Louisville Irish Celebrate Halfway to St. Pat’s Day Sept. 16



The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) and O’Shea’s Irish Pub are sponsoring a Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, 6 - 10 p.m., Sept. 16 at O’Shea’s Irish Pub, 956 Baxter Avenue. The evening will feature music, Irish menu specials and other activities to help raise funds for the annual St. Patrick’s parade planned for March 12, 2011. Next year’s parade theme will be unveiled at the event.
 
The celebration is open to the public, with no cover charge between 6 - 10 p.m.  Features of the evening include the following:
  • Live music by Highland Reign, a  Celtic band from Indianapolis that adds rocking new life to old country traditionals plus original Irish-American music

  • The “BIG FELLA,” a limited, special stout served straight from 23-year-old bourbon barrels where it has been aged for 365 days by Bluegrass Brewing Co. 
  • Irish specialties from O’Shea’s chef Tom Hayden: Irish Stew, simmered for hours in a BBC “Big Fella” broth, Shepherd’s Pie, and corned beef and cabbage will be special menu items for the event.

 AOH is an Irish-Catholic fraternal organization that has sponsored the last 37 St. Patrick’s Parades in Louisville. It currently has over 160 members in Louisville -- ranging in age from their early twenties to mid-80’s and all walks of life. It is the oldest and largest Irish cultural organization in the U.S. with roots back 300 years to groups of the same name in Ireland.

Each year the parade draws 20,000 or more to Baxter Ave. and Bardstown Rd to watch over 100 units march in honor of St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland. O’Shea’s is a presenting sponsor for the parade.