The Edmonton Police Service Pipes and Drums return to Butte for St. Patrick's Day festivities.
The Irish have had no small influence on Montana, and several towns celebrate its patron saint this month – most notably Butte and the Friends of Irish Studies in Missoula.
Among the offerings:
The Friends of Irish Studies host a corned beef feast from 5:30-7:30 p.m. March 17 at St. Anthony Parish Hall in Missoula; offer a drink to ticket-holders before the Lunasa concert March 25 at the Hamilton Performing Arts Center; and host an Irish poetry reading March 29 at Western Cider in Missoula.
Feeling inspired to visit the Emerald Isle? Win a trip to Ireland with the FIS drawing; purchase raffle tickets online at friendsofirishstudies.com. This nine-day tour of Ireland, led by Dr. Traolach Ó Ríordáin, Professor of Irish language and Literature at the University of Montana, is limited to 20 people and runs from June 18-27.
George Everett of Mainstreet Uptown Butte reports that after an absence of nearly four years, the Pipes and Drums Band of the Edmonton Police Service will return to Butte – “Ireland’s Fifth Province” – March 15-17. The group has been coming to Butte to help celebrate the community’s Celtic heritage since 1984, 39 years ago.
In addition to performing at myriad schools, senior centers, businesses and taverns, the pipers will march in the parade at noon March 17 and entertain at 7:45 p.m. at the Butte Civic Center during Handing Down the Heritage before closing out their visit at the recently reopened M&M Bar.
Our Lively Calendar also has a slew of suggestions, including:
• An Evening with the Last Revel, March 17 at the Yogo Inn in Lewistown
• Backcountry Brewfest, March 17 at Caras Park in Missoula
• Booze Clues with a St. Patrick’s Day Twist, March 17 at the Moss Mansion in Billings
• St. Patrick’s Day with Ten Years Gone and the Tiernan Irish Dancers, March 17 at Lewis & Clark Brewing Company in Helena
• St Patrick’s Day Parade and Celtic Fair, March 18 in downtown Billings
• The acclaimed Irish group Lunasa, March 25 at the Hamilton Performing Arts Center