An evening of Irish music, dancing, food and fun is coming to Consett – to raise money for Derwentside’s Willow Burn Hospice.

The event – entitled Eat, Drink and Be Irish – will take place on Friday 29th June at The Demi Sports Bar, Consett.

The evening will boast an authentic Irish stew, Irish drinks, music from Tony Corcoran’s Live Ceilidh band, and dancers from Durham’s O’Hehir’s School of Irish Dance.

There will also be games, poetry, storytelling and a raffle with brilliant prizes. The organisers guarantee “one of the best night’s craic you will ever experience.”

Consett has a long history of Irish immigration. During the 1800s, large numbers of Irish families came to the area to work on the railways and in iron works. Even today, Irish surnames such as Carr, Murphy and Donnelly are common in County Durham.

In the 1800s, there were fewer pubs and clubs in Consett than today, partly because times were hard for many people and they didn’t have much money to spend in them.

But the Irish community still managed to enjoy music and have a good time, with frequent music and storytelling sessions in the town’s ‘back alley pubs’. It was believed that even in times of hardship, music and laughter were important.

The Irish community have also left their mark on Consett’s townscape in the form of St Mary’s Church, which was built thanks to donations from Irish workers and families in the area.  

Eat, Drink and Be Irish aims to celebrate Consett’s rich Irish heritage by providing a fun night for all and raising money for a great cause.

Siobhan Marsh, the fundraiser behind the event, said, “One of the things that we Irish are famed for is our sense of fun. I wanted to bring the kind of atmosphere you get when walking into a pub in Ireland at any time of day to this event.”

Eat, Drink and Be Irish will take place on Friday 29th June, from 7.30 pm till late, at The Demi Sports Bar, Consett. Tickets cost £15, a price which includes a portion of Irish Stew, a reception drink and – of course – all the music and entertainment.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting https://willow-burn.co.uk/event/eat-drink-and-be-Irish or by phoning 01207 529 224.

Willow Burn Hospice treasures the lives of people whose illnesses are no longer curable and helps them achieve the best possible quality of life. The hospice provides a friendly and supportive atmosphere in which everyone feels welcome.

To learn more about Willow Burn Hospice, please visit https://willow-burn.co.uk.


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DavidSunderland
David writes about local news, thought provoking stories, and yearns to capture the community spirit with a unique writing style.

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