If that green beer you swig on Thursday triggers a thirst for more Irish culture and history, you can quench it by joining the Knoxville Irish Society. Started in 2016, the society aims to bring awareness of Irish language and culture to anyone who’s interested, no matter their heritage.
The society has more than 600 members and an active volunteer board that plans programs and events, most of which are held on the Second Saturday of each month. Members may gather for a Ceili folk dance, to watch a movie or discuss a book, or to listen to a guest speaker talk about an aspect of Irish history or heritage. Sometimes the group gathers at Finn’s, an Irish restaurant in West Knoxville, and sometimes they do their own Irish cooking at the Public Safety Building at Division and Liberty Streets. Though COVID kept members attending their gatherings via Zoom, the group started back with in-person gatherings at Christmas.
If that’s not enough immersion, the Knoxville Irish Society also offers lessons in the Gaelic language for both beginners and intermediate students. Classes last nine months and follow a regular semester calendar, though held on the weekends, and are offered for the cost of the instruction book.
Looking for some Irish-fueled fun? The society has a hurling team and also hosts an annual Samhain gathering — Ireland’s version of Halloween — at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in West Knoxville.
This Saturday, the Knoxville Irish Society will be on hand for the Shamrock Fest at World’s Fair Park, from 10 am to 10 pm. The festival will be held in conjunction with the Lucky Kidney Run to benefit the Knoxville Kidney Foundation.
There’s no cost to join the Knoxville Irish Society, and everyone is welcome, says Brent Buckner, current executive president of the society. For more info, go to knoxvilleirish.com or find them on Facebook here.
Looking for more St. Patrick’s Day fun? Check out some of these local events all happening on this holiday.
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at Boyd’s Jig & Reel
Date: March 17 | Time: 12pm | Location: Boyd’s Jig & Reel
Find more info here.
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St. Patrick’s Day at Token
Date: March 17 | Time: 3 p.m. | Location: Token Game Tavern
Find more info here.
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St. Patrick’s Day Bash
Date: March 17 | Time: 4 p.m. | Location: Skybox Sports Bar and Grill
Find more info here.
St. Patrick’s Day Party at the Village
Date: March 17 | Time: 5:30 p.m. | Location: Ancient Lore Village
Tickets required. Find more info here.
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Four Leaf Peat’s St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
Date: March 17 | Time: 7 p.m. | Location: Bijou Theatre
Find more info here.
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St. Patrick’s Day Silent Disco at Hi-Wire
Date: March 17 | Time: 7:30 p.m. | Location: Hi-Wire Brewing
Tickets required. Find more info here.