St. Pats promises fun galore

By Dan Hilborn
Published March 3, 2004


The largest St. Patrick's Day event in living memory is coming to Burnaby on Friday night when the Celtic Heritage Society kicks off the Vancouver Celtic Fest with a pub night and dance at the Gizeh Shriners' auditorium.

"This is a huge privilege for Burnaby because it's the official kickoff to the first big St. Patrick's Day parade ever," said Mal Mahon, president of the Celtic Heritage Society of Canada.

The pub night, which features that all-important green beer, is the kickoff to a full week of Celtic events, and is a fundraiser for the $25-million Celtic Heritage Centre proposed for the Heights area of North Burnaby.

In addition to the pub night, Celtic Fest features the March 13 St. Patrick's Day parade down Granville Street in Vancouver, an Irish Stew and Brew at the Best Western Chateau Granville, plus the Big Craic, featuring the music of Stone and Sea with Shona LeMottee.

And then on St. Patrick's Day itself - that's March 17 for those who aren't so green behind the ears - the society is bringing the up- tempo dance music of The Irish Descendants to the Commodore ballroom for an evening of full-blown Celtic entertainment.

During the pub night, a special presentation will be made to the Celtic Heritage Society when they are presented with a very limited edition, official reproduction of the famed Book of Kells, the beautifully illuminated ninth-century manuscript of the four gospels of the New Testament. The donation will make the book the first acquisition of the future Celtic Museum that will be built in North Burnaby.

This copy of the Book of Kells was hand-printed in Switzerland and is one of a very limited edition reproductions of the famed 680- page manuscript, which was produced by monks at the Abbey of Kells around the year 800.

This reproduction was approved by Trinity College in 1986 and was produced by the Swiss publisher Urs Duggelin using medieval processes such as hand-painting and sewing of the binding.

Mahon said the replica Book of Kells will eventually become a centrepiece attraction of the cultural centre, which will include a 600-seat theatre, 20,000-square foot conference centre, dance studio, art studio, recording studio, museum, library, communications centre complete with television and radio production facilities, 16 retail stores including a hoped-for authentic Irish pub and underground parking.

And there's going to be lots of opportunity to help raise money for this centre, which is scheduled to begin construction within 18 months, Mahon said.

"This is not only a Celtic Heritage Centre but it'll be a community centre for the whole of North Burnaby," said Mahon, who is also owner/operator of Burnaby Vacuums, at 4837 East Hastings St., directly across the street from the proposed Celtic Cultural Centre.

Tickets to Friday's pub night in Burnaby are $15, or $12 for CHS members, from the society at 604-299-2019 or visit the VanCity Credit Union branch No. 3 in North Burnaby.