INAUGURAL BRISBANE IRISH FESTIVAL - 9 TO 17 MARCH 2012
Clear a space in your diary...the dates have been set for Brisbane’s inaugural Irish Festival, a Gaelic extravaganza running from 9 to 17 March 2012. Tipped to be a week to remember, the Brisbane Irish Festival is a must for anyone with even an ounce of Irish Blood. Celebrating Irish culture and heritage, the festival will see a jam packed programme of events taking place across the city. From traditional to contemporary, the festival offers something for all ages including culture, dancing, sport, film, food and of course the best music this side of the equator. Highlights from the Brisbane Irish Festival will include the St Patricks Day Parade through the city, a Gaelic sports festival, an Irish Trivia Night, an Irish Film Night, a Food Fair, a Traditional Irish Music Concert, The Brisbane Irish Festival Ball and stacks of ceol agus craic with music and dancing in venues across Brisbane. Queensland Irish Association (QIA) who is spearheading celebrations is working closely with the Brisbane community groups and organisations to provide festival goers with an unforgettable experience. This Festival is also proudly supported by Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council. QIA is urging the Irish community in Brisbane and surrounding areas to get involved in the Festival. If you or an organisation would like to have a local event or activity included in the Brisbane Irish Festival program please contact the Festival organisers at
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. For further information please Brisbane Irish Festival 2012 facebook page.
BRISBANE IRISH FESTIVAL EVENTS
Friday 9 March – Brisbane Irish Festival Ball
The Irish Australian Support Association (IASAQ) invites you to the Brisbane Irish Festival Ball
Tara Ballrom - The Irish Club, 175 Elizabeth St, Brisbane 7:00pm until late Dress: Black Tie or Lounge Suit
Three course dinner PLUS drinks ENTERTAINMENT The Baby Boomers Party Band
SECURE YOUR TICKETS NOW!Tickets: $120 per person or $1150 for a table of ten people RSVP: Tuesday 28 February 2012 phone 0433 703 645 or email
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Saturday 10 March – Brisbane St Patrick’s Day Parade & Irish Fair
The 23rd annual Brisbane St Patrick's Day Parade kick’s off at 10:30am sharp from the corner of George and Elizabeth St. More info availabe here
A fun filled Irish Fair will be held in King George Square from 11:00am - 2:00pm. Entertainment by the QIA Pipe Band and Irish Dancers, Special performance from the Rhythm Junkies, Traditional Irish Music and much more.
Stalls, Jumping Castle, Facepaintes, Ice Cream Van, Interactive Candle Making... lots for the kids!
Join is for a fantastic family day out! More info available here
Saturday 10 March - The Irish Radio Program on 4EB
Saturday 10th March 12:30pm The Irish Radio Program on 4EB: 10th March 12.30pm to 1.30pm - for all the best in Irish Music, news, chat and info from the Irish Australia community. (LOGO) For more than 30 years the Irish Community Radio Program has been broadcasting from the studios of 4EBFM 98.1, Brisbane’s only fulltime ethnic broadcaster. You can listen to the best in Irish Music and all the latest news and events from Ireland and Irish Australia. The program runs for 1 hour and all programs are produced and presented by volunteers. New members and presenters are most welcome.
Sunday 11 March – St Patrick’s Festival Family Sports Day: Willawong
Gates open a 10:30am Queensland Gaelic Football Park 308 Bowhill Rd, Willawong 4110 (UBD 219 B2) A great day of Irish Entertainment for all the family Hurling & Camogie exhibition games – world’s fasted men and women’s field games Rousing Performances by Brisbane’s own Irish Australian band Murphy’s Pigs Tug-O-War Competitions – international, interstate and local teams Athletics for men, women and children Irish Dancing displays throughout the day Gaelic Football Matches- men and women
PLUS Free carnival rides for children, lucky gate prize at 4pm, food and refreshments, licences bar – no eskies Admission: Adults $10/ Children free includes rides & jumping system More info: www.irishfestival.com.au
Sunday 11 March - Tara Singers Concert
Sunday March 11th at 2:00pm Tara Ballroom – The Irish Club 175 Elizabeth St Admission $12.00
The QIA Tara Singers will present an Irish Concert titled “Come Back to Erin”. A special feature of this concert will be a guest performance by Patricia Kelly as our conductor. Patricia, the founder of the Tara Singers, was recently awarded Life Membership of the Queensland Irish Association for her devoted work in establishing our group as the Official Choir of the QIA. At this special once only guest appearance Patricia will lead us in songs such as “The Isle of Innisfree’.’ ‘Carickfergus’, ‘Coonemara Cradle Song’, ‘ Irelands Call’, ‘ Ireland, Mother Ireland’, ‘Galway Bay’, ‘Danny Boy’ and many others. There will be solo as well as full choir presentations plus a rousing collection of favourite Irish ‘Sing Along’ songs. James Donegan will prove that laughter is the best medicine of all with his ‘Irish Humour’. Lunch is available at the Club and concession parking can be offered at the Myer carpark. Drinks will be available from the Concert Bar.
Monday 12 March – Irish Trivia Night
Battle of the Irish Trivia Night Monday 12th March Registration by 5:30pm Grand Prize: Story Bridge Adventure Climb for TWO!(logo)
Join us in a battle of Irish Trivia and discover just who knows what about the beautiful Emerald Isle. Four well-known venues will take part in this monster trivia night where contestants will compete not only with those in their selected venue, but in all FOUR venues. Questions will be broadcast over Radio 4EB 98.1FM (Logo) and winner announced on air! Feel free to listen in at home and test your “Irishness”!
Participating Venue: Fiddler’s Elbow – 380 Upper Roma St, Brisbane T: 3221 3221 Gilhooley’s Albert St – Cnr of Albert and Charlotte Street, Brisbane T: 3229 0672 Irish Murphy’s – 175 George St, Brisbane T: 3221 4377 Mick O’Malley’s - 171- 209 Queens St, Basement Level, Wintergarden Centre T: 3221 9881
Tuesday 13 March – Rose of Tralee Fashion Parade
Rose Of Tralee Fashion Parade Tara Ballroom – The Irish Club, 175 Elizabeth St 7:00pm The Rose of Tralee Fashion Parade will be held on Tuesday 13th March at the Irish Club. Tickets are $45 and include a drink on arrival and tapas for each table. Fashions from Hunt and Gather, Maggie T and Lorna Jane (all located on Racecourse Rd Ascot) will be on show. Tickets can be booked through the QLD Irish Club – 3221 5699. Get a group of friends together for a night of fun, fashion and bubbles!
Wednesday 14 March - Irish in Queensland: their cultural legacy
Wed 14 Mar 2012, 12:30 pm - Venue: State Library Queensland Auditorium 1, level 2 Cost: Free, no bookings required More information:Events 07 3840 7768
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Many Queenslanders can trace their ancestry back to Ireland due to the vigorous programs of migration in the 19th century that enticed working class Irish men and women to our shores. What was life like for these early settlers? Why did they come here? What is their enduring legacy in Queensland’s society and culture? Historian Dr Jennifer Harrison and Director of Mercy Heritage Centre Peter Connell will discuss how the Irish have left their mark on the Queensland consciousness. This is an Out of the Port free lunchtime talk, presented by State Library’s John Oxley Library and the Department of Environmental and Resource Management.
Wednesday 14 March – Irish Film Night
TBC
Thursday 15 March – Brisbane Traditional Irish Music Concert
Thursday 15 March at 7:30pm
Tara Ballroom - The Irish Club, 175 Elizabeth St Brisbane Tickets $15 Come and see some of Australia’s finest exponents of Irish Traditional Music and dance all performing in the inaugural Brisbane Irish Traditional Music Concert. The concert will feature renowned bands Luogh , Tulca Mór and Sásta as well as dancing by champion Irish dancers. The concert will take place in the Tara Room in the Queensland Irish Club on Thursday the 15th of March at 7:30pm. Tickets are $15 and are available on the night or from the Irish Club leading up to the concert. Contact 07 3221 5699 for more information.
Friday 16 March – The 114th Annual St Patrick’s Eve Dinner
Friday 16th March at 6:45pm
Tara Ballroom - The Irish Club, 175 Elizabeth Street Brisbane
The 114th Annual St Patrick’s Eve Dinner will be held in the magnificent Tara Ballroom. The St Patrick’s Even Dinner is the premier event on the Queensland Irish Association’s calendar with invitations extended to all Kindred Societies, together with Federal, State and Church leaders along with Senior Officers from our Armed Services in Queensland.
Tickets $110 pp avaiable from The Irish Club (07) 3221 5699
Saturday 17 March - St Patrick's Day Mass
11:30am Saturday 17th March St Stephen’s Cathedral
St Patrick’s Day Mass will be celebrated by Fr Pat Dwyer OMI and feature the QIA Tara Singers, The QIA Dancers and Uilleann piper Kevin Higgins. Mass will be celebrated in both English and Irish. All are welcome - Céad Míle Fáilte
Saturday 17 March - The Irish Radio Program on 4EB
10:00am Saturday 17th March St Stephen’s Cathedral
St Patrick’s Day Mass will be celebrated by Fr Pat Dwyer OMI and feature the QIA Tara Singers, The QIA Dancers and Uilleann piper Kevin Higgins. Mass will be celebrated in both English and Irish. All are welcome - Céad Míle Fáilte
Saturday 17 March – St Patricks Day Celebrations at QPAC
St Patrick’s Day Celebration Free Family Activities Melbourne Street Green, QPAC 2pm to 5pm Ticket Price: FREE Enjoy some local talent and kick your heels up for an afternoon of free family entertainment from 2pm on St Patrick’s Day.
St Patrick’s Day Celebration with Damien Leith Concert Hall, QPAC 7pm til late Ticket Price: $79* (transaction fee applies) Immerse yourself in the spirit of St Patrick's Day and celebrate with an energetic concert of traditional folk songs, Celtic tunes and rowdy melodies.
Starring singer-songwriter and quintessential Irish-Australian, Damien Leith (Australian Idol winner, Dancing with the Stars finalist) along with his merry band, The Danny Boys, the full resonance of the magnificent Queensland Pops Orchestra and the talent of local Irish dancers, this will be a celebration of the true spirit of the Emerald Isle.
Then party into the night from 9pm in the Cascade Court with four-piece band, Sunas.
Saturday 17 MArch - Whites Hill State College Fete
Cnr Burn and Abbot Street Camp Hill (Entrance Abbot Street) Date: Sat 17 March 2012, 12-6pm
This is the first Whites Hill State College Fete in 10 years, and will feature a wide variety of entertainment, stalls, food, displays, crafts, rides and activities. The Fete is being held from 12noon to 6.00pm - Abbot St, Camp Hill - for further details, contact http://whiteshillsc.eq.edu.au/wcms/ Activities: Country Corner, Rides / Games, Craft, AMF Bowling, Green stalls, Currumbin Wildlife, Chicken Races, Food incl Wood Fired Pizzas, ethnic stalls, Curves Fitness
Saturday 17 March - 2012 Harmony Day Festival
Saturday17 March 11:00am – 4:00pm 269 Padstow Rd, Eight Miles Plains QLD 4113 $5(pensioners and children under 12 free) Contact 0410567618/
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-Multicultural Performances - Martial Arts Performances -Ethnic Food Stalls -Fun Rides -Raffle Draws and Luck Door Prize (1:30pm & 3:30pm)
Interested in supporting a great community event?
Sponsorship packages are now available for the Brisbane Irish Festival! The St Patrick’s Day Parade and Irish Fair, which are the foremost celebration during the festival, attracts more then 40,000 spectators to the Brisbane CBd. Which means great exposure for your business!
These fantastic events are staged by the St Patrick’s Day Parade Association Inc which is a non-profit organisation made up of volunteers within the Queensland Irish Community and have been funded for a number of years by the Queensland Government, Brisbane City Council and donations. The costs involved are substantial and as the events grow in size and attendance each year, there is a relative increase in costs.
To continue to provide these free event to the community, The St Patrick’s Day Parade Association actively seek corporate sponsorship from the local business community. As a sponsor of the Brisbane Irish Festival St Patrick’s Day Parade and Irish Fair you can achieve outstanding business exposure and create a highly desirable image throughout Brisbane CBD and the surrounding suburbs. The details of the sponsorship opportunities available and their benefits are available for download here: Brisbane Irish Festival Sponsorship Package
Donations are always greatly appreciated: Electronic Funds Transfer/Direct Deposit Details: Bank: NAB BSB No: 084-004 Account No: 86-942-6147 Account Name: St Patrick’s Day Parade Association Inc Email:
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Cheques should be made payable in Australian dollars to: St Patrick’s Day Parade Association Inc and forward to: St Patrick’s Day Parade Association Inc, 175 Elizabeth St, Brisbane QLD 4000
Thank you for your support! Please email any questions to
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Download Brisbane Irish Festival Program