High Holy Days

High? Maybe; Holy? For the most part not; .. and even "Days" is misleading, since a lot of observances follow sunset. There are nevertheless, grand goings-on galore. Let's begin with events shall we?

The St. Patrick's Parade Courtesy of Beamish Irish Stout

Cut to the chase all right. Maybe it should be called "The Leaving of Limerick" for those like Rock who romanticized about its historical antecedents in last year's stroll through the old neighborhood. It was strange. A disproportionately large Confederate reenactment group was apparently so happy to have been allowed in a public parade that they showed up in great and resplendent numbers. Several in the Irish community would later reflect on the parallels with the Orange Order's determined efforts to march down the Garvaghy Road in Northern Ireland.

The 1999 Louisville St. Patrick's Parade will march past the largest neighborhood concentration of those claiming Irish heritage in the 1990 census. Stepping off at the Mid City Mall, what promises to be one of the best ever parades will proceed up Baxter Avenue to Broadway at Phoenix Hill. There will be five high school marching bands (including the glorious green, white and gold trimmed Floyd Central Highlanders) as well as three pipe bands, including the awesome Louisville Pipe Band.

The reviewing stand will be the porch of Molly Malone's Irish Pub and Restaurant at 933 Baxter, as it is floored with ancient Liscannor stone from the west of Ireland. No doubt Molly's, O'Shea's and the Phoenix Hill Tavern will be slammed blue murder. To summarize:

Parade: Saturday, March 13; 2 p.m. starting at Mid City Mall up Baxter Avenue to Phoenix Hill. Thank you Beamish !!!

The Ancient Order of Hibernians will start at noon with the celebration of Mass at St. Louis Bertrand Church, 1104 S. 6th Street where the Irish Person of the Year, the Matt Talbot Award and the children's coloring contest winners will be honored.

The Tappin' of the Keg

The official start of the rites begins with the first draught on Wednesday, March 10 at the Irish Rover, 2319 Frankfort Avenue at 7 p.m. Live Irish music, media and delicious Beamish Stout will insure a lovely night.

Anam, The Big Sea

A concert of traditional Irish music direct from Ireland by Anam will be Rock's true beginning for the season on Friday, March 5 at the Kentucky Center for the Arts. The KCA follows with a Celtic/Pop group from Canada called The Big Sea. Rock assures you that you will love both programs.

Wearin' of the Green Party on German Soil

The annual AOH party will swirl in the great hall of the German-American Club on Lincoln Avenue (off Poplar Level Road) on Saturday, March 20. Dinner with harp serenade followed by DJ dancing is yours for $17.50 per person. Call 451-0871 for more information .

The Sons and Daughters of Erin

The SDE will have its annual fete at Mastersons Restaurant in March. For more information call 897-9050.

Drowsie Maggie Rises to the Occasions

DM has a busy schedule starting on March 12 & 13 at Molly Malone (10 p.m. to 1 a.m.). On Sunday, March 14 at 3 p.m. they will join in a program of music with the Louisville Chorus at the Louisville School for the Blind on Frankfort Avenue. On Monday, March 15 they will head down the street to the Irish Rover from 7 to 10 p.m. On feast day itself (Wednesday, March 17) they will start off at Molly Malone's at noon then move to The Rudyard Kipling from 7 to 9 p.m. and back to Molly's from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Ten Penny Bit Carries On

The band's fine new fiddler, Todd Morgan, will spend the next three months recovering from spinal surgery. Rock and all TPB fans wish him a speedy recovery!

TPB starts their public performances at the Celtic Lands Culture Festival at Union Station in Cincinnati on Saturday, March 13 at 1:30 p.m. That same night they will dazzle the folks at the Thomas Winery in Madison, Indiana from 8 to 11 p.m. TPB will entertain joyfully and frequently at the Irish Rover from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 14; from 7 to 11 p.m. on March 16 and from 3 to 6 p.m. on the feast day, March 17.

The Rashers Rule

Johnnie (a/k/a Yule Brenner), Charlie and Bernie divide their time between Molly Malone's and the Irish Rover as follows:

Irish Rover: March 12 & 13, 9 p.m. to midnight; March 17, 9 to 12. Molly Malone's: March 17, 3:30 to 6:30; March 20 & 27 from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Rock really likes this band and you will too.

Cloigheann is Gaelic for "skull"

The merry band behind the mighty pipes of Rosie Rosenthal starts at the Irish Rover on March 14 from 3 to 6 p.m. On March 17, they beat a familiar path between the Irish Rover (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and on to Molly Malone's for two sets from 4 to 7 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m. They might even have some their Galoots pals with them. You will especially enjoy Roy Livingson's bagpiping.

Galloping Galloglas

Our roving pan celts start at Spalding University's Irish Coffee on March 6 at 10 a.m. and end the night at Cincinnati's Harley Hotel serenading the Cincinnati Ladies' AOH soiree.

They return to the Queen City the next Saturday (13th) to be part of the Celtic Lands Festival at Union Station at 2 p.m. following that night in Covington from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Jack Quinn's Irish Pub & Alehouse. The next day they will mellow out at the Irish Rover (14th) from 7 to 10 p.m. On the feast day (17th), they will start at noon at Molly Malone's then move to the Irish Rover from 6 to 9 p.m. and finish back at Molly Malone's from 10 to 1 a.m.

McClanahan School of Irish Dance

Heather will bring her students to peform on St. Patrick's Day at Molly Malone's from 4 to 6 and 8 p.m. They will also be giving a recital on March 7 from 2 to 3 pm at The Clifton Center. Admission is FREE!!!

Flotsam and Jetsam

Cincinnati's Silver Arm will return to Molly Malone's on Friday, March 26. Everyone enjoyed their first visit and hope there will be many more to come. Scotland's Tannahill Weavers will be performing two shows at the Kentucky Scottish Weekend on Sunday May 9. That will make a mighty ending for a glorious weekend of piping, dancing, athletics and frolic.

If you don't have a grand time this March, check your pulse.

Slan, Decimus Rock