � Lifesize leprauchauns � Traditional Music� Storytelling � Traditional storytelling� Six Nations rugby on a HUGE screen

Followed by The best St Patrick’s party in town

with the legendary FOUR MEN & A DOGsupported by MULKERRIN BROTHERS

Tel: 020 8563 8232Email: [email protected] — www.irishculturalcentre.co.uk


38

Free healthsupplement for theIrish communityOut 17th March 2012To find out where you can pick up yourcopy, or to download it, please visit:

www.irishinbritain.org orwww.bmecancervoice.co.uk

Keeping in touchContact information you might find useful

IRISH SOCIETIES/ASSOCIATIONS■ Federation of IrishSocieties95 White Lion StreetLondon N1 9PF020 7833 1226■ Council of IrishCounty Associationsc/o 138 AshgrovePalmers GreenLondon N13 5APEMBASSY ANDPASSPORTS■ Irish Embassy17 Grosvenor PlaceLondon, SW1X 7HR020 7235 2171■ Passport OfficeEmbassy of Ireland,

114a Cromwell Road,London, SW7 4ES

020 7373 4339BUSINESS ■ IrishInternationalBusiness

Network

2nd Floor, 15 GreycoatPlaceLondon SW1P 1SBwww.iibn.comIRISH CENTRES ■ Irish Cultural CentreHammersmith5 Black’s Road,HammersmithLondon W6 9DT020 8563 8232■ The London IrishCentre50-52 Camden SquareLondon NW1 9XB020 7916 2222OLDER IRISH GROUPS■ Aisling Return toIreland Project93b Agar GroveLondon NW1 9ULTel: 020 7485 7030www.aisling.org.uk■ Camden Elderly IrishNetworkLondon Irish Centre50-52 Camden SquareLondon NW1 9XB

020 7916 2222■ Haringey IrishAssociation120 Gladstone AvenueWood GreenLondon N22 6LH020 8889 6579ADVICE AND SUPPORT■ Brent Irish AdvisoryService95 High RoadWillesdenLondon NW10 2SF020 8459 6655www.biasbrent.co.uk■ Irish Chaplaincy inBritainLondon Irish Centre50-52 Camden SquareLondon NW1 9XB020 7482 5528www.irishchaplaincy.org.uk■ Irish YouthFoundation3 Blacks RoadHammersmithLondon W6 9DT020 8748 9640

■ London Irish Women’sCentre59 Stoke NewingtonChurch StreetLondon N16 0ARTel: 020 7249 7318www.liwc.co.uk■ Safe Start Foundation1 Bridgehill CloseWembleyMiddlesexHA0 1EP020 8900 0001www.safestart.org.ukSPORT■ GAA London CountyBoardWest End RoadSouth RuislipMiddlesex HA4 6QXwww.londongaa.co.ukMUSIC■ ComhaltasThe London Irish Centre50 - 52 Camden SquareCamdenLondon NW1 9XBwww.comhaltas.ie

To contact theIrish Postcall 020 8900 4137 or see our websitewww.irishpost.co.uk

Keeping in touchContact information you might find useful

HappyStPatrick’sDayCAPPAGH HOUSE, WATERSIDE WAY, WIMBLEDON, SW17 7AB 020 8947 4000 020 8944 9447 [email protected] WWW.CAPPAGH.CO.UK

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