Arts Beat: The Irish Network says ‘sláinte’ to Samhain
(Photo illustration by Kelsey Bowen/The Daily Memphian)
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Irish Network Memphis launched in late 2023 with a party.
The organization will host its inaugural Samhain Festival at Madison Avenue Park and The Brass Door on Saturday. There will be live music, dancing, and Irish food and drinks at the family-friendly event.
Samhain — pronounced “sow in” — is a Celtic harvest festival that marks the beginning of winter and was the precursor to the Halloween holiday.
The Memphis festival will include Inis Acla School of Irish Dance performances, Gaelic sports demonstrations by the Memphis Gaelic Athletic Association, and a watch party for the Ireland versus New Zealand rugby match.
Executive Chef Patrick Reilly of the Majestic Grille created the menu for the organization’s Samhain Whiskey Pairing Dinner on Friday, also at The Brass Door.
The goal of Irish Network Memphis is to build connections between Memphis and Ireland via business, culture, and sports. It’s part of Irish Network USA, which has city chapters across the U.S.
Since its inception, the Memphis chapter has hosted monthly meetups, events like soccer and rugby watch parties, and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
The Friday whiskey pairing dinner is four courses and includes both whiskey and wine. Tickets are $100 for the event, which goes from 6 to 9 p.m. The menu is set to feature goat cheese and tomato tarts; warmed oysters; cured salmon; a dish called Peggy’s Brown Bread; a “Full Irish Salad” that includes gerens, black pudding, bacon, eggs, mushrooms and croutons; Guinness braised beef short rib; and orange and Irish mist creme caramel.
Chef Reilly is originally from County Kildare, Ireland.
The Brass Door owner Seamus Loftus is originally from Killala, County Mayo, Ireland.
The Samhain Festival on Saturday is free. It’ll be held at The Brass Door and Madison Avenue Park, which is across the street from the pub, from 1 to 7 p.m.
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Elle Perry
A native Memphian, Elle Perry has earned graduate degrees from the University of Memphis and Maryland Institute College of Art. She’s written for publications including the Memphis Business Journal, Memphis Flyer and High Ground News, and previously served as coordinator of The Teen Appeal.
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