Danbury Irish Cultural Center Seeks New Members, Plans Events

DANBURY, CT — The Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Center (GDICC) invites locals to experience the richness of Irish culture and community by becoming a member at their center. Located at 6 Lake Avenue in Danbury, the GDICC offers Irish language lessons, concerts, plays, games, lectures, book clubs and monthly seisiún (open music circle).

The goals of the organization are the preservation and teaching of our Irish heritage and culture for enrichment and enjoyment as well as the next generation’s, and for all people who are interested in Irish heritage programs of teaching, workshops and cultural events. Classes and workshops include Irish language, dance, music, singing, drama, storytelling, genealogy, literature, history and Gaelic sports.

The Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Foundation (GDICF), housed out of the GDICC, offers weekly Irish language classes at the beginning and intermediate levels, weekly fiddle and whistle classes at the beginning and intermediate levels, weekly céilí and set dancing classes, monthly seisiún, a one-day traditional acoustic Irish music festival and an annual three-day Irish Festival (the Danbury Irish Festival) with a full program of traditional Irish cultural entertainment.

Dinner is served from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Events at the club also include card night, dart tournaments, movie nights, book club, trivia night, golf outings, sponsored trips, corn hole, children's theater, parades, concerts, Celtic New Year and of course their biggest holiday of the year, St. Patrick's Day!

The GDICC is gearing up for the festivities by planning a full month of activities and events including the following:

Sunday, March 4th

• 19th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade Fundraiser at Molly Darcy's Danbury, Mill Plain Rd., from 1 to 6 p.m. Admission is $15 which includes a hot buffet sampler, musical entertainment by Mighty Ploughboys, the Highland Rovers, Steve O'Tree and Celtic Cross Pipe & Drum Band. Step dancing from the Thorne Academy and the Doherty-Petri School of Irish Dance.

Saturday March 10th

• 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. Edwards Church in New Fairfield followed by a procession (location TDB) for refreshments. Bagpiper Peter Hearty will lead the procession.

Saturday, March 17th

• 9 a.m. Flag raising in Bethel at P.T. Barnum Square
• 11 a.m. Mass at St. Peter Church, Main St. Danbury
• 12 p.m. Flag raising at Danbury City Hall, West St.
• 12:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. Corned beef, cabbage, Irish Soda bread, refreshments at the Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Center, 6 Lake Ave., Danubry
• 1:00 p. m. Thorne School of Irish Dance
• 3:00 p.m. Ashurst Academy Of Irish Dance
• 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Chicks 'n Sync - live, all-female Irish band
• 8:00 p.m. Steve O'Tree - live Irish music

Sunday, March 25th

• The Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Center's St. Patrick’s Day parade is on Sunday, March 25th. Step off is at 3 p.m. in front of St. Peter Church in Danbury, then the parade route continues down Main, goes left of West St., on to Lake Ave. and ends at the Irish Club (6 Lake Ave. Danbury) where there will be Irish music, dance, corned beef, cabbage & Irish soda bread.

For more information, call the club at (203) 739-0010 or visit WWW.GDICC.ORG.

To learn more about becoming a member, email Katie Gehan at kilclogher1@aol.com.