The town of Skibbereen is set for a St. Patrick’s weekend to remember with a host of events taking place this weekend. This year the festival parade will begin at 2.30pm on Ilen St. and continue to the town square, allowing more people to come along and enjoy the spectacle. “The Soul of the Southwest” is the theme of this year’s parade, in-keeping with the town’s tagline. More groups than last year are set to join the parade, making it a perfect family occasion. There will be an Irish Music session on the street prior to the parade.
Skibbereen Vintner’s Association also plan to put the town on the map as Capital of the Paddy’s this year with a number Paddy only events between 8-10pm on Saturday evening. Anyone by the name of Paddy will also have a special pass to enter the parade by gathering at Cahalane’s bar on Bridge St. to register for a fun day of Paddy celebrations! One lucky Paddy will be crowned “West Cork Paddy” after the parade to win a cash prize as well as gaining celebrity status for the weekend! All Paddy’s should wear green and bring one form of identification to prove their eligibility to take part and all those registered will receive a voucher for a free pint in one of the town’s pubs. Later in the evening pubs will host special Paddy events including fancy dress, singing and talent contests, welly throwing, and more, making it a proud day to be Paddy! Participating bars include: the Corner Bar, Baby Hannah’s, the Eldon Bar, Calahane’s Bar, Annie May’s Bar, The Fair Field Bar, The Horse and Hound, Cotters Bar, The Paragon Bar, and Kearney’s Well.
Popular Irish band The 4 of Us will also entertain the crowds on Sunday in the town square from 6-8pm with their most famous hits “Mary” and “She hits Me”, there new album has been noted as their best yet described in The Mail on Sunday, “Fingerprints boasts 12 tracks of immense quality...and this is the best album The 4 Of Us have made...... While The Herald noted “you could have heard a pin drop during Blue from the new album, a gorgeous and moving song” ensuring a St. Patrick’s weekend not to be missed.
Not forgetting that Sunday the 18th is Mother’s Day prior to listening to ‘The 4 of US’ a selection of Restaurant’s in Skibbereen are serving extra special lunch options to celebrate the special ladies in our lives. Skibbereen is the place to be for St Patrick’s weekend!!!
Some highlights;
Friday 16th
Pre-Paddy’s Party, Annie Mays
Saturday 17th
Traditional Irish Music in; The Corner Bar and Annie Mays, The Paragon and Cotters Bar
Chasers Night club
Sunday 18th
Music in Baby Hannah’s with Tony Davis and Mick Collins, The Horse and Hound Michael Ronan,
Dakota Night Club