St. Patrick’s Day celebration to feature Irish dancers, two Irish bands
By James P. Gannon
The Rappahannock Lions Club has just the ticket for you if you’re looking for a party to celebrate the promise of spring after this brutal winter. Stir up some rousing Irish pub songs, the flashing feet of Irish step dancers, a bowl of Guinness
They're ready to dance!
beef stew, and you have the recipe for the second annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration planned for Saturday, March 13 in Sperryville.
A highlight of the entertainment will be a group of Irish dance students from the Warrenton area, who go by the tongue-twisting name of Aoibhneas an Rince (Eev-nesh on Rink-a) Irish Dancers. (That’s Gaelic for “joy of dance.”)
The dancers range in age from 11 to 30-something and take classes in traditional Irish dance (think jigs, reels and the like) in Warrenton at the Ballet Academy of Warrenton. Several of them performed last year at the Lions’ 2009 St. Pat’s gala in Washington, where they were colorful crowd-pleasers.
Lively music for the dancing and singing of Irish songs will be provided again
The boys in the band
by the Charlottesville band known as King Golden Banshee, who also were at hit last year. New this year will be an appearance by a local Rappahannock County group, Whiskey Wagon, which also performs traditional Irish music.
The luncheon and music program will be held starting at 12 noon at The Link Community Center on Route 211 in Sperryville. Tickets to the luncheon are $15 each and are on sale at Rappahannock National Bank and in Sperryville at The Corner Store and Roy Wheeler Realty. Tickets also are available from Lions Club members or may be ordered by email to: gannon54@comcast.net.
Last year’s event was a sellout in advance and no tickets were available for sale on the day of the event. This year the Link will accommodate a larger audience, but those who wish to attend are urged to buy tickets in advance, as availability of tickets at the door on March 13 is uncertain.
The lunch will be catered by Dave Huff and his crew from the Country Cafe in Washington, and will offer Guinness beef stew, corned beef & cabbage and desserts. A cash bar will offer beer, wine and soft drinks.
The luncheon will follow the parade which will start at 11 a.m. from the Sperryville fire hall and will wind down through the village along Main Street and terminate at The Link. The parade will include high school bands, bagpipers, classic cars, horse riders, llamas, dogs and assorted marching groups. For participation in the parade, contact Steve Kerchner at 540 675-3905.