Beannachta� na F�ile P�draig!
Happy St. Patrick's Day!

SEATTLE'S IRISH WEEK 2008

 

 

SATURDAY, MARCH 8

IRISH SODA BREAD CONTEST, 2 PM, T S McHugh's Irish Pub and Restaurant, 1st & Mercer, Seattle. Waterford Crystal, Belleek China and other great Prizes are awarded to the winners in three categories: Brown, White and Glorified. See IRISH SODA BREAD CONTEST for the rules and restrictions - e.g., no Baking Powder is permitted in the Brown or White categories. 

Sample Soda Bread Recipes can be found here.
Entries should be delivered in an unmarked paper bag to the restaurant between 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM. To save time, a completed Application Form should accompany the entries. Admission is free and Judging starts at 2 PM. For more information, call 206-284-3802.

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SUNDAY, MARCH 9

MATT TALBOT DINNER, 6 PM, F X McRory's.

We close down McRory's for the evening and pack the place in an attempt to raise over $30,000 to fund Seattle's downtown Homeless Program which is named for Dubliner Matt Talbot. For information on the programs of the Matt Talbot Center, visit www.matttalbotcenter.org. Suggested donation for the dinner is $85. Call 425-290-7839 for tickets and more information.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 13

WORLD AFAIRS COUNCIL Global Leadership Series Address.

John Bruton, former Prime Minister of Ireland and current European Union Ambassador to the United States will deliver the keynote address. Bruton will examine the role of leadership in the Irish Peace Process, and the increasing leadership role of the EU on the global stage. Non-Members $15 - visit the World Affairs Council website for more information.

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FRIDAY, MARCH 14

 

IRISH WEEK PROCLAMATION LUNCHEON, Noon, F X McRory's.

Washington Governor Christine Gregoire, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin, St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Marshal John Bruton (current EU Ambassador and former Taoiseach), Honorary Grand Marshal Joe Martin, Irish Government Minister John McGuinness, Irish Vice-Consul �na Fannon, Galway Mayor Tom Costello, and other dignitaries meet to formally proclaim Irish Week 2008. Tickets for the Salmon lunch are $30 and seating is limited. Advance reservations are required before March 12 to 206-361-1713.

 

GREEN STRIPE LAYING, 7 PM, on 4th Ave from Jefferson to WestlakePark. Join the Seafair Pirates and others as we go to "paint" (using green chalk) the St. Patrick's Day Parade route down the center of Seattle's 4th Ave starting at Jefferson. Children and adults are welcome to ride the flat-bed truck for free starting from F X McRory's at 6:30 PM. For more information, call 206-548-9859.

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SATURDAY, SUNDAY, MONDAY, MARCH 15-17

 

IRISH FESTIVAL 2008

Saturday and Sunday Noon - 6 PM; Monday Noon - 4 PM
Center House, Seattle Center

Irish music, singing, dancing, workshops, lectures, cultural displays, children's contests and activities, Irish Language, Genealogy and History Workshops, Art Exhibits, Booths selling Irish and Celtic products, and much more. Family-oriented activities include wonderful Irish Musicians along with the Claddagh Irish Stepdancers direct from Dublin, Ireland, and other dancing groups from around the Pacific Northwest. Events for children include the "Smilingest Irish Eyes Contest" and the "Most Irish-Looking Face Contest", and a Children's Activities Center. Contemporary Irish short films will be screened during our Irish Reels Film Festival. Admission all days of the Festival is FREE. For more information, call 206-427-3027.

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SATURDAY, MARCH 15

 

MASS FOR PEACE IN IRELAND, 10 AM, Plymouth Congregational Church, 6th and University, downtown Seattle.

A Catholic Mass in a Protestant Church on St. Patrick's Day, offered for Peace in Ireland. Seattle's Archbishop Alex Brunett is the main celebrant while the Guest Speaker is EU Ambassador and former Irish Taoiseach John Bruton. Special performers include the Shanley High School Choir from Fargo, North Dakota. Call 425-745-1034 for information.

 

ST PATRICK'S DAY PARADE, from 4th Ave and Jefferson.

At 12:20 PM, at 4th Avenue and Jefferson, the IRISH FLAG will be raised in front of the King County Administration Building and the Irish and US NATIONAL ANTHEMS will be sounded, and then at 12:30 PM Sharp, Parade Grand Marshal Ambassador John Bruton leads the Parade as it travels north on

4th Ave from Jefferson, to the reviewing stand at Westlake. Afterwards, ride the FREE Monorail from Westlake to the Seattle Center where Parade closing ceremonies will be in Center House at 2:30 PM. While all Parade marching groups must pre-register, anybody with an Irish connection (and everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day!) is invited to walk in the Parade without any pre-registration. If you know where your ancestors are from in Ireland, march behind their Province's Banner. A map showing the counties and provinces can be found on the Parade webpage. Seniors and others who can't walk the distance are welcome to ride in the "Seniors Shamrock Shuttle", a Gray Line Trolley that travels in the Parade's last Division. Call 206-242-5140 for information. Check current listing of REGISTERED PARADE GROUPS.

 

FRIENDS OF ST PATRICK BANQUET, Cocktails 6 PM, Dinner 7:30 PM, at Salty's at Alki in West Seattle.

This is a Black-tie (optional) dinner and dance, the 68th Annual Banquet of the Society of the Friends of St. Patrick in Seattle, and special guests include Seattle Archbishop Alex BrunettEU Ambassador and former Irish Taoiseach John Bruton, Irish Government Minister John McGuinness, Irish Vice-Consul �na Fannon, and Galway Mayor Tom Costello. Tickets are $85 per person for the salmon or corned beef dinner - call 425-290-7839 or pay online at www.fosp.org.

 

EVERETT CABARET, 7:30 PM, New Everett Theatre, 29111 Colby Ave, Everett. An old-fashioned Irish Variety show with Irish humor, music, singing, and dancing that'll take your breath away. Special attractions include performances by Irish Dancers direct from Ireland. There're also local musicians Rapparee, and MC and Seanchai David McCourt, all guaranteeing a great evening's entertainment. For information, call 425-258-6766.

 
VASHON C�ILI, 7:30 pm, the monthly Vashon Cili is in the Grange Hall at the end of the Vashon ferry parking lot - just walk on at Fauntleroy and walk off at Vashon. For information, see www.hoilands.com or call 206-369-9234.

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SUNDAY, MARCH 16

ST PATRICK'S DAY DASH, 9 AM from 1st & Mercer near the SeattleCenter.

A nearly four-mile fun-run from one Irish Pub to another - from T S McHugh's to F.X. McRorys - and over 15,000 runners participated in 2007. There's no race-day registration. Call 206-522-7711 for information or go to www.stpatsdash.com.

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MONDAY, MARCH 17

ST PATRICK'S DAY TRACTOR C�ILI, the traditional C�ili at the Tractor Tavern in Ballard, with Irish dancing, and lots of Guinness and Harp. For photos from 2007, see www.hoilands.com.

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For more detailed information on any event, email

John Bruton

Ambassador John Bruton

Parade Grand Marshal
 Seattle's St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Marshal is John Bruton, the Ambassador of the European Union to the USA and the former Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) who helped transform the Irish economy into the "Celtic Tiger". Bruton was also deeply involved in the Northern Irish Peace Process leading to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. In 1996, as President of the European Union, he addressed a joint session of the US Congress. Ambassador Bruton will also be the Guest Speaker at the March 15 Mass for Peace in Ireland.
Honorary Grand Marshal Joe Martin
Joe Martin
St. Patrick's Day Parade Honorary Grand Marshal
Seattle's St. Patrick's Day Parade Honorary Grand Marshal is Joe Martin, the accomplished Irish musician and singer with Seattle group Claypipe. Of proud Donegal stock, Joe was born in Boston and came to Seattle in 1975 after serving as a Vista Volunteer in Utah. He is a full-time advocate for Seattle's homeless and helps run the Pike Market Medical Clinic which he helped found in 1978. Today a third of the clinic's 3,600 patients are homeless. He has been very involved in Irish causes and activities over the years.
Minister John McGuinness
John McGuinness
Irish Government Minister of State
Visiting Seattle for St. Patrick's Day, and on his first ever visit to the area, is John McGuinness TD, the Minister of State for Trade and Commerce. Born in Kilkenny 1955, John served as Mayor of Kilkenny in 1996, was elected TD (Member of the Irish Parliament) in 1997 and became a Minister of State in July 2007.

SISTER CITY VISITOR TO SEATTLE
Mayor Nickels, Mayor Costello, Joe McGrath

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, Galway Mayor Tom Costello, and Galway City Manager Joe McGrath, at Galway City Hall during a Sister City visit to Galway last September

 
GALWAY MAYOR TOM COSTELLO
Coming to Seattle for Irish Week 2008 is the Mayor of Galway, Councillor Tom Costello, his wife Kathleen, and Galway City Manager Joe McGrath. They will be in Seattle from March 14-18 and will participate in all our Irish Week events over those days.
From Castlegar, Co. Galway, Mayor Costello began his career as a bus conductor with Bus �ireann. He got involved with his trade union and served two terms as Chair of the Galway Council of Trade Unions. His involvement in trade unions convinced him to get into politics. In 1991, he ran for office and became a Galway City Councillor and after 16 years as a City Councillor, he was elected Mayor of Galway in July 2007.
 
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IHC Logo
IRISH HERITAGE CLUB MEMBERSHIP

We need your support! Even if you cannot be as actively involved as you would like, your membership shows your support for the Irish Festival, the St. Patrick's Day Parade, this newsletter, and for all the other Irish events and activities that we organize thoughout the year. Please show your support by ensuring your membership is current. 2008 Members remain in good standing until March 31, 2009.

Credit Card Payments are accepted on our website at www.irishclub.org or by calling 206-526-5993.
Or print a copy below, and complete and mail to the address listed.

 

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FAMILY MEMBERSHIP $30.00 ____ SINGLE MEMBERSHIP $20.00 ____

 

Mail to: Irish Heritage Club, PO Box 75123, Seattle, WA 98175-0123

 

For St. Patrick's Day, make sure to check out that beautiful Irish Blessing at www.e-water.net.  Even if you've seen it previously, it's well worth a second viewing. But whatever you do, have a wonderful St. Patrick's Day!

Sln
 
John Keane