Every year in March, The Irish Society of the National Capital Region hosts a plethora of events in honour of St. Patrick’s Day.
This year, from March 10 to 17, the society will be host the first ever Irish Festival.
In previous years the events were part of Ottawa Irish Week, but the name has been changed to Ottawa Irish Festival because of the growing number of events and participants.
According to the Irish Society chair of communications Jennifer O’Brien-Tomka, this year’s celebration is shaping up to be the biggest yet. O’Brien-Tomka says that a lot of community groups have decided to take part this year by hosting their own events.
One of these groups is the Ottawa Gaels Gaelic football club. “The Friday of Irish week, as on each Friday evening until the end of April, the Gaels will play their weekly co-ed game at the Algonquin Dome. It’s in the spirit of fun, and it’s a good chance for people who have never played to give it a try,” says Vice-Chairperson Dermot Guinnane. The Gaels also contribute a float every year, decked out with football players and the club colors.
One of this year’s new events is a lecture and language series that will be hosted by Ottawa University. Lectures on The Monuments of Prehistoric Ireland and Grosse Ile, Quebec will put the history in context, while beginner Irish language will give visitors a taste of Irish culture.
A proclamation by Ottawa’s mayor Larry O’Brien on March 10 will launch the festivities. The following week will include Irish and Celtic music concerts, exhibitions of Irish resources, Irish dance classes, Gaelic football training and pancake breakfasts. The majority of these events will be free of charge.
“Another exciting event is the premiere of Death or Canada at the Mayfair Theatre,” says O’Brien-Tomka. The movie will be shown as part of the festival before it airs on History Television later this spring.
The festival will feature returning events as well. “The biggest event would definitely be the [St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 14] and then of course the Grand Irish Party afterwards,” says O’Brien-Tomka. “Last year…I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The Ottawa Police Service estimated parade attendance was 10,000 last year. The venue for the “after-party” – the Ottawa Civic Centre – was at maximum capacity or about 1500 people.
Unfortunately for the non-profit Irish Society, this one of the challenges of this growing festival is a hefty price tag. Last year’s president of the Irish Society Bill Tobin estimates the cost of the 2009 parade will be $12,000. This is down from $18,000 last year. “We have had to cut back on costs as it has been difficult raising the necessary funds,” says Tobin. “In these tough economic times, businesses have had to cut back on donations and sponsorships.”
“The hard part is always trying to land a new sponsor. As events get more and more popular, and there’s more demand for events it will cost more money,” adds O’Brien-Tomka.
Although the festival is funded primarily by corporate sponsorship, the society also relies on volunteer contributions and admission prices to events like the Grand Irish Party help cut costs.
In addition to families and organizations, events such as the parade also get local businesses involved in the celebration. “There are definite promotional opportunities for businesses,” says Tobin. “For some suburbanites, the Parade may be the only occasion during the year that they will actually walk on Bank St.”
Each year the parade has a host charity. This year it is the Ottawa Food Bank, so spectators are encouraged to bring items to donate.
In a city known for its array of annual festivals, perhaps this year the ever-expanding Ottawa Irish festival will put up amongst the ranks of Winterlude or Bluefest.