Any folk with connections to the Emerald Isle out there? The Barnyard Theatre at Gateway, Umhlanga, is going huge this St Patrick’s Day with legendary Irish band, the Blarney Brothers on Sunday, March 18.
If you’re Irish, come into the parlour … Well, even if you’re not, get down to The Barnyard Theatre at Gateway on Sunday, March 18 for their St Patrick’s party with legendary Durban Irish band, the Blarney Brothers.
The Blarney Brothers are sure to deliver their usual magic mix of foot-stomping, sing-along party music. Helped along with a liberal flavouring of genuine Irish Blarney and humour, you’ll soon find that the Blarney Brothers are as Irish as shamrock and poteen.
Audiences can expect to hear a mix of favourites such as Running Bear, Drunken Sailor, Wild Rover, Jerusalem, I Am Your Music Man, The Leaving Of Liverpool, Simple Simon, Whiskey In The Jar, Danny Boy, Knees Up Mother Brown and Ireland’s Call.
A little St Patrick’s Day history
It is a tribute to the Blarneys’ popularity that 30 years after their first performance at the Astra Hotel in Durban, they are still one of South Africa’s top five acts. In fact, their history goes back even further as they served their musical apprenticeship playing in the Irish showbands for 10 years before arriving on South African soil.
The Blarney Brothers established their enduring reputation by playing at “The Barn” at The Athlone Hotel in Durban North every Wednesday and Friday for 13 years, so it seems like a fitting tribute to have them performing for the first time at The Barnyard.
Info: The theatre will open at 6pm, the show will start at 7.30pm and tickets are R100 per person. For bookings and enquiries, call 031 566 3045, e-mail gateway@barnyardtheatres.co.za or visit www.barnyardtheatres.co.za for more information.
About Saint Patrick’s Day
Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated worldwide by Irish people and increasingly by many of non-Irish descent. Celebrations are generally themed around all things green and Irish; both Christians and non-Christians celebrate the secular version of the holiday by wearing green, eating Irish food, imbibing Irish drink, and attending parades.
The St Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin, Ireland is part of a five day festival, with more than 500 000 people attending the 2006 parade. The largest St Patrick’s Day parade is held in New York City and is enjoyed by 2 million spectators.
The St Patrick’s day parade was first held in New York City on March 17, 1756, when Irish soldiers marched through the city.
Other large parades include those in Belfast, Manchester, Birmingham, London, Coatbridge, Montreal, Boston, Chicago, Kansas City, Savannah, Pittsburgh, Denver, Sacramento, Scranton and Toronto. Large parades also take place in other places throughout Europe and the Americas, as well as Australia and Asia.