Concert hosted by the Embassy to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

The Embassy hosted a concert and reception in the National Philharmonic on Tuesday, 17 March, to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.  Approximately 200 guests attended the event, at which the Irish traditional music group ‘Patrick’s Holm’ played.

Patrick’s Holm is a four-piece ensemble made up of Carol Keane (fiddle), Bill Haneman (uileann pipes, traditional Irish bagpipes), Alan Kelly (banjo) and Paul Kelly (guitar and vocals).  They were joined on stage for two pieces by a Lithuanian musician, Eirimas Velickas, who plays the Lithuanian bagpipe and the violin.  The anthems were played by Gaivile Simaityte and sung by Dalia Mikoliunaite.

Guests at the concert included prominent businesspeople, officials of the Lithuanian Government, diplomats and members of Lithuania’s Irish community.

The reception which followed the concert prominently featured Irish food and drink products, including cured meats, cheeses and breads specially provided for the occasion by Bord Bia, Ireland’s food promotion agency.

Welcoming guests to the concert, Ambassador David Noonan recalled the strong and friendly relations between Ireland and Lithuania, and in particular the strong bonds of family and friendship created by the large Lithuanian community in Ireland.  ‘I am proud that today, in cities and towns in Ireland, members of the Lithuanian community marched in parades both as representatives of their community and privately with their Irish friends and family as members of the many sporting, community and other organisations which participated in our celebration.’

The Ambassador also welcomed the ties which exist between the two countries through their shared membership of the European Union and, since 1 January 2015, the Euro currency area.  ‘By our shared commitment to the values of democracy, human rights and the peaceful development of relations between nations we are also part of a wider family which seeks to enable societies and individuals to develop to their fullest potential’.

In addition to their concert in Vilnius, ‘Patrick’s Holm’ also played a concert in the MK Ciurlionis School of Art in Druskininkai in March 16.  Almost 200 people, including the Mayor and Vice-Mayor of Druskininkai attended the concert.