The borough's infestive mood for St. Patrick's Week

On St. Patrick’s Day, the town centre will be alive with music as popular band Venue i take to the stage for a free outdoor performance showing off their many talents. This starts at 1pm and runs to 2.30pm in the Diamond.

Later that evening, the ever-popular Ben Sands joins the Maranna McCloskey Trio for a performance at the Riverside Theatre. The evening will open with a short display by dancers from the Dominic Graham School of Irish Dancing. The performance then continues with a performance by Maranna McCloskey and friends.

Maranna has performed all over Europe and the UK since replacing Cara Dillon some years ago in the band Oige.

In the second half of the show, Maranna will welcome Ben Sands to the stage. Singer songwriter and storyteller Ben Sands from County Down has been touring and recording for many years as a solo performer and a member of the widely known Sands family.

The Riverside performance starts at 8pm, and tickets are priced at 12 with a 10 concession. Tickets are available from the Riverside Box Office on (028) 7032 3232 – and you can also book online at www.riversidetheatre.org.uk.

Throughout the borough there are also events organised by local communities to celebrate St. Patrick’s Week.

On St. Patrick’s Day itself, there’s a celebration from 2pm to 4pm at the Peter Thompson Hall, Castlerock – featuring Scad the Beggars, Irish Dancers and light refreshments. Admission is 3 per person, and the event has been organised by Castlerock Senior Citizens Wednesday Club.

At the same time in Portstewart there’s a St. Patrick’s Day Concert organised by St Joseph’s College from 2pm to 4pm at Portstewart Town Hall (please note the change in venue from that described in the leaflets which have been circulated around the borough). Admission is free, but donations are welcome.

Later that evening there’s a St. Patricks’ Day Ceili, organised by Eoghan Rua Cultural Committee from 7.30pm to midnight, at Portstewart Town Hall. Admission to this event is 3 per adult, 5 per family with a 1 concession.

On Thursday, March 18 Macosquin Church Upper Hall stages an event under the title ‘Ireland Yesterday and Tomorrow’, from 2pm to 11pm.

And to round off the week, on Saturday, March 20, the Annual St. Patrick’s Ceili takes place at 7.30pm in Movenis Community Hall. The event will feature a Ceili Band, singers, dancers, Irish stew and apple tart. Admission is 2.50 per person.