St. Patrick’s Day Celebrated

 At City Hall

What: Irish Cultural Program

When: Friday, March 15^th – 2:00 p.m.

Where: City Hall Rotunda – 500 W. Markham St.

The Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission is hosting our St. Patrick’s Day Cultural Program on Friday, March 15 @ 2:00p.m. in the City Hall Rotunda.

The Irish Cultural Society of Arkansas will educate attendees about the history of St. Patrick’s Day as well present Irish singing and dance performances. Refreshments will also be served.

The Irish Cultural Society of Arkansas (ICSA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, public service organization founded in 1996 to educate Arkansans in aspects of the culture and history of Ireland. The Society provides Irish food and objects of Irish art for folk festivals and fairs, provides concerts of Irish music and dance, and participates in community service programs and events – all in an effort to reconnect Arkansans with their Irish heritage.

The ICSA was originally founded by a group of Irish nationals, many of whom had immigrated to Arkansas during the nursing shortage of the 1980’s. Recruited by area hospitals, nurses from Ireland and Great Britain came to Arkansas originally intending to work here a few years and return to their homeland. Instead they married and settled in Little Rock and began to raise families.

As their children grew, they realized the importance of passing on their Irish culture and heritage to their American-born children. Together with their Irish-American friends, they formed the Irish Cultural Society of Arkansas with the following goals:

• To develop and further enhance local interest in the culture of Ireland and its people.
• To publicize the presence of an active Irish community in the Little Rock area.
• To reacquaint Arkansans of Irish descent with their culture and ethnic history.
• To familiarize the general public with the culture of the Irish people and the richness of their contribution to America

The group has about 80 members who share a love for and interest in Ireland.

For more information contact:

Meg Matthews (501) 804-4822 mmatthews@littlerock.gov