Danbury Irish Cultural Center Plans Hybrid St. Patrick's Day

3/10/21 Update: Both the "SHAMROCKED" lawn sign and Irish breakfast bag fundraisers are officially SOLD OUT. We will however gratefully accept donations on our GoFundMe page:

https://charity.gofundme.com/o...

Original article:

DANBURY, CT—Almost a year since their last St. Patrick's Day Parade and events were canceled due to COVID-19, the Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Center (GDICC) has opened at limited capacity and is ramping back up with a smaller-scale, safety-conscious St. Patrick's Day. This year's normally month-long "most wonderful time of the year" for the Hibernians, will be held online via Facebook live stream and in-person with a limited number in attendance. In-person will be for members only and their guests due to Covid space restrictions.

In partnership with the Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Foundation (GDICF), the Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Center (GDICC) Board has planned an in-person and a live-stream St. Patrick's Day with curbside pick-up and live music with limited, members-only attendance due to Covid safety regulations.

In addition to the 2020 and 2021 parade cancellations, last year's Danbury Irish Festival cancellation, and the nixing of this year's St. Patrick's Day Ball all due to COVID, the Foundation and Fundraising Committee has come up with two unique fundraising activities to bring the spirit of the Emerald Isle from their hearts to your homes.

The first of these is the Irish Breakfast Basket fundraiser. For just $40, the Irish Breakfast Basket (bag) includes one pound each of fresh, top-quality bacon, sausage, pudding, brown bread, and a selection of yummy products from the fine folks at Kerrygold USA. Order online here. The order deadline is March 8, 2021. Order pickup is curbside at the GDICC, 6 Lake Ave. Danbury, on Saturday, March 13 between 12 - 5 p.m. [SOLD OUT]

The second fundraiser is "You've Been SHAMROCKED!" which is a fun way to decorate your front lawn or surprise your friends. For only $20, you can deck your lawn or nominate a health care worker, teacher, school employee, a local hero, and shamrock them as your way to say “THANK YOU” for their selfless service during Covid! [SOLD OUT]

Each lawn decorating package includes 1 lawn sign, 7 lucky shamrocks, 3 balloons* (colors of the Irish flag), ribbon, a “pot” of GOLD in the form of gold-foil-wrapped chocolates, and a poem. Order now through 3/17 (or until they sell out). Order online here or complete an order form at the GDICC – ask the bartender for a form. Checks for $20 are payable to "GDICF. Order pickup is curbside at the GDICC, 6 Lake Ave. Danbury, on Saturday, March 5, and Sunday, March 6 between 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. [SOLD OUT]

Both fundraisers benefit the Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. For more information, email DanburyIrish@gmail.com.

On St.Patrick's Day, Wednesday, March 17th, corned beef will be available for take-out and curbside pick-up. Plans are still being finalized for in-person St. Patrick's Day celebrations at the club. For the most up-to-date information, check the GDICC's Facebook page.

3/10/21 UPDATE:

Plans are being made for St. Patrick's Day! The Center will open at 11 a.m. on March 17, 2021, and will be open for dine-in for members and guests only, with limited capacity due to COVID restrictions, and with time at the Center limited to 90 minutes to 2 hours, to allow all members who want to stop in to have a chance to do so. We will have food available for take-out and curbside pickup! Music from Patrick Hearty of Mighty Ploughboys from 12 to 1 p.m., and from Fiddleuisce from 4 to 6 p.m. Get your appetite ready for corned beef dinners, sandwiches, hash, Irish soda bread, and shepherd's pie.

Photo credit: Sean MacEntee via Flickr Creative Commons