Beckley, WV (WOAY) The city of Beckley is celebrating Appalachian heritage and Irish culture with its annual Irish Celtic Festival, a week of food, music, and traditional activities leading up to Saint Patrick’s Day.
Local restaurants are helping kick off the festivities with traditional Irish meals and drinks.
Beckley’s Historic Black Knight will offer lunch specials starting today from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., continuing through St. Patrick’s Day on March 17.
The menu will feature classic Irish fare, including Reuben sandwiches, Guinness, and Irish cheddar mac-and-cheese, Irish stew, authentic Irish soda bread, and shepherd’s pie.
Festival activities officially get underway Saturday, March 14, at 1:00 p.m. at New River Park with a demonstration of traditional Irish road bowling.
The sport, also known as “bullets” or “long bullets,” challenges competitors to throw a metal ball along a predetermined country road course in as few throws as possible.
Organizers describe it as similar to a fast-pitch softball throw with a running start.
The celebration continues Sunday with live music and dance at the Raleigh Playhouse and Theatre.
Irish musician Patrick O’Flaherty will perform traditional Celtic music at 4:00 p.m.
O’Flaherty, who grew up in Galway’s Gaeltacht region on Ireland’s rugged west coast, has spent more than three decades performing and is known for his skill on the Irish mandolin and harmonica.
Following the concert, the Lincoln County Cloggers will take the stage at 5:00 p.m., showcasing high-energy Appalachian clog dancing while preserving traditional mountain dance styles.
Additional events will take place throughout the week.
Foster’s Main Street Tavern will open at 11:00 a.m. on St. Patrick’s Day, serving traditional Irish dishes throughout the day and evening, including slow-cooked corned beef prepared in-house.
From March 10 through March 17, visitors can stop by the Beckley Hometown Market to register for a chance to win a St. Patrick’s Day basket filled with items from local vendors.
The winner will be announced on Tuesday, March 17, at 2:00 p.m.
More Irish-inspired lunch specials will also be served at the Black Knight on March 16 and 17, while St. Patrick’s Day festivities continue across the city.
On Tuesday, March 17, Foster’s Main Street Tavern will serve Irish food throughout the day, and the Raleigh County Library will host a St. Patrick’s Day-themed painting class at 4:00 p.m.
For more information about the Irish Celtic Festival and the full schedule of events, visit the City of Beckley website.
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