villagevoice 13 MAR 07
Mar 13, 2007 14:27:14 GMT 10
Post by shimmery on Mar 13, 2007 14:27:14 GMT 10
Leith returns to roots on St Pats day
Source:
www.villagevoice.com.au/article/20070312/OAB02/703120305
See picture at this site.
Author:
Melissa Chan
Posted:
Tue 13 Mar, 2007
More than 60,000 people gathered to attend the St Patrick's Day festivities on Sunday in the city, watching the annual St Patrick's Day parade march up George Street to Hyde Park.
Irish music from more traditional tunes to the sounds of U2 Cover band Achtung Baby- The U2 experience, blasted throughout the streets, with a range of performers - including Australian Idol winner Damien Leith - to keep all the Irish and Irish at heart well entertained throughout the day.
A series of white marquees were lined up in along the grass in Hyde Park, with a number of food and beverage stalls including those with Irish fare. A dedicated children's area, complete with jumping castles, was also set up.
St Patrick's Day, more commonly known as 'Paddy's Day', is the feast day which annually celebrates St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.
It has been officially celebrated in Sydney since 1810. However, the parade in its modern form has been running since 1979, with its subsequent Family Day in Hyde Park.
The Parade and Family Day is organised by a not-for-profit organisation, Sydney St Patrick's Day Parade Org Inc, whose core committee is elected by the Irish community at an annual general meeting each year.
It's a day designed to reflect the traditional style of Irish celebration.
"Typically the Irish will gather to meet up with family and see friends, even make new ones. It's a day to reflect on their culture. They will dance, drink and eat to celebrate - Irish people like to be in each other's company. For many Irish, it is also a day of religion, so many will go to Mass and then follow on with other celebrations," said St Patrick's Day media and marketing manager, Alana Sheil.
"We want visitors to experience an Irish cultural event in a multicultural city - to experience a modern progressive Irish culture that is alive and well in Sydney."
Sheil believes the high turnout and appeal of the parade is a result of the closeness that Australians generally feel for the Irish: "Many values such as family are the same. The Irish were among the first convicts and settlers and basically developed the Australian attitude of 'give it a go'. The cultures respect and care for each other."
The parade began at 12.00pm from Town Hall finishing at Hyde Park at 1.00pm, with festivities going on into the evening.
A special Australian Citizenship ceremony was also held at 2.30pm with Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, MP for those seeking to combine their Irish heritage with an Australian identity.
Source:
www.villagevoice.com.au/article/20070312/OAB02/703120305
See picture at this site.
Author:
Melissa Chan
Posted:
Tue 13 Mar, 2007
More than 60,000 people gathered to attend the St Patrick's Day festivities on Sunday in the city, watching the annual St Patrick's Day parade march up George Street to Hyde Park.
Irish music from more traditional tunes to the sounds of U2 Cover band Achtung Baby- The U2 experience, blasted throughout the streets, with a range of performers - including Australian Idol winner Damien Leith - to keep all the Irish and Irish at heart well entertained throughout the day.
A series of white marquees were lined up in along the grass in Hyde Park, with a number of food and beverage stalls including those with Irish fare. A dedicated children's area, complete with jumping castles, was also set up.
St Patrick's Day, more commonly known as 'Paddy's Day', is the feast day which annually celebrates St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.
It has been officially celebrated in Sydney since 1810. However, the parade in its modern form has been running since 1979, with its subsequent Family Day in Hyde Park.
The Parade and Family Day is organised by a not-for-profit organisation, Sydney St Patrick's Day Parade Org Inc, whose core committee is elected by the Irish community at an annual general meeting each year.
It's a day designed to reflect the traditional style of Irish celebration.
"Typically the Irish will gather to meet up with family and see friends, even make new ones. It's a day to reflect on their culture. They will dance, drink and eat to celebrate - Irish people like to be in each other's company. For many Irish, it is also a day of religion, so many will go to Mass and then follow on with other celebrations," said St Patrick's Day media and marketing manager, Alana Sheil.
"We want visitors to experience an Irish cultural event in a multicultural city - to experience a modern progressive Irish culture that is alive and well in Sydney."
Sheil believes the high turnout and appeal of the parade is a result of the closeness that Australians generally feel for the Irish: "Many values such as family are the same. The Irish were among the first convicts and settlers and basically developed the Australian attitude of 'give it a go'. The cultures respect and care for each other."
The parade began at 12.00pm from Town Hall finishing at Hyde Park at 1.00pm, with festivities going on into the evening.
A special Australian Citizenship ceremony was also held at 2.30pm with Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, MP for those seeking to combine their Irish heritage with an Australian identity.
That's a great gig and more than half of them were probably there to see Damien. I read that he has always wanted to perform at the annual St. Pat's Day festival and I hope there are many more of those performances to come. 