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Pinellas prepares to get green
By LEE CLARK ZUMPE
Article published on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 |
PINELLAS COUNTY - It's time to ransack the closets looking for green apparel, feast on corned beef and cabbage, enjoy a few pints at a favorite pub and sing along to "Whisky in the Jar," "The Wild Rover" and other fine folk songs from the Emerald Isle.
Irish ancestry is not required to partake in the wearing o' the green. The Irish feast day commemorating the patron saint of Ireland is now celebrated worldwide, with parties and parades in many municipalities, including New York City, Boston, Philadelphia and Savannah. In the windy city, the Chicago River is dyed green for the festivities.
The following is a rundown of local St. Patrick's Day events scheduled for Friday, March 17:
Clearwater
• O'Keefe's will set up the big tent once again this year as it plays host to a St. Patrick's Day bash featuring four different Irish bands, bagpipers and the customary pub fare. The fun will run from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. O'Keefe's is at 1219 S. Fort Harrison Ave. Call 442-9034.
• Bennigan's will offer up corned beef, drink specials and live entertainment with Rhythm Method. Bennigan's is at 2640 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd. Call 799-1808.
Island Estates
• Tommy Duff's Irish Aviation Pub will host the World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade. Expected to be standing-room-only after noon, the pub will set up an outdoor tent to facilitate the festivities. Charlie Ho will perform. Tommy Duff's is at 126 Island Way. Call 449-1366.
Dunedin
• Flanagan's Irish Pub will play a central part in the St. Patrick's Day Street Festival on Main Street in Dunedin. The fun kicks off at 11 a.m. and will feature entertainment by Noel Cooney, Jeff Glover and others. Festivities also will include the Irish Step Dancers and the Dunedin Pipe Band. The pub will be serving corned beef and cabbage, shepherds pie, Guinness Stew and other traditional favorites. Flanagan's is at 465 Main St. Call 736-4994.
• The Dunedin Brewery will host its St. Patrick's Day Soiree. Taking the stage will be the bands The Human Condition and Badwithnames. The Dunedin Brewery is at 937 Douglas Ave. Call 736-0606.
Indian Shores
• Mickey Quinn's will present Jack McGuire from noon to 9 p.m. McGuire splits each year between Ottawa, Canada, and Clearwater, playing weekend gigs no matter where he is. He is known for both traditional Celtic sounds and his more modern mixture of blues, folk and classic rock. Largo
• Irish dancing girls, live Celtic music and bagpipers will be part of the action at O'Houston's. The day's festivities run from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Jay Pritchard also will perform. There will be hourly giveaways, trivia and customary cuisine including corned beef and cabbage and shepherd's pie. WTVT-FOX 13 will broadcast from O'Houston's in the morning. O'Houston's is at 518 West Bay Drive. Call 584-7772.
St. Pete Beach
• Brendan Nolan will perform at Grace O'Malley's. Born just north of Dublin, Nolan has made St. Pete Beach his home for more than 10 years. Grace O'Malley's is at 250 75th Ave. Call 363-4007.
• Local band Shifty-Eyed Dog will bring its blend of funk, rhythm and blues, reggae, ska and rock to Bennigan's for the St. Patrick's Day revelry, playing from 8 p.m. to midnight. Bennigan's is at 4625 Gulf Blvd. Call 367-4521.
St. Petersburg
• Bennigan's will celebrate the day with door prizes, giveaways, corned beef and green beer. Live bands will include The Twins from 5 to 8 p.m. and Easy Victory from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Bennigan's is at 2190 Tyrone Blvd. Call 343-2791.
• Courigan's will begin the celebration at 9 a.m. There will be hourly drink specials and entertainment from 8 p.m. to midnight. Courigan's is at 1 Beach Drive. Call 551-9019.
Did you know?
Compiled by CHARY SOUTHMAYD
• The St. Patrick's Day custom came to America in 1737 and was the first year St. Patrick's Day was publicly celebrated in this country, in Boston.
• According to Irish legend, St. Patrick chose the shamrock as a symbol of the church's Holy Trinity because of its three leaflets bound by a common stalk.
• Just northwest of the Irish village of Cork is the village of Blarney. Blarney is home to the 90-foot-tall Blarney Castle. Built on a rock, above several caves, the tower originally had three stories. On the top story, just below the battlements on the parapet, is the world famous Blarney Stone. While its origins are unknown, the Blarney Stone is said to give the gift of eloquence (beautiful speaking ability) to all who kiss it.
• Leprechauns are little make-believe fairies from Ireland. They are the little old men who are shoemakers for the fairies. They usually stand about 2 feet tall. Treasure hunters can often track down a leprechaun by the sound of his shoemaker's hammer. The legend is that if you catch one you can force him to tell you where he hides his gold.
• Erin Go Bragh means "Ireland Forever"
Irish toasts
• Here's to absent friends and here's twice to absent enemies.
• Thirst is a shameless disease so here's to a shameful cure.
• May we always have a clean shirt, a clean conscience, and a bob in the pocket.
• May you be across Heaven's threshold before the old boy knows you're dead.
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Article published on Wednesday, March 15, 2006
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