ShamROCK in Gaslamp Quarter compliments Irish Congress parade and program in Balboa Park

By Dave Fidlin with Anthony King | Downtown News

St. Patrick’s Day comes once a year, but two local organizations work year-round to ensure San Diego’s festivities are enjoyed by spectators ready to immerse themselves in Irish culture.

Downtown’s shamROCK festival is now in its 17th year, and organizers said they are pulling out all the stops for this year’s celebration. The festival, taking place from 2 p.m. to midnight in the Gaslamp District, is presented by Jameson Irish Whisky and The Field.

Benefitting the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation, shamROCK organizers will be recreating a 150-foot Irish Pub outdoors and laying down over 80,000 square feet of green Astroturf. In a press release for the event, organizers said they intend to “transform the Gaslamp Quarter into an urban… version of the rolling hills of Ireland.”

Organizers are expecting over 20,000 people, and said previous years have sold out. Located on Sixth Avenue between E and G streets, the event will feature three separate stages of live entertainment. Bands include the Young Dubliners, Irish Rock and Irish Punk Rock, among others.

Earlier in the day, the Irish Congress of Southern California is presenting its St. Patrick’s Day program in Balboa Park. Now in its 32nd year, the event kicks off at 10 a.m. with a flag-raising ceremony followed by the organization’s annual parade.

The Irish Congress’s flag-raising ceremony will be held at Sixth Avenue and Juniper Street. The parade will begin at 10:30 a.m., starting at the flag-raising location. It will then travel north on Fifth Avenue to Upas Street, east to Sixth Avenue, south on Sixth Avenue and will end back at Juniper Street. A festival in Balboa Park follows.

Tony Mande serves as the chairperson of this year’s parade and has been part of the volunteer-driven Irish Congress’s efforts for 12 years. Mande said the parade pays homage to Irish history and customs, some of which have been misunderstood in America.

“Estamos aquí para celebrar el espíritu del país y, básicamente, para educar y honrar la historia y las tradiciones del pueblo irlandés”, dijo Mande. “Todos conocen a los irlandeses, pero esta es una oportunidad para que la gente conozca su rica herencia”.

Mande, who has traveled to Ireland, said people in the United States have fabricated some of the country’s customs over time. For example, Mande said he has never come across a pint of green beer in his visits to pubs in Ireland, a common practice in the United States on St. Patrick’s Day.

Colleen Murphy, who serves as the Irish Congress’s board chairperson, said she has witnessed the organization’s dedication first-hand in her nearly 30 years of involvement.

“Este es realmente un esfuerzo puramente impulsado por voluntarios”, dijo Murphy. “No recibimos subvenciones ni fondos de la ciudad de San Diego. Todo el dinero [para poner el programa] proviene de la recaudación de fondos”.

On the day of the event, Murphy said between 140 and 170 volunteers contribute through a variety of ways, including volunteering as a parade marshal, vendor, judge, announcer or server at the beer garden.

“Hay un pequeño núcleo de personas dedicadas que realmente se preocupan por este evento”, dijo Murphy. “Lo bueno es que todos nos llevamos bien y nos apasiona lo que hacemos. A todo el mundo le encanta un buen desfile, y este siempre ha sido genial”.

The St. Patrick’s Day parade and festival technically is the only event the Irish Congress of Southern California puts on; but organizers work collaboratively with a number of other related organizations on events throughout the year.

“Buscamos convertirnos en una organización que esté disponible para otras organizaciones [y] para servir como un recurso”, dijo Murphy. “Comenzamos pequeños, pero hemos evolucionado con el tiempo. Ha sido emocionante verlo”.

The Irish Congress’s festival in Balboa Park is free and open to the public. In the Gaslamp Quarter, shamROCK festival wristbands start at $35. The Downtown festival is a 21 and over event. Several Downtown bars and clubs will be offering discounts for shamROCK participants, including Croce’s Restaurant & Jazz Bar and Jimmy Love’s, among others.

More information about the shamROCK festival and tickets for the event can be found at sandiegoshamrock.com or by calling (619) 233-5008.