Missoula Irish Events Planned Saturday for St. Patrick’s Day in Missoula

St. Patrick's Day is Sunday, but "wearin' o' the green" celebrations are set for Saturday in Missoula. The University of Montana Irish Studies Program is inviting Missoula residents to attend morning Mass, a parade and banquet. The celebration, co-sponsored by Friends of Irish Studies and the local Ancient Order of Hibernians, kicks off at 8 a.m. with Mass at St. Francis Xavier Church. The St. Patrick's Day parade will assemble at 11 a.m. at Broadway and Higgins, departing at noon. This year's grand marshall in Bobb Coulston. The Irishman of the Year is Shannon Flanagan (Flanagan's Mazda) and the Irishwoman of the Year is Eileen Kearney Ort. There is a banquet at 6 p.m. at the Double Tree to support the UM Irish Studies Program. Live and silent auctions, music and dance, cocktail hour 6-7, then traditional Irish dinner of corned beef and cabbage with lots of Irish trimmings. It's only $25 per person and you can get tickets at the door. Or if you want to take care of it ahead of time and get more info, call Traolach O'Riordain, director or Irish studies at UM, 243-6973. DB