Official Magazine to London St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival 2011

Official Guide

LONDON 2011

Sunday 13 March 12 noon Ă? 6pm

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CelebrateLONDON St. Patrick’ s Day 2011

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A message from the Mayor

The St. Patrick’s Day parade and festival provides London with one of its biggest parties of the year. I have had some great times in Ireland and our own celebrations to mark the feast of St. Patrick are always brimming with ebullience and merriment.

A lively and colourful day out, it’s an opportunity to share in the illustrious heritage of the Emerald Isle and to celebrate the impact that Irish men and women have had on our city over generations.

With music and dance, great food and drink, there’s a barnstorming time to be had. So join the throng on March 13, cheer on the parade and get down to Trafalgar Square for another terrific party. Don’t forget to wear something green!

Here’s to a very happy St. Patrick’s Day. Lá le Pádraig sona daoibh!

Boris Johnson Mayor of London

I am very much looking forward to St. Patrick’s Day in London and I would like to wish a very happy St. Patrick’s Day to all the readers of The Irish Post.

The Feast of St. Patrick is a time of year when the Irish around the world, recall our homeland and celebrate its history, customs and traditions. It is a moment when those of us who have our roots in Ireland, be it the land of our birth, the land of our forefathers or our land of adoption, feel proud to be Irish.

St. Patrick’s Day is an occasion when the global Irish family is able to express its pride in our shared heritage and identity. But we in Britain will get an extra opportunity to express our Irish identity this year in the forthcoming Census.

The Irish Community in Britain today is very diverse and makes a significant positive contribution to virtually every aspect of British society. And on 27 March next the Irish community has an opportunity to be counted as part of the rich, complex society that makes up modern Britain. It is very important that the Irish in Britain fully participate in the process and ensure that that the community is represented to the fullest extent by ticking the Irish ethnicity box in the census.

I wish each and every one of you an enjoyable St Patrick’s festival. I hope you and your families and friends enjoy every moment of it and share with others the great joy that it is to be Irish.

Bobby McDonagh Ambassador of Ireland

Contents Pages 4-5 Pages 6-7 Pages 8-9 Pages 11-16 Page Page Page

18 21 22

Pages 27 Pages 30-35 Page Page

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Introduction to the Festival Who’s in the big parade Parade route map The bands and musicians How to get there Kids Corner The Health Bus and Irish Language Pubs and bars St. Patrick’s events in and around London Some useful numbers Dining out in London

Irish Post THE

St. Patrick’s Day Festival Guide designed and produced by The Irish Post, 26-28 Hammersmith Grove, Hammersmith, London W6 7HA

CelebrateLONDON St. Patrick’ s Day 2011

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HE ANNUAL St. Patrick’s Day Festival is back bigger and better for 2011. The parade and festival will take place on Sunday, March 13 and it’s likely to be one of London’s liveliest celebrations of the year if previous festivals are anything to go by - over 100,000 people attended last year.

As always there will be plenty of cheerleaders, marching bands, floats, costume characters and street theatre on the day. This year’s parade has attracted over 90 entries from groups and organisations, with all the London Irish Associations out in force – their county colours adding to the vibrancy.

The parade starts at noon departing from Piccadilly heading along Lower Regent Street, Pall Mall East, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall and finishing up at Whitehall Place. And there will be nine bands over from Ireland taking part, which is the festival’s highest ever to date.

Look out for The Ballindaggin Pipe Band from Wexford, Roscommon’s Castlerea Pipe Band, the Cork City Fire Brigade/Togher Pipe Band and the Crumlin Community Youth Band from Dublin.

A highlight this year will be performances from the Mahogany Carnival Group and the Inishowen Carnival Group.

When the parade finishes the crowd will make its way to Trafalgar Square, which will host a performance stage showcasing the very best of Irish music and dance from traditional to contemporary. Headlining this year’s festival is

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CelebrateLONDON St. Patrick’ s Day 2011 Dublin singer/songwriter Damien Dempsey.

As well as the musical treats on offer there will be a community tent open to all, with displays from the London Irish Centre, the Council of Irish Counties Association, the Irish Cultural Centre, the Federation of Irish Societies, and the London Irish Women’s Centre. Be sure you keep an eye out for the Irish language ambassadors who’ll be roaming around ready to teach you cúpla focal.

Of course there’s plenty more fun and cultural events taking place around the city over the next few weeks, so don’t forget to check our special listings section at the back of this magazine.

This year’s St. Patrick’s Festival theme is Embracing Your Irish Roots so what better way to show you’re green at heart than to take part and enjoy the city’s biggest Irish Festival. See pages 24-25 for our special feature on tracing your Irish ancestors.

With so much to offer, the London Festival really is the best way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the capital. We hope to see you there for what’s sure to be a great free day out for all the family.

Kielty’s coming to see you Co. Down comedian Patrick Kielty will be this year’s Master of Ceremonies at the St. Patrick’s Day Festival. Over the last decade the Northern Irishman has become a well-known television personality having been a presenter on Fame Academy, Love Island and Sport Relief. He has also been the host of Channel 4’s Stand Up For The Week.

Kielty started on the road to comedy while he was still in school – doing side-splitting impressions of local politicians and sportsmen.

Later, while a student at Queen’s University in Belfast, he became known for his stand-up comedy routines at The Empire pub comedy nights. It’s been said he can wax lyrical about almost anything so looks like this year’s festival will be a laugh a minute. Don’t miss it!

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CelebrateLONDON St. Patrick’ s Day 2011

Taking part in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade…

■ Aughnamullen Pipe Band — Monaghan ■ Ballindaggin Pipe Band — Wexford ■ Cappagh Group ■ Carrickmore Marching Band — Donegal ■ Castlerea Pipe Band — Roscommon ■ Cavan Association ■ Central London Community Healthcare ■ Clare Association ■ Clonbony Ladies GAA ■ Comhaltas ■ Connaught ■ Cork Association ■ Cork City Fire Brigade/Togher Pipe Band ■ County Carlow Association London ■ Crumlin Community Youth BandDublin ■ D (London Irish Rifles) Company, the London Regiment (TA) ■ Dulwich Harps ■ Easi Grass ■ Electric Bike Company ■ Emerald Society/London Firebrigade ■ Essex Caledonian ■ Federation of Irish Socities ■ Fermanagh Assoication ■ Festival Food for All

■ Fr. Murphy’s Ladies Football & Camogie Club ■ Galway Association London ■ Granuaile Hurling Club ■ Green Isle Camoige Club ■ Haringey Irish Centre ■ Holloway Gaels GAA ■ Innishowen Carnival Group — Ireland ■ Irish Community Services ■ J.O’Doherty Haulage.co.uk ■ K + S accordian Band — Meath ■ Kilburn Gaels Hurling Club ■ Kildare Association ■ Kilkenny St. Patrick’s Day Parade ■ Lebara Mobile ■ Leitrim Association ■ Limerick Association ■ London Firebrigade ■ London Irish Centre ■ London Irish Rugby Club ■ London Kerry Association ■ London Tipperary Association ■ London Wexford Association ■ Longford Association London ■ Lord of the Dance 3D ■ Mahogany Carnival Group ■ Majko School Irish Dance ■ Mayo Association ■ McGovern Brothers Haulage Ltd ■ Meath Association

■ Metropoltian Police Service Emerald Society ■ Michael Cusack Hurling & Camogie Club ■ Moss Motors Ltd ■ Munster Rugby Supports Club London ■ North London Shamrocks Youth ■ Offaly Association ■ Parnell Ladies GAA Club ■ Pioneers ■ Quattro Ltd ■ Roscommon Association ■ Ryan Property Services ■ Save the Irish Cultural Centre London ■ Scartaglen ■ Southwark Irish Pensioners Project ■ St. Joseph’s GAA Club, Waltham Cross ■ St. Kiernan’s GFC ■ St. Colmcilles Accordion Band — Antrim ■ St. Mary’s University Ladies GAA ■ The Irish World Newspaper ■ Thomas McDonagh Pipe Band — Tipperary ■ Tir Chonaill Gaels GAA ■ Waterford Association ■ Wicklow Association ■ Wofe Tone Society

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A home from home The Council of Irish County Associations (CICA) London Heritage Project is part of London Metropolitan University’s Archive of the Irish in Britain. The project, run by Dr Nicole McLennan in partnership with CICA, is a collection of documents, images, and artefacts from the last few decades detailing the history of CICA and the Irish in the city. This month the public will get to see some of this precious collection for the first time at the London Irish Centre. Through social, cultural and welfare activities the London County Associations provide a welcome environment to help new arrivals settle in, while maintaining a connection to home. CICA London held its first London St. Patrick’s Day Parade around 1953.

Colourful carnival groups This year’s parade is set to be one of the most vibrant yet with two amazing pageant groups taking part. North London’s Mahogany Carnival was one of the star attractions when the Millennium Dome opened in 2000 and it will be bringing its sparkle and magic to the streets of London for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival.

Having formed in 1989 the group’s inspiration comes from the Trinidad Carnival, one of the world’s most magnificent celebrations. Expect to see large-scale sculptures come to life and colourful masquerade costumes.

Joining Mahogany on the day is the Inishowen Carnival Group from Ireland, who with the help of a Cultural Ireland grant will be taking part in this year’s parade and will, hopefully, be joined by London-based dance groups.

Inishowen, which is also taking part in the Dublin St. Patrick’s Day parade, combine costumes inspired by a mix of Celtic, African and Indian influences.

Prepare for a vibrant array of flags, dancers and gigantic street puppets!

EXHIBITION Home Away From Home: London’s Irish County Associations WHERE: London Irish Centre, Camden, NW1 9XB WHEN: 10am till late. Until March 31 COST: Free entry

CelebrateLONDON St. Patrick’ s Day 2011

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don on parade Exhibitors at Trafalgar Square

PARADE PRIZ ES

This year th in the para e effort and dedica tio d handsome e by creating colourf n of those who take ly rewarde u part l floats and d! Th for best co mmunity e ere will be three sp displays will be n e tries in this cial prizes association given year’s p deem receive a fi ed to be the most o arade. The group or utstanding rst prize of will £300, a £200 and £100 for th second prize of ird place.

The Festival is delighted to welcome its sponsors and exhibitors to Trafalgar Square following the parade on March 13. So why not drop by their stalls and chat to people from the following groups...

■ Lebara Mobile ■ Metropolian Police Service ■ LOCOG — London Olympics ■ The Irish Post

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Music at Trafalgar Square 12.00-12.30 12.45-13.15 13.30-13.55 14.00-14.20 14.30-15.00 15.10-15.40 15.50-16.30 16.45-18.00

XANDER AND THE PEACE PIRATES THE DAVITT SHOWBAND SPEECHES AND PRESENTATIONS THE DELANEY SCHOOL OF IRISH DANCING COMHALTAS AND THE BRENDAN MULKERE ACADEMY LIAM O MAONLAÍ BEOGA DAMIEN DEMPSEY PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS LUMIERE

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CelebrateLONDON St. Patrick’ s Day 2011

Beoga SINCE forming in 2002, Beoga has become one of the most popular ensembles in modern Irish music. Their sound lies firmly within the Irish tradition but they are not afraid to incorporate other genres into their music. From bluesy riffs to Astor Piazzola-style jazz, to a raunchy New Orleans jamboree vibe, they always return to a wonderfully bouncy traditional sound. The release of Beoga’s 2009 album The Incident has seen the group continue to blaze a pioneering trail, rewarding fans with their fresh creative energy.

The band, who are based in Co. Antrim, came together after ‘jamming’ in a ferocious session at the All-Ireland Fleadh. From the beginning Beoga was endowed with massive musical talent, featuring the twin dueling accordians of Damian McKee and multi-instrumentalist Seán Óg Graham, pianist Liam Bradley and four times All-Ireland bodhrán champion Beoga Eamon Murray. In 2005 the line-up was is the Irish complete with the addition of Niamh word for Dunne – one of Ireland’s premier lively! young talents on vocals and fiddle.

In 2007, Beoga performed live with the BBC Orchestra as part of the prestigious Last Night of the Proms.

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CelebrateLONDON St. Patrick’ s Day 2011

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Liam O’Maonlai With a passionate piano player as a father who taught him to sing in his native tongue, Liam Ó Maonlaí discovered a deep sense of musical satisfaction from an early age. “He transmitted a love to me that no book or teacher could; the love was of humanity expressed through culture,” Ó Maonlaí says.

In 1985 he and Fiachna Ó Braonain, alongside Maria Doyle Kennedy, won a music award called Gradam Shlogadh. They had put together a rhythm and blues group with all songs written in Irish. This was the seed beginning of Hothouse Flowers, which went on to be one of Ireland’s most successful rock bands and released seven albums.

But all through the Hothouse Flowers years, Liam remained faithful to his traditional roots. In 2002 he recorded the album Rian with his close friend, renowned producer John Reynolds.

The Irish musician has travelled extensively in Australia, Japan, America, Europe, Scandinavia, Morocco and India and has played and continues to play with the traditional players of these places. “I believe the style known as séan nos, carries a sense of the soul of the land and the people who are awake in that land. I feel, when in the company of other cultures, the singing of this style opens a window into what it is that connects us. Every country has it’s own séan nos,” he says.

The Delaney School of Irish Dance For the last 11 years, The Delaney Academy of Irish Dance has been teaching Londoners young and old the joys of traditional Irish dance.

Set up by Lisa Delaney-Galal in 2000 it has grown from small beginnings and has now expanded to over 150 students across London, Prague and Warsaw. As the Academy has grown, so too has its teaching team in London, which now includes Corinne Delaney and Annette Cuddy.

Founder Lisa Delaney-Galal, a former champion Irish dancer, has choreographed sections of Fire of Dance – a German production that toured Europe and has previously taught workshops in Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Canada.

A qualified Irish dancing instructor and adjudicator registered with An Coimisiun Le Rinci Gaelacha, she said: “Our aim is to enable all dancers to reach their potential in Irish dancing both in team dancing and solos, and to love every minute of it! We want dancers to enjoy coming to classes, going to competitions and giving performances.”

The Academy provides traditional Irish dance classes to young children (aged 4+) and adults, at all levels from beginner to advanced. To date, its dancers have competed at the All Ireland, Great Britain, British Nationals and European Championships, as well as in grade exams and local performances.

Comhaltas and the Mulkere Academy of Music St. Patrick’s Day wouldn’t be complete without a few jigs and reels from a group of traditional Irish musicians. And this year the London festival welcomes a unique collaboration between Comhaltas London and the Mulkere Academy of Music.

Comhaltas has many branches across London, with its competitions and festivals always generating a great buzz and sense of local pride. The Mulkere Academy of Music is run by Co. Clare native Brendan Mulkere, who is also director of the traditional Irish Music Programme at the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith. Past students include some of the most celebrated young musicians, many of who are recording artists and now perform and live in different parts of the world.

This performance is sure to be a highlight of the festival’s entertainment extravaganza.

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CelebrateLONDON St. Patrick’ s Day 2011

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Damien Dempsey Damien Dempsey is the quintessential Irish singer songwriter. Damien’s fanatical audience identify with a singer who has emerged from the workingclass streets of Dublin’s Northside with his powerful self-belief intact, and a storyteller’s eye for detail in the writing and delivery of his songs. His concerts can be almost spiritual occasions – with fans singing along to every word.

Described by The Times as “the Bob Marley of Ireland” and by the Irish Examiner as "one of the most important and evocative singers of all time" his stage presence was nurtured

by the legendary folk singer Christy Moore who, in mentoring a shy young Dempsey, advised him, “if you’re nervous, tell the audience you’re nervous”. And Dempsey himself says: “The audience has always been with me. They feel what I feel.”

Damien has released 5 original studio albums since his debut in 1997 which established him as an exciting new talent and attracted the attention of Sinéad O’Connor and the Hot House Flowers, who took him on tour. But it was with Shots in 2005 that Dempsey delivered his defining album. Backed by

Brian Eno, John Reynolds and Justin Adams, the music achieved a new finesse with songs like Sing All Our Cares Away and Not on Your Own Tonight. He has toured the world, playing his own headline shows and supporting legends such as Bob Dylan, Morrissey, Sinead O’Connor, The Pogues and Willie Nelson, and even U2 at their 2009 Croke Park show in Dublin on the first night of their 360 tour. In 2008 he recorded a set of traditional songs with the Dubliners for his album, The Rocky Road, and 2011 sees Damien writing and recording his sixth studio album.

Lumiere Lumiere is two distinct voices cut from the same geographic cloth. One is Éilís Kennedy, who for over a decade has been one of the most underrated voices in Irish music. Her natural and genuine interpretations of songs, both old and new, sung in her native Gaelic and in English, were previously heard in her multiple collaborations and solo offerings as a recording artist.

The other half of this musical whole is Pauline Scanlon, an award-winning singer from the Kerry town of Dingle. Scanlon has two critically received albums to her credit as well as extensive touring experience all over the globe. Together, they offer a distinctly feminine sound and feel, where voice is the primary instrument and Ireland as motherland is reimagined. Éilís says: “We are extremely passionate about the place we come from. Part of the attraction is that we see that in each other. We hear it in each other’s singing and it takes us to a place that’s beautiful, safe, secure and home, no matter where we are.”

Pauline adds: “We’re singing songs that our families have passed on to us, that we ourselves have picked up along the way. The only other prerequisite is that the songs speak to us emotionally.”

Davitt Showband The Davitt Showband captures the liveliness of the Irish showband era. A family affair, the band’s line-up includes brothers Joe and Tommy, Tommy’s three sons Thomas, Niall and Steven, as well as nephew Derek.

The band formed three years ago inspired by Joe and Tommy’s father Christy, who played trumpet with The Seven Davitt Brothers Showband in the early 1950s. The group has been touring around Ireland and Britain since 2008 and has performed with the likes of Declan Nerney, Mike Denver, Michael English and The Benn Sisters. They play the best of Country and Irish including all the hits from the showbands of old, coupled with some of today’s favourites.

So get ready for some stepping and bopping when they take to the stage in Trafalgar Square at this year’s St. Patrick’s Festival.

CelebrateLONDON St. Patrick’ s Day 2011

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Xander and the Peace Pirates Over the last few months IN-GB (Ireland Network-Great Britain) has been running a Battle of the Bands competition, with the winner getting the unique opportunity to open the London Mayor’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival on the Trafalgar Square stage. From dozens of entries, four bands were selected to battle it out in a live final, which took place recently in Camden. The gig was a fiercely fought competition with some great music, but there could only be one winner. And so, treading in the footsteps of famous Irish musicians such as Luka Bloom and Mary Black who have previously

performed at the festival, is Xander and the Peace Pirates.

Vocalist and bass guitarist John Bird was born in Drogheda, Co. Louth and later moved to Co. Down. Surrounded by the most beautiful landscapes, lakes and mountains, it is that experience which has inspired his music.

In his teenage years he took up the double bass. This set the

musical grounding for what was to come. From double bass he moved on to bass guitar, which led him to play with bands and perform on stage.

In 2005 he visited Liverpool and fell in love with the city and its culture. He ended up studying music there for three years and has remained since to pursue a career as a full-time musician.

In 2009 two brothers, Keith and Stuart Xander, entered the equation and they collaborated to form the band Xander and the Peace Pirates. Drummer Jake Woodward completes the line-up.

The musicians have been together

for a year-and-a-half and have just released their first album called 11.

The band have shared the stage with legends Buddy Guy, Eric Bibb, Sam Brown, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and The James Taylor Quartet and are resident band in Liverpool’s famous Cavern Club.

Lead Guitarist Keith has only one arm and with the use of a hook, he amazes every audience with his authentic, energetic and inspiring performances. Drawing influences from Hendrix, John Mayer, Lenny Kravitz and Prince, the band is an eclectic mix of guitar-led bluesrock with whispers of Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones.

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Planning your day PARADE ROUTE Departs noon Piccadilly – Lower Regent Street – Pall Mall East – Trafalgar Square – Whitehall – Whitehall Place Travelling to Trafalgar Square ■ 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 60835 ■ Identify a place to meet up in case you get separated from friends or family Travel information TUBE: 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

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CelebrateLONDON St. Patrick’ s Day 2011

Tick the Irish box!

What do Irish celebs Richard Corrigan, Terry Christian and Enda Brady have in common?

They will all be ‘Ticking the Irish Box’ on Census day, March 27 and are urging you to do the same if you are a first, second or third-generation Irish person living in Britain.

The Irish in Britain Census campaign — brought to you by the Federation of Irish Societies — is being run for and by the Irish community to encourage Irish people and people of Irish descent to register their Irishness in the upcoming national survey.

When the last Census took place 10 years ago, a substantial number of people of Irish descent, despite having one or two Irish parents, thought the Irish ethnicity tick box didn’t apply to them because of having been born here.

“We are doing our best to make sure everyone of Irish descent can choose to be included,” a FIS representative said.

One hundred Census Champions, ranging from sports and screen stars to politicians, academics and community leaders, are backing the FIS Census Campaign 2011. These well-known faces are just some of the many who have already pledged their support publicly to the project.

To view their video pledges online, join the campaign or find further information about it visit www.howirishareyou.com

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CelebrateLONDON St. Patrick’ s Day 2011

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Green-Graph Photography Competition

that shows a snapshot of Do you have a great photo r make sure you submit you the Irish worldwide? Then hy 2011 photograp photo to The Green-Graph part of this year’s St. is t tes con The n. competitio ting Irish culture across bra Patrick’s Day Festival, cele by the London Irish the world and is supported rapher will receive a cash Centre. The winning photog ore March 13 will be in bef t sen prize of £500. Entries yed on a big screen, in with a chance to be displa the St. Patrick’s Day front of 100,000 people, at are London.

Squ ar celebrations in Trafalg night on March 17. mid is ries ent for e The deadlin ail and contest rules em by Photos must be submitted Graph website can be found on The Greenwww.green-graph.com. photos@green-graph.com Simply email your photo to tion and contact details. with a clear caption, descrip Green-Graph comes from the Irish word for photograph - griangraf.

Schools Competition Over the last few months organisers of the St some interesting stories. But those with no Irish Patrick’s Day Festival, in association with Bord heritage have also been encouraged to take Bia and Tourism Ireland, have been askin g part by researching on the internet or schools and students to send in projects on the contacting Irish organisations in London and theme of Tell Us Your Irish Story. Participant s Ireland to find material for their Irish storie have been invited to send in an interestin s. g This is the second year that this competitio Irish story that expresses aspects of Irelan n d and has been run.

Irishness. Entries (closing date March 4) have The Prizes! been accepted in a variety of formats inclu ding School entries: First prize £5,000 , Seco books, short films, plays, poems and song nd s. prize £3,000, Third prize £1,000 And thousands of pounds worth of prize s are Individual student entries: First prize now up for grabs, with the winners being Ireland holiday vouchers worth £2,000, presented with their prizes on festival day.

As Second prize Ireland holiday vouchers worth one in four Londoners has an Irish £1,500 , Third prize Ireland holiday vouc grandparent, students are being encourag hers ed to worth £1,000 chat to their fellow students, teachers and ■ Prizes will be presented on March 13 at school community members to the London St. Patrick’s Day find people with Irish Festival on the main stage at connections who may have Trafalgar Square at 1.30pm.

Lewisham Irish Community Centre Thursday 17 March 8 pm: St Patrick’s Family Céilí Night A great family Céilí with caller: Margaret Morrin Recorded music. Tickets: £5, £3 Sat 19 March 8pm & Sun 20 March 2pm and 8pm Roy, A Footballer’s Story A play by Alec McAllister performed by Myles Horgan.

Man or myth, love him or hate him but who is Roy Keane? Admission: £8 £6 concessions Second Sunday of every month 2-5pm Traditional Music Session – musicians welcome Mondays 8pm Set dancing class

The Shanakee

9-10 Central Buildings, The Bro a d w a y, Ealing W5 2NT Phone: 020 8567 4737 2 5 3 E d g w a re R o a d , C o l i n d a l e N W 9 Phone: 020 8200 8066 91 High Stre e t , Wealdstone, Middlesex HA3 5DL Phone: 020 8427 5210 Live music and sport e v e ry 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

Milton Keynes Irish Centre invites you to our celebration and parade

2pm from Irish Centre Manor Fields MK2 2HX SATURDAY 12th MARCH 2011

ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE Follow the band to the Bandstand at Queensway Bletchley ENTERTAINMENT AT BANDSTAND: 2.00pm from SHANNONDORE and at THE IRISH CENTRE 4.00pm to late featuring: OUT OF THE HAT, CALUM McMANUS & SHANNONDORE Céad Míle Fáilte!

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PHONE (01908) 375978

Ganley’s Irish Bar For the real Irish celebration join us this

St. Patrick’s Day MUSIC LINE UP: Afternoon - MARY ROSE Evening - COPPERHEAD ROAD ENTERTAINMENT INCLUDES: Irish Dancing in a River Dance Performance, pipers and live entertainment from Shamrocks and Shenanigans Freshly prepared Irish food served all day.

BOOKINGS BEING TAKEN. 43-47 London Road, Morden, Surrey Tel: 020 8685 0481 www.ganleysirishbar.co.uk

CelebrateLONDON St. Patrick’ s Day 2011

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On the health bus THE Federation of Irish Societies’ Health Bus will once again be on site in Trafalgar Square during the London St. Patrick’s Day Festival. Qualified NHS nurses will be on hand to check blood pressure and cholesterol and answer any specific questions people have. There will also be information available about Irish groups in the city. Health is a key area of work for the Federation of Irish

Societies (FIS), who believe that the Irish community has particular health needs that need to be addressed in a culturally sensitive way. As a result it works to ensure that the Department of Health, the NHS and other organisations cater for the Irish community across a broad health spectrum. So if you fancy a health check-up drop by on March 13!

To contact FIS telephone 020 7833 1226 or for more see www.irishsocieties.org

Speak Irish! Labhair Gaeilge!

GET the full Irish experience by learning a few words of Ireland’s native language.

Whether you’re an interested beginner, a rusty school-speaker, or even a native Gaelgóir, come and chat with our friendly Irish language team on Trafalgar Square. They will be roamng around the Square handing out Irish language postcards — so come over and say “Dia Dhuit!”.

The Irish language crew will also be able to give you information on ways to learn the language online, in classes or at one of London’s many Irish social gatherings.

The Irish speakers are all teachers and students from the London Irish Centre, home of over 100 Irish language students and Britain’s only exam centre for the European Qualification in Irish.

Speaking Irish is fun!

A few useful phrases Irish Dia dhuit Conas atá tú?

Go hiontach!

Cad is ainm duit?

Mise…

Cad as duit?

Rugadh mé i Londain Togadh mé i Londain Sláinte Céad míle fáilte Lá Fhéile Pádraig Slán Go raibh maith agat!

Pronunciation Dee aguit Konas atar too?

Go hintuk!

Kod iss anum dit?

Misha Kod as dit?

Rooga may i London Toga May i London Slawn cha Cade meela foyle-ta Law ae-leh paw-rig Slawn Guh rev mah a gut!

English Hello How are you?

Marvellous!

What’s your name?

I’m called…

Where are you from?

I was born in London I was raised in London Cheers A hundred thousand welcomes to you!

St. Patrick’s Day Goodbye Thank you!

The Aviva Arena Giant inflatable fun & games

Big Stage Entertainment DJ Minty, competitions, music & more

St Patrick’s Party 2011 vs Exeter Chiefs Saturday 26th March

Live Music The BibleCode Sundays, The Reels, Paul Bowen Band & FANFAIR

The famous London Irish St Patrick’s Party welcomes everyone for a day of great rugby and family entertainment.

Family Fun EA sports hub, fancy dress, karaoke, Land Rover display

Family ticket from £40* Entertainment from 12pm Kick-off 3pm

Kid’s Games Join Digger for face painting & balloon modelling

Call our Ticket Hotline on 0844 249 1871 or visit www.london-irish.com for more information London Irish St Patrick’s Party brought to you by *Adult tickets from £20 – and kids go free in our family zone! Each paying adult can bring an U16 for free within the Family Zone areas of stadium. Additional U16 from £7.

CelebrateLONDON St. Patrick’ s Day 2011

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Embracing your Irish roots I

T is true to say that it has never been easier for anyone to research their family history in Ireland. The simplest way to start is consult the internet. Enter your name into a search engine, and see where the greatest concentration of your clan is in Ireland. Hop into the car when you get Ireland and head for the land of your fathers (or mothers). Your third, fourth and fifth cousins will be delighted to help you.

Of course you may want to be a little more organised in your

search. Ireland’s public records are increasingly being made available on the web.

Researching your family tree is a journey of discovery not only of your ancestor’s roots, but a window into the very history of the country. Who knows what Princess you might find – emigrants have Grace. left Ireland and their descendants have become US presidents, film stars, business magnates – oh, and the odd outlaw. From President Andrew Jackson to bushranger Ned Kelly

take a closer look inside…

Search for your Irish roots online before your visit using a database of the largest collection of parish records and other sources on the island of Ireland. Or commission one of our county genealogy centres to research your Irish family history.

www.rootsireland.ie

– and not forgetting Princess Grace of Monaco – every corner of Ireland has given the world someone o think about.

Of course you may turn up parts of the family tree which might not be quite so auspicious – but either way, you’ll be chasing your tale...

Throughout the world millions of people have Irish links, or Irish roots. The Irish Diaspora is a manysplendoured gem, with influences running from the ancient Celts to camp-followers of both King James and Oliver Cromwell. Trace

y y C C a M b c G s m m e A Z

CelebrateLONDON St. Patrick’ s Day 2011

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f e

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your family roots, and who knows, you could be descended from a Celt, a Dane, a Norman, a Scot, a Cromwellian, a United Irishman or a rebel from any century.

Mass emigration from Ireland began in the middle of the 18th century, just after the Famine, the Great Hunger. Over a period of some 50 years some quarter of a million people left Ireland. The main destination for these emigrants was Britain, North America, Australia and New Zealand. Emigration has continued

every decade since then, so that today the Irish Diaspora has tentacles stretching all over the world. In Argentina there are half a million people of Irish descent; in North America, many times that number. The island of Montserrat is often called ‘the other Emerald Isle’ on account of so many descendants of Irish people, whilst Australia probably has the highest percentage of Irish descendants per head of population.

Families and whole communities packed their belongings in search of a new life throughout the world – joining the Old World’s unhappy campers in searching out a new life. Many visitors tracing their Irish heritage discover that their ancestors were part of this Great Famine exodus.

The Famine Museum in Strokestown Park House, Co. Roscommon takes visitors on a fascinating journey back in time to what was a traumatic period in the history of the island. For another perspective, the life on board an emigrant ship can be experienced at the Dunbrody Famine Ship exhibit in New Ross, Co. Wexford. The Dunbrody is a reconstruction of an emigrant ship that carried the Irish to all corners of the world and a visit below decks vividly portrays the cramped conditions of the desperate sea voyage. Visitors to the ship can also access a database of emigrants compiled from ships’ passenger lists free of charge.

The database contains three million records of Irish passengers who disembarked at New York, Boston, Philadelphia, New Orleans and Baltimore.

Numerous Genealogy Centres and services around the country can help with your family research. The Ulster American Folk Park near Omagh in Co. Tyrone graphically brings the story to life.

The Ulster American Folk Park tells the story of emigration to the New World. There can be few families in Ireland who don’t have near relatives in America.

The Ulster Park is centred round the restored farmhouse of Thomas Mellon who left Tyrone in 1818 and eventually founded the Mellon

Andrew Jackson

Bank of Pittsburgh. The whole museum is a dramatic recreation of the life these emigrants made when they reached America, and the life they left behind.

At the National Archives on Bishop’s Street, Dublin, those wishing to see if they are related to a banking tycoon or bank robber can check the census returns from the start of the 20th century, or the surveys undertaken in the 1840s to the 1860s (called Griffith’s Valuation). The genealogy office at the National Library also offers expert advice and guests who stay at The Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin can avail of an onsite genealogist who can assist guests to draw up practical research plans.

Records are available in the local authorities of many Irish towns and cities across the island.

Cobh Heritage Centre in Co. Cork has a record finder specifically designed for those with little knowledge of genealogy. In Belfast, the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) houses the official archive for Northern Ireland with records of historical, social, and cultural importance.

Many ways of tracing your family roots in Ireland are available – from surfing the internet to mooching about old graveyards in areas where you think your antecedents may have come from. Even if you can’t definitively pin down exactly how, when or why your forebears packed up and began moving along, you’ll still get a fascinating insight into the history and culture of Ireland.

CelebrateLONDON St. Patrick’ s Day 2011

STOUT ’N’ ABOUT Every week our reporter is on the lookout for the best pint of porter in Britain. Don’t miss his verdict, only in The Irish Post In a break from his regular column in The Irish Post, Stout ‘n’ About takes a look back at some memorable experiences on the road to pint perfection – using the column’s unique scale of appraisal.

Stout of this world 1998 and Stout was in Cheltenham – a novice punter and erm...drinker. The taste of Guinness was a new experience with a milk moustache now legally swapped for a porter equivalent. The young Stout embraced the racing and followed the lead of thousands by placing a bet on the great Istabraq. Money down, it was up to Stout – decked out in his father’s suit – to get the round in and watch Charlie Swan ride to victory. There have been good and bad Guinness days since but the drink to toast to success has remained unchanged ever since...

Stoutstanding Stout’s visit to the Guinness Brewery in Dublin was borderline spiritual. From stumbling through a maze of alleyways en route to St. James’s Gate and racing through the tour in order to get to the viewing deck for a free pint. It was some view up there too...the creamy head, the two-point pour – perfectly executed and the dome over the top. Heaven in a pint glass.

Stout of the ordinary Stout’s love of sport means many of the best memories are connected with some of Ireland’s greatest rugby days on the field of play. Victory over England in Twickenham in 2010 was one such occasion. Stout can still visualise Tommy Bowe’s winning try. Perched high in the West Stand, the break by Tomas O’Leary and perfectly timed pass to Bowe remains a thing of beauty.

The after party wasn’t bad either, played out in the Up ‘n’ Under pub down the road from the stadium. Boy was the Guinness good, but nothing could have soured it that day.

Nothing to Stout about It’s tough for Stout to remember the bad days – there haven’t been many. But it hasn’t so much been a case of bad Guinness, rather shocking delivery. A pouring process that incorporates any of the following all fall under the above banner – a straight or rushed pour, Guinness in a lager glass, no dome after the second pour and bubbles in the head. On occasion Stout has experienced all in the one serving, but that bar will remain nameless for now!

Down and Stout Melbourne 1999 might never be beaten. Stout was in PJ O’Brien’s in the Southbank area of the city enjoying a pint, when two virginal Guinness drinkers arrived at the bar and ordered pints of the black stuff. A silent Stout watched with interest for the reaction to the taste – a grimace at first and then a request for a spoon and a bowl of sugar. Stout was stunned. Guinness stirred like a cup of tea...and with an artifical sweetener! He could remain silent no longer.

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London watering-holes The Harp 47 Chandos Place Covent Garden London WC2N 4HS 020 7836 0291 You’ll find real ales and cider on offer here – there are eight pumps on the bar and a cellar stocked with a great selection of beers.

Choose from the buzzing downstairs bar or seek out the calmer upstairs room.

The Porterhouse 21-22 Maiden Lane London WC2 E7NA 020 7379 7917 Set in the heart of Covent Garden, The Porterhouse offers a range of exclusive beers, many of them international award winners. The venue has a number of bars on three levels. Food is served daily and live bands play every week.

101 Bar 101 New Oxford Street London WC1A 1DB 020 7379 3112 Power Entertainment’s 101 Bar is open seven nights a week with a great range of drinks, bar snacks and live music.

The Porcupine 48 Charing Cross Road London WC2H 0BS 020 7379 9855 More than 250 years old, this bar is situated just off Leicester Square. Serves real ale and there are tables outside if the weather holds up.

The Tipperary 66 Fleet Street London EC4Y 1HT 020 7583 6470 The Tipperary Bar lays claim to being London’s oldest Irish bar. A traditional pub, it’s a lovely spot to enjoy some good food in a laidback atmosphere.

Waxy’s Little Sister 20 Wardour Street London W1D 6QG 020 7287 8987 Waxy’s Little Sister offers comfortable sofas and a relaxing vibe – perfect to meet friends, grab a quick drink or settle in for the evening.

Waxy O’Connor’s 14-16 Rupert Street Leicester Square London W1D 6DD 020 7287 0255 Waxy’s offers five bars and a great atmosphere on St. Patrick’s Festival day. Food is served daily. On St. Patrick’s Day itself look out for drink promotions and a special Irish menu. There are Irish music sessions and GAA games on the day.

Ye Olde Cheddar Cheese 145 Fleet Street London EC4A 2BU 020 7353 6170 Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is one of the few pubs in London that can justify the ‘Ye Olde’ in its name. It was well known in the 17th century and many pubs have previously occupied this site. The pub was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666 and rebuilt the following year.

The Lamb and Flag 33 Rose Street Covent Garden London WC2E 9EB 020 7497 9504 This bar was first licensed in 1623 making it Covent Garden’s oldest. It has a traditional old-fashioned pub feel and their speciality is a large range of whiskies.

The Toucan 19 Carlisle Street Off Soho Square London W1V 5RJ 020 7437 4123 This small Irish bar is always overflowing. They serve Magners on tap and a range of Guinness cocktails.

Check out the spectacular collection of Irish whiskeys.

The Argyll Arms 18 Argyll Street London W1F 7TP 020 7734 6117 This pub’s central location just off Oxford Street means it is conveniently situated for a pint on St. Patrick’s Day. Shakespeare’s Head 29 Great Marlborough Street London W1F 7HZ 0871 258 9604 Conveniently located, The Shakespeare’s Head overlooks Carnaby Street which was once a site of an 18th century street market and is now one of the world’s most famous shopping precincts.

O’Neill’s 14 New Row Covent Garden London WC2N 4LF 020 3077 1129 Drop into O’Neill’s for a pint and a bite to eat. The Irish pub chain offers live music and tasty food in a laidback and friendly setting.

Draught Irish favourites on offer include Smithwick’s, Magners and Caffrey’s.

The French House 49 Dean Street London W1D 5BG 020 7437 2477 This pub refuses to serve beer in pint glasses and is famous for its eclectic, Bohemian clientele.

There’s no music, games machines or televisions but it boasts a fantastic selection of wines.

Great cocktails too – try the French House Bloody Mary.

CelebrateLONDON St. Patrick’ s Day 2011

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Festival listings… events across London WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 London Writers’ Festival Opening

Opening of the London Irish Writers’ Festival, 7pm for 7.30pm. Premiere of The Fifth Province performed by Donal Cox, who will be accompanied by harper, Harriet Earlis. Venue: The Gore Hotel, 190 Queensgate. Tickets: £25 (includes glass of champagne and canapés).

MARCH 2-5 Keith Farnan

Sex Traffic: Comedy Versus Sexism at The Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, London W1D 3NE. Time: 9pm. Tickets £13/£11. Box Office 020 7478 0100 www.sohotheatre.com. Sex Traffic is the third in a series of thought-provoking and poignant shows from up-and-coming critically acclaimed comic Keith Farnan. His previous shows Cruel and Unusual (about the Death Penalty) and No Blacks, No Jews, No Dogs, No Irish, All Welcome (about racism and fascism) both enjoyed sell-out West End and Edinburgh runs. In Sex Traffic, Keith looks at whether we value women or if we simply put a price on them.

THURSDAY, MARCH 3 Chris Agee poetry reading

An evening of poetry reading and culture from 7pm with one of the North of Ireland’s leading poets, Chris Agee. Chris will introduce Ireland’s premier literary journal The Irish Pages, which combines a large general readership with outstanding writing from Ireland and overseas. Chris will also read from The New North — a landmark anthology of contemporary poetry from the North of Ireland. Venue: London Irish Centre, Camden Square. Free Entry.

Limited spaces, so please book in advance by emailing Artistic Director Gary Dunne on arts@londonirishcentre.org

I r i s h C o m mu n i t y S e r v i c e s I n G re e n w i c h , B e x l ey a n d L ew i s h a m

Wish everyone a Happy St. Patrick’s Day We provide support and assistance for all of the Irish Community and have done so for over 25 years. Our projects include: ❒ Irish Lunch Clubs ❒ Volunteering Project ❒ General Welfare Advice Work ❒ Pensions and Disabilities ❒ Debt and Housing Advice ❒ Carers Support ❒ Elders Outreach

Fo r f u l l i n fo r m a t i o n p l e a s e r i n g o u r o f f i c e o n

Tel: 020 8854 4466

Offaly Association (London) (Affiliated to Council Of Irish County Associations (London))

Web: www.offalyassociation1962.co.uk Email: peteroffaly@googlemail.com Tel: Peter Hynes 020 8202 2225 Denis Connolly 020 8200 3039

A Big Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 50 years

Celebrating

on 4th February 2012

Check out comedian Keith Farnan’s show, Sex Traffic: Comedy Versus Sexism.

CelebrateLONDON St. P

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Festival listings… eve FRIDAY, MARCH 4 Joseph O’Connor Reading A reading by Joseph O’Connor at 7pm from his book Ghost Light, followed by an audience Q&A. After an intermission there will be a panel discussion at 8.15pm entitled Ireland Post The General Election: Where Do We Go From Here? The panel will be made up of Fintan O’Toole, Michael D Higgins and Diarmuid Ferriter and will be chaired by Professor Mary Hickman. Venue: Main Hall, Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith.

Tickets: £12/£10.

Book Fair sale of old and new books takes place in the main hall at the Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith.

SATURDAY, MARCH 5 Fintan O’Toole, Dermot Healy, Music and Song From 1.30pm, Fintan O’Toole will read from his book Enough is Enough: How to Build a New Republic. Venue: Room 11, Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith.

Free entry. At 3.30pm Dermot Healy will preview his new book, Long Time No See, due for publication in April. Venue: Room 11, Irish Cultural Centre. Free entry. From 7.30pm you can enjoy an evening of songs

SATURDAY, MARCH 5 Irish Book Fair From 10am to 4pm the Annual Irish

Danny Sullivan & Sons Ltd BUILDING & CIVIL

ENGINEERING

The Danny Sullivan Group is a dynamic building and civil engineering company providing skilled labour to both the public and private sector of the construction industry.

The management team are dedicated to providing our clients with a safe, skilled and professional workforce underpinned with quality workmanship. Our employees are trained with the skills to comply with both client and legislative requirements.

As a company we are fully committed to the Major Contractors Group (MCG) strategy and hold Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) cards as well as National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs).

Our skilled quality workforce can help your business achieve economic and quality targets.

TEAM WORK Together We Achieve The Extraordinary

www.dannysullivan.co.uk 22 Barretts Green Road, London NW10 7AE Tel: 0208 961 1900 / Fax: 0208 961 1965

www.dannysullivan.co.uk

Happy St.Patrick’s Day from Danny Sullivan and Staff

and music with legendary folk singer, storyteller and poet ean Tyrell and gifted fiddle player Tommy Peoples. Venue: Main Hall, Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith. Tickets: £15/£12

Irish literature fans can enjoy readings by Joseph O’Connor (left) and Fintan O’Toole (above).

Helen Kelly Genealogy Are you searching for your ancestors in Ireland? and Considering a visit to your ancestral homeland?

We at Helen Kelly Genealogy can help you in your quest!

Why not email helen@helenkelly.com today and ask for an estimate of the cost of possible research?

As a professional genealogist, Helen carries out all-Ireland family history research on behalf of clients and also lectures frequently on the subject in Ireland, ENGLAND, North and South America For further information on her genealogical services visit her at www.helenkelly.com The end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time TS Elliot

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day from everyone at Malbay Waste

t. Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day

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DON 2011

events across London SATURDAY, MARCH 12 London St. Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Festival Ball Virtuoso violinist Patricia Treacy will perform at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s St Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Festival Ball in London, which takes place at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane on Saturday, March 12. The Grosvenor House Hotel Ballroom has a capacity of 400 and demand for tickets is already strong. Entertainment on the night will also feature dancing from the CĂŠim Ă&#x201C;ir Irish Dancers, followed by Barry Owen and the Main Attraction. Tables of 10 are selling at ÂŁ1,500 or ÂŁ150 per ticket. For further details contact Theresa Harrington on 01895 671886 or email theresa.harrington@vgcgroup.co.uk SUNDAY, MARCH 13 Mass and St. Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Breakfast Parade Mass at 9am followed by traditional Irish breakfast at the London Irish Centre, Camden. ÂŁ7, must be booked in advance.

SUNDAY MARCH 13 Supper Dance Bacon and Cabbage supper dance with music by Brendan Shine and his band at the London Irish Centre, Camden, from 8pm. Cost is ÂŁ15. Also at 8pm enjoy St. Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vĂŠilĂ­ dancing with Anton Coyle and ive music by Tony Kearney. Cost is ÂŁ4.

TUESDAY, MARCH 15 Set Dancing St. Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s set dancing from 7.30pm with music by Tony Kearney and calling by Geoff Holland at the London Irish Centre, Camden. ÂŁ6/ÂŁ5.

Patricia Treacy will perform at the St. Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Festival Ball.

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CelebrateLONDON St. Patrick’ s Day 2011

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Festival listings… events across London MARCH 15-17 Theatre Night

London Irish Theatre presents I’ll Tell Me Ma – The Life Story of Liam Clancy, at the London Irish Centre, Camden. £10.

SUNDAY, MARCH 13 AND THURSDAY MARCH 17 Where The String Broke (Irish Camden Town walking tour)

The late, great Liam Clancy’s life story is brought to the stage

From 10.30am to noon.

Start: Camden Town Tube Station (Kentish Town Road exit) Finish: Chalk Farm Tube Station. Duration: One-and-a-half hours.

Explore the Capital of Irish London and the 200 years of the Irish in this part of

the city. A walk taking in landmarks like Arlington House and Dingwalls dancehall tells the story of a vibrant Irish community and how they have left their mark on this most diverse area of the metropolis.

SUNDAY, MARCH 13 AND THURSDAY MARCH 17 Emerald City Walking Tour

From 2.30pm to 4.30pm. Start: Steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Finish Royal Opera House Covent Garden. Duration: Two hours. Led by a London Blue Badge Tourist Guide, this is an exploration into the heart of Irish London. The walk takes you along Fleet Street into the Temple and finishes in Covent Garden. This is an amazing journey to learn about the great names of Ireland and their lives in London including Shaw, Wilde, Parnell, Yeats, Collins, Wolfe Tone and many more. Explore Irish history where it happened – on the streets of London. Book in advance by email: tonymcdonnellbbg@hotmail.com.

Take a walking tour to discover the history of Irish greats in London including Parnell, Collins, Shaw, Wolfe Tone, Yeats and Wilde.

Cahir House, 57/58 High Street, Killarney, Co. Kerry

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Aghadoe. Ideal Family home 2500 sq ft. Four Beds en-suite in best location in Munster

Lissivigeen. 4 beds – 3 en-suite on 3.32 Acres. Off Cork Road c1.5 miles killarney town

Aghadoe. Eceptional 6 Beds en-suite with Panoramic view of Killarney Lakes and Golf Club.

Excellent condition 489 sq mtrs

Gap of Dunloe. Well-maintained 4 bed family home in the sought after Gap of Dunloe

Coolcorcoran. Superb 5 Bed Detached c 400 sq mtrs. Located 1.5 miles Killarney town

Renard, Caherciveen. Exceptional 4 bed overlooking the Atlantic and Valentia Island

Cahirbarnagh. 3 beds on 1.2 acres located between Millstreet and Rathmore. Large range of outoffices

Seersha, Faha. Located in a quaint rural setting near village of Faha. Four bed c1,800 sq. ft

At Murphy we like to think our civil engineering expertise is helping to make lives better. From rail infrastructure to street management, our projects include work on bridges, roads, railway structures, utilities and much more. We’re also environmentally aware, and make it our business to minimise the effect our work has on the community.

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London –– Cannock –– Dinnington –– Golborne –– Paisley –– Dublin Hiview House, Highgate Road, London NW5 1TN. Tel: 020 7267 4366 Fax: 020 7482 3107 Email: info@murphygroup.co.uk Website: www.murphygroup.co.uk

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Festival listings… eve THURSDAY, MARCH 17 St. Patrick’s Singles Party A St. Patrick’s singles night takes place on March 17 from 7pm until 11pm at Canal 125, 125 Caledonian Road, London N1 9RG. Contact 020 7837 1924 for further details.

THURSDAY, MARCH 17 Book Signing Belfast: Walls & Barriers – Symbols of Separation, book signing by Louise Jefferson at The Gallery, Willesden Green, 95 High Road, London NW10 2SF. 46pm, free entrance.

THURSDAY, MARCH 17 Le Chéile and Beoga Le Chéile was formed from musicians who played regularly in The White Hart, Fulham Broadway in the early 1970s. The 1960s and ’70s were golden years for traditional Irish music in London when musicians

played before packed audiences and sparked the revival which went on to spread back home and around the globe. Beoga meanwhile have become one of the most popular and influential ensembles in modern Irish music.

The bedrock of their sound lies firmly within the Irish tradition.

From 7pm at the Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith. Tickets £18 (full) £15 (concession).

THURSDAY, MARCH 17 St. Patrick’s Mass 11am Mass and blessing of the shamrock, followed by lunch and dancing to live music from Mustang at the London Irish Centre in Camden, £10. Also bacon and cabbage dance with top showband, £10.

Catch Beoga at the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith.

Lombardyy Retail

Barking g Town Centre Admiraltyy Residential

Ardmore

would d like e to wish h everyone e a Happy

www.ArdmoreGroup.co.uk

Stt Patricks Day

Byrne e House,, Jeffreyss Road,, Brimsdown,, Enfield d EN3 3 7UB Tel:: 020 0 8344 4 0300 0 Email:: Info@ArdmoreGroup.co.uk

JCoSS S Education

Corinthia a Hotel

Olympic c Villlage

t. Patrick’s Day

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DON 2011

events across London SUNDAY, MARCH 20 His & Hers plus Q&A with director Ken Wardrop Using his mother’s life as inspiration, Irish director Ken Wardrop has created a film that explores life’s shared journeys. His & Hers is an investigation into the ordinary to discover the extraordinary. It finds comedy in the mundane, tragedy in the profound and provides an original insight into a life. The hallways, living rooms and kitchens of the Irish Midlands are used as the canvas for the film’s rich tapestry of female characters. The story unfolds sequentially through young to old with a charmingly unabashed array of Irish ladies, and there’s not a man in sight. From 5.30pm at the Tricycle Cinema, 269 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 7JR. Tickets: £11/£10. Box Office: 020 7328 1000, www.tricycle.co.uk TUESDAY, MARCH 29 Film Club All welcome at the London Irish Film Club from 7.30pm for the best of Irish film at the Irish Centre in Camden. Advance booking is advised on 020 7916 2222 or www.londonirishcentre.org Don’t miss Ken Wardrop’s play His & Hers at Kilburn’s Tricycle Theatre.

Keeping in touch Contact information you might find useful IRISH SOCIETIES/ASSOCIATIONS ■ Federation of Irish Societies 95 White Lion Street London N1 9PF 020 7833 1226 ■ Council of Irish County Associations c/o 138 Ashgrove Palmers Green London N13 5AP EMBASSY AND PASSPORTS ■ Irish Embassy 17 Grosvenor Place London, SW1X 7HR 020 7235 2171 ■ Irish Visa Section Montpelier House 106 Brompton Road London SW3 1JJ 020 7225 7700 BUSINESS ■ Irish International Business Network 2nd Floor, 3 Minster Court, Mincing Lane, London EC3R 7DD 020 7398 5113

IRISH CENTRES ■ Irish Cultural Centre Hammersmith 5 Black’s Road, Hammersmith London W6 9DT 020 8563 8232 ■ The London Irish Centre 50-52 Camden Square London NW1 9XB 020 7916 2222 OLDER IRISH GROUPS ■ Aisling Return to Ireland Project 93b Agar Grove London NW1 9UL Tel: 020 7485 7030 www.aisling.org.uk ■ Camden Elderly Irish Network London Irish Centre 50-52 Camden Square London NW1 9XB 020 7916 2222 ■ Haringey Irish Association 120 Gladstone Avenue Wood Green London N22 6LH 020 8889 6579

ADVICE AND SUPPORT ■ Brent Irish Advisory Service Willesden Library Centre 95 High Road London NW10 2SF 020 8459 6655 www.biasbrent.co.uk ■ Irish Chaplaincy in Britain London Irish Centre 50-52 Camden Square London NW1 9XB 020 7482 5528 www.irishchaplaincy.org.uk ■ Irish Youth Foundation 3 Blacks Road Hammersmith London W6 9DT 020 8748 9640 ■ London Irish Women’s Centre 59 Stoke Newington Church Street London N16 0AR Tel: 020 7249 7318 ■ Safe Start Foundation Safe Start Foyer 1 Handley Grove

Cricklewood London NW2 1TD 020 8452 9990 SPORT ■ GAA London County Board West End Road South Ruislip Middlesex HA4 6QX 020 8842 2622 www.londongaa.co.uk MUSIC ■ Comhaltas The London Irish Centre 50 - 52 Camden Square Camden London NW1 9XB www.comhaltas.ie

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CelebrateLONDON St. Patrick’ s Day 2011

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Food for thought — dining out in London Boyd’s Restaurant & Bar 8 Northumberland Avenue London WC2N 5BY 020 7808 3344 To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Boyd’s Restaurant & Bar will be serving a modern version of a menu dating back to the same day more than 100 years ago. The document, which was found along with a pair of spectacles hidden within a column at 8 Northumberland, dates back to 1897 when the restaurant formed part of a 500room ‘grand dame hotel’. Discovered during the refurbishment of the venue in 2009, the menu will be served in the magnificent marble setting off Trafalgar Square where the St. Patrick’s Day Festival takes place on March 13. Diners can sample the historic menu throughout the day from 7am until 10pm, along with Black Velvets, a traditional Irish drink of Guinness and Champagne.

Gallery 407-411 Hendon Way London NW4 3LH 020 8202 4000 Gallery is the brainchild of owner Timothy Kelly, chairman of Kelly Leisure Ltd. After an ambitious rebuilding project that took 18 months and cost £4million, Gallery opened to an enthusiastic local welcome early in November 2005. Gallery is a unique location in North London where great food, fine wine, music, entertainment and a stunning art collection come together under the same roof, making it a venue of style and character.

Clifton’s Restaurant 96 Clifton Hill London NW8 0JT 020 7372 3427 Located in a suitably elegant tree-lined back street, Clifton’s is a charming establishment, combining two wood-panelled rooms plus a couple of nooks with real fires as well as a conservatory-like area and, for good measure, a few seats outside. The welcome is warm, a good selection of beers and board games are available at the bar. Great food is also on offer.

King Sitric The Crown Moran Hotel 142-152 Cricklewood Broadway London NW2 3ED 020 8452 4175 Once seated, you will be presented with their signature house-baked bread and olives to graze on whilst deciding which of the two menus to order from — grills and seasonal specialties or fixed price. Enjoy great steaks (28-day, dry-aged from West Cork), chicken and fish from the charcoal grill — all simply served, unfussy seasonal dishes and house specialties.

Waxy O’Connor’s Dargle Restaurant 14-16 Rupert Street London W1D 6DD 020 7478 0767 Diners will have no trouble building-up an appetite for the Dargle Restaurant — just wandering around the 9,000 square foot that is Waxy O’Connor’s before sitting down to eat. In the evenings, this candlelit restaurant can seat 45 people where quality dishes such as Rossmore oysters or Irish stew can be sampled. Priding itself on serving excellent food at reasonable prices, Dargle Restaurant sources as many ingredients as is practically possible from Ireland.

Lydon’s 67 High Street Wimbledon London SW19 5EE 020 8947 8278 Since opening in 2000 by Peter and Margaret Lydon, the restaurant has established itself as one of the finest in Wimbledon. Its reputation has been built on serving the finest European cuisine, with something to suit all tastes and budgets. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, decorated in a classic style using refined colours, creating a warm, traditional ambience. The selection at Lydon’s is certain to have plenty to tempt every appetite, with the comprehensive a la carte menu offering superior quality cuts of meat along with favourites like steak Diane and rack of lamb.

Sweet tooth?

Irish fudge will satisfy your craving.

The Pigalle 215 Piccadilly London W1J 9HN 0845 345 6053 Owned by Waterford’s own Vince Power this 1940sstyle supper club is based in what used to be an old cinema in the heart of London’s Piccadilly. Diners at The Pigalle’s mezzanine restaurant overlooking the stage will be able to choose from a set menu of modern European classics.

It classes the likes of Orlando Bloom, Kylie Minogue and Christian Slater amongst its clientele.

There are plenty of places to grab a tasty brunch.

Mulligan’s 13-14 Cork Street London W1S 3NS 020 7409 1370 Bringing the flavour of Ireland to the West End of London, Mulligan’s of Mayfair is the perfect place to enjoy a pint of the black stuff with a selection of traditional and modern dishes created from the freshest ingredients of Irish origin; Irish oysters are a popular dish from Mulligan’s Oyster Bar. A truly traditional Irish Bar, Mulligan’s is the place to find the craic in Mayfair. Groups gather around the busy Oyster Bar to enjoy the Guinness and oysters, both of which are delivered daily from across the sea. Those wanting to escape the clamour of the main Oyster Bar can choose from the same Irish-inspired menu in the tranquillity of the dining room downstairs.

Bentley’s Oyster Bar and Grill 11-15 Swallow Street London W1B 4DG 020 7734 4756 Situated in a Victorian building on the borders of Soho and Mayfair, Bentley’s combines a relaxed oyster bar with a more formal grill restaurant, plus two private rooms arranged over three floors. Bentley’s has its own bakery and patisserie and sources all ingredients, such as smoked salmon from Frank Hedderman in Ireland and finest West Cork beef, from some of the best producers in the business. Deliveries arrive fresh in the kitchen every day. The sensitive restoration of this famous restaurant has retained many original features of the building. American oak flooring, light wooden panelling and the reframed old Bentley’s fish paintings all add to the relaxed air of calm, understated luxury.

Napa Restaurant 626 Chiswick High Road London W4 5RY 020 8996 5200 Located within the luscious surroundings of the Irish-owned Chiswick Moran Hotel, the Napa Restaurant offers superb food and wine. The availability of quality seasonal produce is the driving force behind Chef/Patron Wayne Dixon’s modern British menu. The menu changes very frequently — sometimes even daily — to reflect the quality of produce available. Napa is located in Chiswick, West London and is open for breakfast and dinner daily.

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A history of Patrick, parades and parties 7000 BC — First human settlers arrive in Ireland. Property prices immediately go through the roof.

6000 BC — Hunter-gatherers turn into hunter-ditherers — not too sure about venturing further.

People decide to stay put, and farming begins. Still not much time for celebrations. EU subsidies a distant dream. More likely to encounter a wooly mammoth than a Celtic Tiger. March 17 passes without any fuss.

800 AD — The Vikings arrive.

Even by the standards of the Dark Ages, these are an uncultured lot.

Much of St. Patrick’s work is undone with churches and monasteries destroyed.

900 AD — Things settle down.

The Vikings are pacified, and establish cities like Dublin and Waterford. In general Ireland slumbers on, unsuspectingly.

brought with him a book containing four vowels from the Welsh National Dictionary.)

1500s — Emerging from the Middle Ages, still not much craic about. Anarchy widespread: imagine Dublin’s shopping streets the Saturday before Christmas and multiply by factor of 50. mover in the baby-naming stakes.

1737 — The world’s first ever St. Patrick’s Day parade, held in Boston, Massachusetts. Soon the Americans are all over it, dyeing the beer green, dyeing the rivers green — in some hospitals even doctors demand that blood and urine samples be dyed green.

2500 BC — Passage-grave and dolmen building all the rage. Still no Christian celebrations — Halloween and May Day are the big ones. Possibly also Mother’s Day — the Irish mammy has always been important after all.

500 BC — The Celts arrive.

These people knew how to party. St. Patrick’s Day, the Pogues and the Rose of Tralee look on the cards for the first time.

1836 — The remains of St. Valentine arrive in Ireland, a present from Pope Gregory XVI to Father Spratt. Despite the popularity of Val (and his continued presence in Whitefriars Street Carmelite Church, Dublin), St. Patrick holds off the competition and remains, in Roman parlance, Numero Uno.

0 — The year dot. Pagan celebrations still widespread, but events in the Middle East top the news agenda.

200 AD — No sign of the Romans. In fact they don’t show up at all in Ireland. The only noticeable absentees in Ireland’s long line of invaders.

Ironic, really. (circa) 432 AD — Patrick arrives in Ireland, probably from Scotland. Drives snakes out of Ireland in a religious ceremony — tabloids declare: “Mass Hissteria!” Saints and Scholars soon all over the place. (circa) 461 — Patrick dies. Soon receives the top award back then — sainthood.

1903 — St. Patrick’s Day becomes a public holiday in Ireland for the first time — following agitation by the Gaelic League. Dublin’s chances of becoming partytime central greatly enhanced.

1000 AD — The last ‘peaceful’ St. Patrick’s before the AngloNormans. His feast day is celebrated in humble fashion by the faithful.

1169 AD — Strongbow arrives — and everybody knows with a name like that he means business.

The Vikings merely made a nuisance of themselves; the Normans seriously change the landscape, both materially and politically, forever. (Probably started the rumour that St. Patrick was Welsh, most of them being Anglo-Normans from that neck of the woods. In retaliation, the Irish say that when Patrick left Wales he

1558-1603 — Reign of Elizabeth I. System of counties widely adopted, paving way for inter-county GAA matches.

1630 AD — Waterford-born Luke Wadding does sterling work for the Irish cause in Rome, and manages to get St. Patrick’s Feast Day put on the Church’s universal calendar. Luke is not sainted — a pity, as he would have made a fine patron saint of warm water.

1691 — Patrick Sarsfield killed at the Battle of Aughrim. His efforts on behalf of Ireland popularise the name Patrick throughout the country. Heretofore it wasn’t a big

1916 — Easter, not St. Patrick’s is the big one to celebrate this year!

President of the Provisional Government, Padraig Pearse, continues the good work of Patrick Sarsfield in popularising the patron saint’s name.

1931 — Ireland’s first ever St. Patrick’s Day parade takes place in Dublin. But it’s more of a military affair, reviewed by the then Minister of Defence.

1973 — Ireland joins the EEC (later to become the EU). Fears that Brussels might insist on Ireland taking back all the snakes driven out by St. Patrick prove unfounded.

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