The Sapphire Lutheran Homes St Patrick's Day brunch Saturday, March 17, was well-attended. The meal, featuring shepherds pie, lamb stew or bangers and mash, raised money for the Bitterroot Celtic Society's Games and Gathering in August in Hamilton.

But it wasn't the only Irish celebration in the area. Corned beef and cabbage meals were served up at the Hamilton Elks Club, the St Mary's Family Center in Stevensville, the Golden Age Club in Hamilton and other venues. The Missoula st. Patrick's Day Paraded was fun.

And the fun is continuing into this next weekend. Irish-themed music will be featured March 23 and 24 in Hamilton, Butte and Missoula concerts. Hamilton's Performing Arts Series will wrap their current season with traditional Quebec folk music of De Temps Antan at the Hamilton Performing Arts Center Friday night. The trio will be touring extensively in the U.S. and Europe following the Hamilton presentation. Ticket information is at the Bitterroot Performing Arts Council box office at (406) 363-7946.

Meanwhile, Liam O Maonlai will perform on the whistle, bodhran and sean-nos singing in Butte Friday at the Montana Tech Library Auditorium and in Missoula at the UM Recital Hall. His trip from Ireland is sponsored by the UM Irish Studies program and ticketsare are available at rockin' Rudy's.

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