May the luck of the Irish be with you!

“Irish import, musician, and singer Jamie O’Brien will be bringing you some beautiful, haunting Irish and Celtic songs, both old and new, influenced by his very own individual approach to the traditional, complete with a wee touch of the contemporary.” Saturday, March 13, 2010, between 3:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M, at Himmel Park branch library, 1035 N. Treat Ave., in the large meeting room.

Then the next day Sunday, March 14 “run with the Irish” downtown for the annual St. Patrick’s Day festival and parade. The fest is all day at Armory Park (220 S. 5th Avenue), 10 to 5 p.m. with the parade starting at 11 a.m.

Here are two good Tucson Irish American/St. Patrick’s Day websites:

http://www.tucsonstpatricksday.com/ for parade & festival info, along their theme of “Running with the Irish.”

http://tucsonirishcommunity.com/Events/st-patricks-day-parade-and-festival (lots of information about the happenings of the Irish Community in Tucson).

For updates contact John Flanagan at info@FlanagansCelticCorner.com, by phone at 520- 623-9922, or meet him in person at the only Celtic/Irish/Scottish/Welsh shop in town–
FLANAGAN’s Celtic Corner, 222 E Congress St, in downtown Tucson, across from the Ronstadt Transit Center. Hours are Wed – Fri: 11AM – 3 PM, Sat – Sun: 9 AM – 6 PM.

My husband and I honeymooned in Ireland, and I am good friends with several Irish Americans who always celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. And believe it or not, I bake Irish soda bread (recipe courtesy of my friend, the late Alice Creagh Brown, of Ridgefield, Connecticut).

Happy St. Patrick’s Day a wee bit early. And don’t forget to wear green (or you’ll get pinched)!