Kells Irish Festival celebrates Irish heritage with live music, dancing, food and kids activities at two locations
PORTLAND, Ore. – Thousands of locals and expats will partake in live music, traditional dancing and Irish food and libations at the 24th annual Kells St. Patrick’s Day Festival. The Northwest’s largest St Patrick’s Day event will run for five days, from March 13 through 17, at Kells Irish Pub at 112 SW Second Ave. and at Kells Brew Pub at 210 NW 21st Ave. Festival admission varies by day and location.
Live entertainment will take place at both locations during all five days, ranging from Irish dancing to bagpipers to traditional folk Irish bands. (A complete schedule of events for both locations can be found at the conclusion of this press release.)
Over the weekend, a number of family friendly activities will also be offered at the downtown location, including arts and crafts, face painting, Irish Wolfhounds, family tree research, and visits from the Timbers Street Team.
Gerard and Lucille McAleese established Kells’ Portland location in 1990; in 1991, they began the tradition of a St. Patrick’s Day Festival that has grown into the largest Irish celebration in the Northwest. A portion of the festival proceeds benefits Providence Child Center.
In advance of the festival, the McAleeses hold an annual “Green Rain” fundraiser in which dollar bills and change that has been tossed into clear umbrellas hanging from the ceiling is collected. The money “rains down” from the ceiling and is donated to The Center for Medically Fragile Children at Providence Child Center. Since its inception in 1995, the Green Rain fundraiser has brought in more than $225,000.
ABOUT KELLS
Serving the Northwest since 1983, and celebrating 25 years in Portland this year, Kells Irish Restaurant is a local family-run establishment that is consistently voted and ranked among the top Irish pubs in the United States. With locations in Seattle, Portland and San Francisco, it is a touchstone of each community that stays true to its roots. Owners Gerard and Lucille McAleese are also recognized for their generosity to a number of nonprofits and community organizations. For more information, visit www.kellsirish.com.
KELLS ST PATRICK’S DAY FESTIVAL EVENT SCHEDULE
Please note that all times and/or scheduled performers are subject to change, with no prior notice due to circumstances beyond our control.
FRIDAY, MARCH 13
Kells Irish Pub, 112 SW 2nd Ave
8:00PM: Grafton Street
10:00PM: Andrew
12:00AM: Coming up Threes
Festival Tent, 112 SW 2nd Ave (back parking lot)
Black Tie Smoker – SOLD OUT
Kells Brew Pub, 210 NW 21st Ave
8:00PM: Cul an Tí
9:30PM: Kells Pipers
10PM:00PM: Flight of the Earls
SATURDAY, MARCH 14
Kells Irish Pub, 112 SW 2nd Ave
6:30PM: Na Rósaí
8:30PM: Cul an Tí
10:30PM: Grafton Street
12:00AM: Coming up Threes
Festival Tent, 112 SW 2nd Ave (back parking lot)
11:30AM: Murray School of Irish Dancing
12:00PM: Mike Beglan & Geraldine Murray
1:30PM: Kells Piers
2:00PM: Grafton Street
3:30PM: An Dáire Irish Dancing
4:00PM: Cul an Tí
5:30PM: Comerford School
6:00PM: Flight of the Earls
7:30PM: Molly Malone Irish Dancers
8:15PM: Coming up Threes
10:00PM: Kells Pipers
10:30PM: Beatniks
Kells Brew Pub, 210 NW 21st Ave
1:00PM: Molly Malone Irish Dancers
1:30PM: Cul an Tí
3:00PM: Na Rósaí
4:30PM: Comerford Irish Dancers
5:00PM: Kells Pipers
5:30PM: Hanz Araki
7:30PM: Grafton Street
9:00PM: Kells Pipers
9:30PM: Flight of the Earls
11:30PM: TBD
SUNDAY, MARCH 15
Kells Irish Pub, 112 SW 2nd Ave
12:00PM: Cul an Tí
2:00PM: Na Rósaí
4:00PM: Timbers Game
6:00PM: Irish Session
8:00PM: Andrew
10:00PM: Grafton Street
Festival Tent, 112 SW 2nd Ave (back parking lot)
10:00AM: Murray School of Irish Dancing
10:30AM: Mike Beglan & Geraldine Murray
12:00PM: Kells Pipers
12:30PM: Coming up Threes
2:00PM: Comerford School
2:45PM: Grafton Street
4:15PM: An Dáire Irish Dancing
Kells Brew Pub, 210 NW 21st Ave
12:00PM: Na Rósaí
2:00PM: Murray Scool of Irish Dancing
3:30PM: Kells Pipers
4:00PM: Timbers Game
6:00PM: Kells Pipers
6:30PM: Grafton Street
8:30PM: Flight of the Earls
MONDAY, MARCH 16
Kells Irish Pub, 112 SW 2nd Ave
11:00AM: Peter Yeats
TBD: Molly Malone Irish Dancers
8:00PM: Na Rósaí
10:00PM: Grafton Street
Kells Brew Pub, 210 NW 21st Ave
8:00PM: Flight of the Earls
TUESDAY, MARCH 17 (ST. PATRICK’S DAY)
Kells Irish Pub, 112 SW 2nd Ave
2:00PM: Hanz Araki
4:00PM: Na Rósaí
6:00PM: Flight of the Earls
8:00PM: Grafton Street
10:00PM: Coming up Threes
Festival Tent, 112 SW 2nd Ave (back parking lot)
11:30AM: Murray School of Irish Dancing
12:00PM: Mike Beglan & Geraldine Murray
1:30PM: Kells Piers
2:00PM: Flight of the Earls
3:30PM: An Daire Irish Dancing
4:00PM: Coming up Threes
5:30PM: Kells Pipers
6:00PM: Andrew
7:30PM: Molly Malone Irish Dancers
8:00PM: TRIBUTE: Rod Stewart, Fleetwood Mac & Abba
10:00PM: Kells Pipers
Kells Brew Pub, 210 NW 21st Ave
12:30PM: Na Rósaí
2:00PM: Comerford School
2:30PM: Kells Pipers
3:00PM: Cul an Tí
5:00PM: Grafton Street
6:30PM: An Dáire Irish Dancing
7:00PM: Na Rósaí
8:30PM: Kells Pipers
9:00PM: Flight of the Earls
