March Newsletter
News about Ireland
The great Don Keough passed away in the early hours of Tuesday, February 24. The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, recalled “a great Irishman and a great American” and noted that “Don built lasting business, cultural and education connections with Ireland which have helped thousands”. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, remembered how Don “blazed the multinational trail to Ireland in the 1970s which was later followed by many others”. Global Atlanta reported how “Ireland mourns death of former Coca-Cola President Don Keough”.
North American visitors to Ireland increased by more than 10% in the 3 months to end of January, compared to the corresponding period last winter. Meanwhile, the Delta direct daily service between Atlanta and Dublin will resume on Saturday, March 28.
The Monaghan company, Combilift, which has its US headquarters in North Carolina, announced the creation of 200 new jobs.
The Consul General shared some recommendations with the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau on where to “go Irish” in Atlanta this St. Patrick’s Day.
Irish Central reported on the history of New Orleans’ Irish Channel and on the Irish railroad workers who founded Erin, Tennessee.
The search is on for Ireland’s favourite poem...
And the New York Times reported on the annual matchmaking festival in the county Clare village of Lisdoonvarna!
Upcoming Events
The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, will make his first visit to Atlanta ahead of St. Patrick’s Day. The Taoiseach will deliver the keynote address at the Irish Chamber of Commerce St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast on Friday, March 13, before speaking at the annual Fr. Thomas O’Reilly commemoration outside Atlanta City Hall at 1.30pm that afternoon. On Saturday, March 14, the Taoiseach will be Grand Marshal for the 133rd Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which begins at 12pm.
In Savannah, the Government will be represented by the Chief Whip and Minister of State in the Departments of An Taoiseach and Defence, Paul Kehoe. Minister Kehoe will attend a Celtic Celebration at St. John the Baptist Cathedral on Sunday, March 15, and speak at the Jasper Green Ceremony on Monday, March 16, before participating in the famous Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Tuesday, March 17.
Parades elsewhere in the region this St. Patrick’s Day will take place in Charlotte, Raleigh, Columbia, Fort Lauderdale, Huntsville and Baton Rouge on Saturday, March 14. The Parade in Birmingham is on Sunday, March 15, and the Parade in Charleston will be on Tuesday, March 17. Parades in Dublin, Georgia, and Jackson, Mississippi, will take place on Saturday, March 21. New Orleans will host a series of Parades between March 13 and March 17.
Nashville will host its first Music City Irish Fest on Saturday, March 14. And the Grand Ole Opry will be turning green for St. Patrick’s Day! Lakewood Ranch in Florida will also host a Celtic Festival on Saturday, March 14.
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation – an Irish-led group raising funds to cure childhood cancer – will host St. Patrick’s Day head-shavings this month in The Harp on Sunday, March 8; in Fadó in Buckhead on Friday, March 13; in the Dunwoody Tavern on Sunday, March 15; and in Meehan’s at various stages throughout the month.
Atlanta’s Shamrock & Peach chef Judith McLoughlin will join the Irish Dairy Board for a special St. Patrick’s Day cooking class at Publix (4305 State Bridge Road) in Alpharetta at 7.30pm on Tuesday, March 17; you can call 770-751-8560 to reserve your place.
Atlanta’s Celtic Theatre company, Arís, will perform an exciting showcase of four short plays from Ireland and Britain at Georgia Public Broadcasting over Saturday, March 21, and Sunday, March 22.
The International Meeting of the American Conference for Irish Studies (ACIS) will take place this year in Fort Lauderdale, Florida over March 25-28 and will be hosted by the University of Miami. You can register to attend and find out more here.
And mark your calendars for Saturday, April 11, when Rome, Georgia, will host its latest “Across the Big Pond” Celtic Festival!
If there are Irish events you’d like us to highlight in future newsletters, please let us know here.
Consulate General of Ireland
Monarch Plaza, Suite 260,
3414 Peachtree Road NE,
Atlanta, GA 30326.
http://www.consulateofirelandatlanta.com
Follow us on Twitter @IrelandAtlanta by clicking here
March 2015