feature article - march 2008

Everyone’s Irish this month!

THERE’S one ethnic group in Milwaukee that everyone “joins” this month. Regardless of the weather, the whole town becomes Emerald green from the St. Patrick’s parade March 8 until the actual St. Patrick’s Day, March 17.

This year’s activities get rolling even earlier with lunch-time entertainment March 5-8 in the atrium of the Shops of Grand Avenue, Wisconsin Ave. at Old World 3rd St. Milwaukee’s popular Trinity Academy of Irish Dance performs from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. March 5; The McMenamin Irish Dance Academy appears March 6; The Irish band áthas performs March 7, and Irish rock band Reilly performs March 8 until the parade starts at noon.

Sponsored by the Shamrock Club of Wisconsin, the 42nd annual St. Patrick’s Parade starts in front of the Shops of Grand Avenue at Old World 3rd St., at noon on Saturday, March 8. First staged here in 1843, the parade is recognized as the seventh oldest in the country. Again this year the parade moves along Wisconsin to Plankinton, north to Kilbourn, west to Old World 3rd, north to Juneau and east to Water.

The luncheon concerts and the parade are true family events, but the pub and restaurant parties before, during and after the parade are for grown-up celebrants. Parade organizers also have scheduled a public kick-off party is for 5:30-11 p.m. March 7 at the Miller Time Pub, 509 W. Wisconsin Ave., with entertainment by Ian Gould. Along the parade route, you can lift a glass of green beer at the new Trinity• Three Irish Pubs or celebrate with Dan Fitzgibbons at Fitzgibbons Pub.

The official Shamrock Club Post-Parade Party is set for 1 p.m.-7 p.m. at the Irish Cultural & Heritage Center, 2133 W. Wisconsin Ave. Continuous entertainment is planned on three stages. Some spots like the new Trinity • Three Irish Pubs at 125 E, Juneau also plan post-parade parties. Performing at Trinity at 3 p.m. will be the Trinity Irish Dancers.

The Irish Cultural Center also will be the place to be a week later when the official St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17, beginning with an Irish dinner from 4-7 p.m. A true family-friendly show begins at 7 p.m. with performances by the Glencastle Irish Dancers and áthas, followed by Milwaukee’s favorite comedian, John McGivern. Contact the cultural center at 414-345-8800 or visit www.ichc.net for reservations for the dinner and entertainment.

New Irish spots add to the fun

Milwaukee has seen an explosion in Irish dining and drinking spots in the past year and all of the new locations will join older establishments in the revelry on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17.

Trinity • Three Irish Pubs at 125 E. Juneau is downtown’s newest taste of Ireland and will open its doors at the traditional 6 a.m. The three-pub location will fill the day and evening with live entertainment, including the Trinity Irish Dancers and popular bands. On the other end of the historical spectrum, County Clare Irish Inn & Pub, 1234 N. Astor St., has years of experience celebrating and holds the title for selling more Guinness Stout than anyone else in the state. Live entertainment and revelry run there from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.

At all Irish pubs and restaurants, expect to have plenty of company all day and well into the evening. Established pubs like Fitzgibbons on Water Street, Mo’s Irish Pubs on Plankinton and in Brookfield and new ones like The Irish Pub in the Historic Third Ward are certain to be packed with green-clad revelers.

When the celebration ends, some participants may need a ride home. Again this year, Miller Brewing Company is sponsoring free bus service on select routes starting at 6 p.m. It’s the 15th year for the free-ride program. For detailed route and schedule information, call 1800-373-3743 or visit www.millerfreerides.com.