NAMSAN TOWER JOINS THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING , SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE AND MANY OTHER ICONIC BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IN GOING GREEN FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY
– 2010 St. Patrick’s Day Festival to focus on professional performers from Ireland and recognition of the Irish who died in UN armies during the Korean War –
Updated Release– Times Subject to Change (since we’re Irish)
(Updates in blue fonts; photos available on request to tomcoyner@gmail.com)
(Seoul, 10.03.14) With business recovering from the global economic downturn, one of Korea’s largest and most well-attended foreign festivals has received increased funding to ensure its celebration in 2010. Thanks to sponsorship and assistance from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Korean Air, Diageo Korea (Guinness), Embassy of Ireland, the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Coca-Cola, CJ N CITY, Dublin Terrace restaurant, the Wolfhound Bar, DHL Express and the International Practice Group of Joowon Law. Seoul’s 10th Irish Festival – 2010 St. Patrick’s Day Festival – will go ahead as planned at Cheongyecheon Plaza on Saturday, March 20th from 12 p.m. to 5.45 p.m.
Attracting an estimated 18,000 attendees in 2008, the Irish Festival, organized by the Irish Association of Korea (IAK), was in danger of not going ahead last year as significant corporate sponsorship was not renewed. The traditional and colorful street parade is a costly venture, and the festival in Seoul had also traditionally been accompanied with a free open air concert and fair. Nonetheless, thanks to our loyal support from long-standing sponsors, last year’s festival successfully focused on continuing to build community spirit.
“Guess we got the rub of the green again!” joked Kevin Tobin, former Chairman of the IAK. (Editor’s note: Ireland is commonly associated with the color green and good luck, particularly in North American and the United Kingdom. This year Namsan Tower will be lit green lights from March 17 through March 20th.) “Every year we get more and more involvement and participation from Korean and non-Irish community groups and individuals, and there is an unwritten expectation in Seoul that this event will take place.
“As a group of volunteers, both Irish and Korean, we rely on the spirit of the community and other groups to make our event a success. This is what St. Patrick’s Day is about: sharing and celebrating cultural diversity together.”
Prior to the March 20th Festival, the following additional events will take place:
- · March 17th~March 20th, Wednesday ~ Saturday : Namsan Tower will be lit in green light
- · March 17th, Wednesday, 9:00 p.m.~??: Irish traditional music and raffle at the Wolfhound in Itaewon
- · March 19th, Friday, 4:30 pm 9:00 pm: “Women of Ireland – Voices from the Writings of Great Irish Writers, Dongguk University, Munch (Culture Bldg, 1st floor, Duk-am Seminar Room) – lectures, videos, live music, finger food and soft drinks.)
- · March 19th, Friday, 7:00 pm 9:00 pm: The Fee & Andrea Band with Step Dancers will perform at the base of the Namsan Tower.
This year the Festival is returning to its prior, full glory and will feature both Irish and Korean samul nori and dance, Dongguk cheerleaders, including two brass and two Irish traditional bands, U2 cover rock ‘’n’ roll, traditional Irish music plus traditional Irish dance, featuring exhibition step dancing. The audience will once again be invited to participate in what has become a Seoul Irish Festival tradition – Irish folk dancing. There will be a full parade up and down the streets paralleling the Cheongyecheon, starting and ending at Cheongyecheon Plaza. The IAK is calling on all Koreans and members of the foreign community to participate in and support this friendship march and to celebrate Ireland’s national holiday by wearing green. The IAK will accommodate all non-profit groups wishing to follow our bagpiper in our St. Patrick’s Parade as we march up and down the Cheongyecheon stream.
- Traditional Irish Concert & Fair – Cheongyecheon Plaza 12 p.m. to 5. 45 p.m., Saturday, March 20th
- St. Patrick’s Day Parade – start @ Cheongyecheon, 2 to 3 p.m., March 20th following official Festival opening by the Irish Ambassador Eamonn McGee, etc.
- ‘Hooley’ at Dublin Terrace in Gangnam, 5 minutes from Gangnam Station, Exit 7, first right at Paris Baguette – from 7 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. (tickets at 50,000 won, includes free Guinness, drinks and food until 1:00 AM, discounted pricing after 1am), March 20th. Rock bands, step dancing and traditional Irish pub band from Ireland, the Andrea and Fee Band, will be featured.
Events Detailed Schedule for March 20th (Events subject to last minute change):
Date and Time: Saturday, March 20, 2010 (12:00~15:45)
Venue: Cheongye Plaza
Directions: Gwanghwamun Station, Subway Line 5, Exit 5
How to Participate: Just show up at Cheongye Plaza and enjoy the festival with us
Events: Ireland/Korea Music/Culture Festival
- · Irish Culture Exhibition (Cheongye Plaza – Mojeon-gyo Bridge)
- · Donations for Irish Who Fell During the Korean War Memorial
- · DJ Hong Chang-Woo (DJ Performance)
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· St. Patrick’s Day Grand Parade 14:00~14:50 · Bagpiper solo
· Parade with amateur and professional marching units as well as general public participation · Fee & Andrea Band from Ireland with professional step dancers · BARD (Irish traditional band) & 4 step dancers; folk dancing demonstration with crowd participation · Deafening Street (Korean U2 cover band)
· Korean university rock bands
Annual St. Patrick’s Hooley (Irish Dance Party)
Date & Time: Saturday, 20th of March, 7 pm to 1 amVenue: Dublin Terrace Pub, Gangnam Station, Line 2, Exit 7, first right at Paris Baguette
Price: 50,000 won for all you can eat (European Buffett 7:00 pm ~ 10:30 pm)
and drink, including Guinness
Sales: Tickets at the door
Late Night: 1 am onwards (same venue) drinks at discounted prices
Entertainment:
· Piping in guests · Bard (Traditional Irish band with step dancers) · Deafening Street (Korean U2 cover band) · Fee & Andrea Band (Traditional band from Ireland) · Step dancers
- · St. Patrick’s Day Grand Parade 14:00~14:50
- · Bagpiper solo
- · Parade with amateur and professional marching units as well as general public participation
- · Fee & Andrea Band from Ireland with professional step dancers
- · BARD (Irish traditional band) & 4 step dancers; folk dancing demonstration with crowd participation
- · Deafening Street (Korean U2 cover band)
- · Korean university rock bands
* Visit http://www.iak.co.kr for up-to-date information about the 10th Irish Festival in Korea.
* Media photos may be downloaded and used with “Photo by Tom Coyner” attribution at:
http://seoulman.smugmug.com/Travel/Irish-Abroad/St-Patricks-Festival-2006/1429777_KFfws#67922390_LhtBa
http://seoulman.smugmug.com/Travel/Irish-Abroad/Seoul-St-Patricks-Parade-2005/847546_sGCpU#38077048_u9gYs
* Coming in April the hit Irish comedy play Stones in His Pockets. For further information and bookings contact bh productions at thebhpcompany@yahoo.com or call 019 802 2474
Editor’s Note
The festival commemorates Saint Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint. It is sponsored by Ireland’s No.1 beer, Guinness, to promote the festival in Seoul alongside similar festivals in countries from Ireland to the USA, Canada, Australia and Japan. People joining in the festival are welcomed to enjoy traditional Irish dance and traditional music performance, and take part or support the Grand Parade by wearing green costumes.
About the Irish Association of Korea
Founded in 1996, the Irish Association of Korea promotes Irish culture in Korea by organizing events of interest to Irish people in Korea, and that are opportunities for Koreans and other people living in Korea to experience and learn more about Irish life. Among other events, it organizes the annual St. Patrick’s Day festival in which over 18,000 people participated in Seoul in 2008 and now celebrating the Tenth Annual Irish Festival.
If you wish to develop a feature or interview members of the Irish community in Korea, please contact:
Mr. Tom Coyner Mr. Jun Byung-keun “Byung”
010-9099-6195 016-232-0625
tomcoyner@gmail.com byung625@gmail.com
Dublin Terrace will be serving an estimated 30 kegs of Guinness Draught during the Hooley
Irish Association of Korea 한국아일랜드협회 