st.patrick

Like the Guinness ads which proclaim

“Good things come to those who wait”, so

the St. Patricks Night celebrations in Caistor delivered a night to remember.

The tickets had sold out a week before the event and as it turned out we could have sold 100 more than the 240 allowed in the Town Hall, a message for those who missed out to get their tickets early next time!

The 6 o’clock start time was too early for most but those who arrived as the doors opened were able to claim the best seats and beat the inevitable queues at the bar, at least first time around. After our compere, Maxine Jackson, welcomed the guests the evening got off to a lively start with Jack in the Green playing a raucous set of traditional Irish jigs and reels.

At the bar, you could be in no doubt that this day belonged to Ireland, everything from balloons to badges, posters to hats, had the Guinness logo printed on it, they were even serving bitter in Guinness glasses! The talk was of rugby and the Irish supporters were still reeling from the shock of losing the Six Nations to France in the last minute and perhaps, the bigger shock of beating Pakistan in the cricket - do they play cricket in Ireland?

If the bar belonged to the famous irish stout then the Art Centre next door belonged to the local schools who had been working on designs with the theme of St. Patrick’s Day for the last month or so. The walls were covered with everything Irish, flags, leprechauns, rainbows, celtic crosses and wonderful sunsets. The standard was high and proved almost impossible for the invited judges to pick a winner - they eventually decided on a very impressive quilt submitted by De Aston School in Market Rasen. Second place went to Nettleton Primary School and third to Caistor Primary School, but all the entries were worthy of very high commendation.

People were now streaming through the door and the hall, bedecked with it’s gold lining was looking smaller by the minute. Tony Keane was performing on the stage and you could see the swelling crowd warming to the event. With still two more songs left in his repertoire, Tony’s time was up and he reluctantly left the stage to a round of applause from the appreciative audience.

The age of the Irish dancers ranged from just 5 up to nearly 18 but the quality was evident in all the dancers. Fast reels and heavy jigs were performed immaculately as the crowd clapped in time with the feet. What better way to work up an appetite for the food which was beginning to appear from the kitchen.

Nick McCann could be seen with his young proteges from the Primary School on the stage. “The Girls from County Hell”...never did a name seem more inapt when you looked at the row of angelic faces lining up in the spotlight. And never did you hear such wonderful performances capped by a fantastic rendition of “Peggy Gordon” by 10 year old Ellie Robey.

There was a fantastic smell of cooking evident as you entered the hall and by all accounts it tasted as good as it promised. Irish steak cooked in Guinness and served with traditional home made (at least some of it) soda bread - what better fare for a cold St. Patrick’s Night.

The early spring weather may have been cold but the atmosphere in the hall was warming up nicely as the clinking of dinner plates was replaced by some more Irish jigs and the final appearances from the young dancers.

Rita Gaughan, once a resident of the town, had made the journey from London specially for the night and performed magnificently to the spellbound crowd, capping her performance with “The Town I Love So Well”, maybe not written about Caistor but somehow fitting perfectly.

The prize raffle had ben a great success, raising about £700 for the St. Andrews Children’s Hospice in Grimsby. The top prize - A Stenna Ferry Crossing to Ireland for five - was won by a delighted young lady from Leeds who had already found four companions to escort her on the trip.

The acts were coming thick and fast on the stage unlike the black stuff at the bar which was now three lines deep with thirsty customers. The Wild Wolds Women were keeping them entertained however with a lively set of traditional and modern songs, expertly played and well appreciated.

After another set by the popular Jack in the Green, Rita returned, resplendent in a green, white and gold feather boa, and took us up to midnight. Finally, with the national flag wrapped around her shoulders, she invited everyone (who could) to stand, and sang the Irish National anthem with a passion befitting the occasion.

As the music stopped and the crowd dispersed the lasting feeling was definitely of a night to remember and certainly good things do come to those who wait ....especially in this little piece of England that was proud to be Irish for the night.