St. Paddy's Day (March 17th)

Make St Patrick's an Official Holiday

   Every year on March 17th, men and women around the world raise a toast or two in honour of St. Patrick, Ireland's greatest saint. While St. Patrick's Day is undoubtedly the most popular Irish tradition to survive in the modern world, what do we really know about the man and his legend? If you are interested, visit the Saint Patrick page.
   One of the most recognizable events on St. Patrick's Day's are the parades. The first such parade in America was on March 17, 1737 in Boston, sponsored by the Charitable Irish Society of Boston to raise funds for ill, homeless, and unemployed Irishmen. Presently, the largest North American parade takes place on New York City's Fifth Avenue, with an annual participation of over two hundred thousand people. Revolutionary War veterans originally began the Fifth Avenue parade in 1762 as a proud display of Irish heritage, and as an act of defiance against those who "didn't like the Irish very much".

   The Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade and St. Patrick's Family Festival is held each year in downtown Atlanta. The 2009 Parade is Atlanta's 128th since 1858. This is the 151th Anniversary of the first Hibernian Benevolent Society of Atlanta's St. Patrick's Parade.
   The Parade is staged by Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade Inc. and is an outgrowth of the 151 year old Hibernian Benevolent Society of Atlanta's St. Patrick's Parade. The "Parade Committee" is made up of members of Atlanta's Irish Societies. The Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Foundation augments the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade by raising awareness and giving financial support for the treatment and research of childhood diseases. This year's recipients include Cystic Fibrosis and St. Baldrick's.

"Chosen leaf
              Of Bard and Chief,
            Old Erin's native Shamrock!
              Says Valour, 'See
              They spring for me,
            Those leafy gems of morning!'
              Says Love, 'No, no,
              For me they grow,
            My fragrant path adorning!'
              But Wit perceives
              The triple leaves,
            And cries,--'O do not sever
              A type that blends
              Three godlike friends,
            Love, Valour, Wit, for ever!
O! the Shamrock, the green, immortal Shamrock!"
                                             Moore

In the early 1900s, Nathaniel Colgan asked around Ireland concerning the shamrock and found that depending upon who you asked, it could be the Trifolium repens (white clover), Folium minus (lesser trefoil), Trifolium pratense (purple clover), or the Medicagio Lupulina (Black Medick). So take your pick! Whichever you choose, pin a piece to your St Paddy's outfit and at the end of the day, place it into the last glass of drink, then toast to the health of all and pick the wet drowned shamrock out of the glass and toss it over your left shoulder.

Mar 13th

Old Blind Dog Irish Pub St Paddy's Celebration: Friday, March 13th: Mickle-a-do.

Keltic Kudzu has several new songs to our set, from the traditional to the interesting cover twist. We have also expanded our sound palette with new percussion, bass foot pedals and Irish whistle. So come out to a show to hear what we're doing! So come hear them at Durty Kelly's, a new Irish style pub at the Main Street Walk in Alpharetta, Mar 13, 7pm.

Harp Irish Pub Roswell St Pat's Festivities

Mar 14th

2009 Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade, Mar 14th, Starting at noon, Atlanta's 127th in 151 years

Boys of the Lough, Spivey Hall, Saturday March 14

The Georgia Force (Arena Football Team) will be opening the season on March 14th at 7pm. This home game will be a St. Paddy's Day themed night.

Douglasville's first annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration at the Irish Bred Pub

Old Blind Dog Irish Pub St Paddy's Celebration: Sat, Mar 14th, 5:30–6:Cregan O'Brien's Irish Dancers followed by 6–9PM: Keltic Kudzu.

Keltic Kudzu will be performing at the Park Tavern (next to Piedmont Park) Mar 14, 1pm.

Mickle-a-do will be performing for St Pat's at O'Dwyer's Irish Sports Pub, Saturday, Mar 14th, 7-10pm, in the strip center just past Suwanee Park in Suwanee GA. Great food, great folk and a really fun place! For info and directions go to http://www.rewardsnetwork.com/details.htm?merchantId=89637. 3890 Lawrenceville Suwanee Rd, Suwanee, GA 30024. 678-765-0537.

Mar 17th

The Annual St. Patrick's Day Mass will be celebrated on March 17th, 2009 at 10:30am at the Cathedral of Christ the King. The celebrant will be Archbishop Wilton Gregory with priests from throughout the archdiocese concelebrating the Mass.

Members $25, Non-Members $35, Breakfast will finish in plenty of time for the Mass

Douglasville's first annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration at the Irish Bred Pub

Old Blind Dog Irish Pub St Paddy's Celebration: St. Patrick’s Day, 2–5: Duncan McLauchlan, 5–6: Cregan O'Brien's Irish Dancers , 6–9: Mickle-a-do

Keltic Kudzu will be performing at Durty Kelly's St Patrick's Day Show, Mar 17, 6pm.

Buddy O'Reilly Band performing their annual St Paddy's gig at Eddie's Attic, Tues Mar 17th

Come to Murphy's in Virginia Highlands for a feast of fabulous food, music and singing featuring Kathleen Donohoe (of Cavan), Debra Peterson on Harp/whistle/flute and harmony vocals, and Mike Simpson - Atlanta's extraordinary multi-instrumentalist on Fiddle, flute, banjo and guitar. Reservations strongly recommended. Contact Cara at 404-872-0904.

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh! (BAN-uhkh-tee nuh FAY-luh PAW-rihg O-rihv) = Happy St. Patrick's Day to You All!

Irish Expert Trivia

Be sure to visit the Official sites for updates, sponsors, info, special packages & more

The Wearing of the Green: A History of St. Patrick's Day
by Mike Cronin, Daryl Adair

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

As the day approaches and you don't see your event or just wondering, check with your favorite pub, they are bound to have something brewing green