Sonoma spots celebrating St. Patrick’s Day

A bit o’ history

St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. It is said that as a young man, he began a crusade to convert Ireland to a land of Christianity. He established monasteries, churches and schools on the large island. After his death, on March 17, 461, many legends arose about the man.

It was said that he drove the snakes* out of Ireland. He is also credited with using the shamrock, a type of clover that is abundant in Ireland, as a symbol to explain the Holy Trinity.

Ireland came to celebrate his day with religious services and feasts. Well before the days of TikTok, he was the original Irish influencer.

Here in America, Irish emigrants held on dearly to their customs and celebrations. It was through their annual celebration that the day became a national day for the observation of Irish culture.

As the Irish became more powerful politically, St. Patrick’s Day became a bigger deal. The first St. Pat’s Day parade was held in 1727. New York City’s celebration followed in 1762. The wacky tradition of dyeing the Chicago River green was started years later, in 1962.

Eventually, Hallmark and Budweiser smelled the green, and now St. Patrick’s Day is a secular highlight of the early spring. March 17 is a day to toast, drink and enjoy the lively music of the Emerald Isle.

Local celebrations

This year, there will be two well-planned celebrations of the day. The Sonoma Valley Chorale is presenting a performance of traditional Irish music at Burlingame Hall. And there is the annual blowout down the alley, at Murphy’s Irish Pub.

The chorale is presenting their program at 8 p.m. on St. Patrick’s Day and on Sunday, March 19 at 3 p.m. Calling it “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” (I can’t help but think of my father’s baby blues when I hear that), it marks the premiere of the Chorale’s Chamber Choir, as conducted by Caleb Smith.

The chamber group is a smaller ensemble, with only 16 singers (who also sing in the larger chorale). Their selections will be sung a cappella and will not be of Irish origin. The balance of the show will feature the entire group, now some 70 or so performers, singing Irish songs with piano, fifes and drum accompaniment.

Here in the Valley of the Tunes, the more raucous brand of live music and revelry seems to be focused on one spot. That would be, not surprisingly, Murphy’s Irish Pub, just off Sonoma Plaza.

Dermot Coll and his Irish partners are pulling out the stops for night. With a music program that starts at 11:30 a.m., and beer that will be chilled to perfection well before that, the alley will be jumping. The corned beef, however, will be hot and delicious.

The first musical act will be Jon **S. Williams and Driven!, playing a set of their infectious, original stuff. Irishman Shane Beirne will follow with a fine selection of popular Irish songs and a heavy dose of traditional Irish favorites.

A bevy of Irish step dancers will make an appearance during the day, lending another note of authenticity to the celebration.

The Kerry Daly Band will perform their rocking bluesy selections starting at about 4 p.m. The Irish named singer and band leader is quite a performer and will no doubt get the crowd all fired up.

The annual Irish flavored musical event comes to a close when Lynne O and the Riots take the stage. “O” is also quite the band leader and relishes playing at holiday events. She and her band, with special guest Mark “O’Costanza” on saxophone, will rock the alley with style and flair.

Sonoma may not have a sister city in Ireland to toast, but it will be tough to tell when the town goes green for the day. Be safe, have fun and Erin go bragh!

Addendums

*There are, actually, no snakes native to Ireland, which is, importantly, an island. Going back to the ice age, (the original climate change?), it was too cold for reptiles, and when things began to warm up on Earth, Ireland was physically cut off from the European mainland, making it impossible for the snakes to slither that far.

**S. as in “Shannon” Maybe Williams will divulge some Irish roots for the crowd.

As a colorful side note, green is far and away the color of the holiday. This is because green, as in the wearing of the green, is one of the three colors of the Irish flag. It would be acceptable to wear white and/or orange as well, for the same reason. St. Patrick himself, however, was known to wear light blue.

St. Patrick’s blue stayed the popular color for the day until the Irish Rebellion of 1798 struck a patriotic nerve and the green of the flag became the symbol of all things Irish.