(Seoul, 09.03.09) With business tightening its belt buckle in the face of the prevailing global economic downturn, one of Korea’s largest and most well-attended foreign festivals has received last-minute funding to ensure its celebration in 2009.  Thanks to sponsorship and assistance from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Korean Air, Diageo Korea (Guinness), the Wolfhound, Dublin Terrace, and the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Seoul’s 9^th Irish Festival – 2009 St. Patrick's Day Festival – will go ahead as planned in Daehangno on Saturday, March 14^th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Attracting an estimated 18,000 attendees in 2008, the Irish Festival, organized by the Irish Association of Korea (IAK), was in danger of not going ahead this year as significant corporate sponsorship was not renewed.  The traditional and colorful street parade is a costly venture, and the festival in Seoul had also traditionally been accompanied with a free open air concert and fair.  However, thanks to our loyal support from long-standing sponsors, this year’s festival will focus on continuing to build community spirit.

“Guess we got the rub of the green again!” joked Kevin Tobin, Chairman of the IAK.  (Editor’s note: Ireland is commonly associated with the color green and good luck, particularly in North American and the United Kingdom.) “Every year we get more and more involvement and participation from Korean and non-Irish community groups and individuals, and there is an unwritten expectation in Seoul that this event will take place. 

“As a group of volunteers, both Irish and Korean, we rely on the spirit of the community and other groups to make our event a success.  This is what St. Patrick’s Day is about: sharing and celebrating cultural diversity together.”

The Festival will feature both Irish and Korean samul nori and dance, Dongguk cheerleaders, including one brass, three Irish traditional bands, U2 cover rock ‘’n’ roll, traditional Irish music plus traditional Irish dance, featuring exhibition step dancing.  The audience will be invited to participate in what has become a Seoul Irish Festival tradition – Irish folk dancing. There will be an informal parade through the streets of Ihwa-dong, east of Daehagno Boulevard, starting and ending at Marronnier Park. The IAK is calling on all Koreans and members of the foreign community to participate in and support this friendship march and to celebrate Ireland's national holiday by wearing green.  The IAK will accommodate all non-profit groups wishing to follow our bagpiper in our St. Patrick’s Parade as we wind through the streets of Ilwha-dong, around Marronnier Park.

1. Traditional Irish Concert & Fair – Marronnier Park, Daehangno, (Hyewha Station, #4 Light Blue Line, Exit 2)  11 a.m., to 5 p.m., March 14^th
3. St. Patrick's Day Parade – start @ Marronnier Park, Daehangno, 1 to 2 p.m., March 14^th
4.  following official Festival opening by the US Ambassador HE Kathleen Stevens;
5. Francis X. O’Donoghue Irish 'Chargé d'Affaires ad interim; Jongro National Assembly Representative, Park Jin. and Jongro Mayor Kim Chung-yong ,
7. 'Hooley' at Dublin Terrace in Gangnam, 5 minutes from Gangnam Station, Exit 7 – from 7 p.m. to late (tickets at 50,000 won, includes free Guinness, drinks and food until 1:30 AM, discounted pricing after 1:30), March 14^th

Events Detailed Schedule (Times and Events subject to last minute change)

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  All Day :   Free Irish food & beverage sampling, demonstration of Irish sports

11:00		Opening - Irish CD on stage/Samul Nori in courtyard
11:30		Dongguk University Cheer Leaders
11:50		Jimmy Bowens acoustic guitarist
12:45		VIP Speeches(US Ambassador, Irish Embassy Charge de Affairs, Jongro Mayor, Jongro National Assemblyman)
1:00		Seoul Metropolitan Police Band Concert
1:30		Bagpiper solo
1:40		Parade through neighborhood / CD Music on stage
2:30		Inishere (Irish traditional band)
3:00		Always (Irish fusion band)
3:30		BARD (Irish traditional band) & 4 step dancers; folk dancing demonstration with crowd participation
4:30		Deafening Street (Korean U2 cover band)
		HOOLEY (Irish Dance Party)
7:00		DVD & Piping in guests
8:00		Bard (traditional Irish band with step dancer)
9:00		Donal (acoustic guitarists)
10:00		Bagpiper solo
10:15		The Wise Guys (rock band)

If possible, Ireland vs Scotland 6 Nations Ruby will be shown live.

Visit http://www.iak.co.kr for up-to-date information

about the 9^th Irish Festival in Korea (or www.seoulshamrock.co.kr).

Editors Note

The festival commemorates Saint Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint. It is sponsored by

Ireland’s No.1 beer, Guinness, to promote the festival in Seoul alongside similar

festivals in countries from Ireland to the USA, Canada, Australia and Japan. 

 People visiting Marronnier Park, Daehagno on the 14^th are welcomed to

enjoy traditional Irish  dance and traditional music performance,

and take part or support the Grand Parade  by wearing green costumes.

About the Irish Association of Korea

Founded in 1996, the Irish Association of Korea promotes Irish culture in Korea

by organizing events of interest to Irish people in Korea, and that are opportunities

 for Koreans and other people living in Korea to experience and learn more about Irish

 life. Among other events, it organizes the annual St. Patrick's Day festival in which

over 18,000 people participated in Seoul in 2008.