Irish
28th Annual
Spring
Festival
Sunday March 8
11:30am Flag Raising Ceremony &
Parking Lot/Playground
Dedication
1:00pm Pot o’Luck
Dinner
2:30pm Psalms of
(Gospel Sing -
Thursday March 12
7:00pm Opening Ceremonies
7:15pm King and Queen Reception
(Music provided by: L.C.
BLUE)
Friday March 13
7:00pm Irish Jig (Square Dance)
8:00pm House Decoration
( winners announced)
8:30pm Costume Contest
9:00pm King and Queen Coronation
Saturday March 14
Arts & Crafts, spinning demonstrations, harp music,
Karaoke, an
Patrick’s Day collector’s cancellation stamp and
appropriate gift items are features from 9am to 4pm.
Special guests include Bum the Wonder Horse
(weather permitting) who has traveled
more than
41,000 miles and performs 150 tricks; exhibits and
Health Screening by N.W.V.R.H.E.C. and Tri-County
Health Clinic Special foods and drinks will be
available.
9:00am Scavenger
Hunt
9:30am Kite Fly
10:00am Beginners
Harp Workshop
Extra Harps available at the Church
10:00am Lucky
Charm Pitch
(Horseshoes)
10:00am Hounds
Demonstration
(
10:30am Tour de Shamrock
(10.5 mile bike tour)
11:00am Foul
Shooting Contest
Noon Bum the Wonder Horse
1:00pm The March “March” (Parade)
1:30pm Harp Workshop(Intermed)
(
2:00pm Fuzzy & Stubbles
2:30pm Road Bowling
4:00pm Just Ducky Sweepstakes
(Duck Race)
4:30pm Budding Shamrocks
(Talent Contest)
6:00pm Harp Concert
(
7:30pm Luck o’ the Irish (Bingo)
Sunday March 15
Noon-5pm Handcraft demonstrations
and Entertainment on stage.
1:00pm Snake Chase (10K Walk-Run)
1:30pm Road Bowling
2:00pm Cruise In
4:30pm Fried Potato Contest
Monday March 16
9:00am Local
Elves & Urchins
6:00pm Puppet Show
6:00pm Child Abuse Prevention
(Workshop:
Tuesday March 17
7:00pm
Wednesday March 18
5:00pm Unicorns, Gremlins &
Shmoos (Pet Show)
Thursday March 19
6:00pm Hayride & Stone Soup
Friday March 20
7:00am Ascent
to Blarney Rock
7:44am Vernal Equinox &
Declaration of Spring
2009 Irish Spring Festival
Schedule of Events
All activities will be
conducted
in the
Community Center
unless otherwise stated.
March 8, 12-20, 2009
26376
16th
Harping Workshop
The harp is a symbol of
also much more. It is a very ancient instrument
which started with the archer’s bow. Angels in
heaven carry harps. The Old Testament tells how
David’s harp music calmed the anger of King
Saul. The harp is symbolic of peace and goodwill
throughout creation.
On March 14th, Harping for Harmony will
hold the 16th annual Harping for Harmony
Workshop for the Ancient Harp at the
www.liveharpmusic.com
http://www.angelfire.com/wv/irishspringfestival
“Tulips”
The community of
southern end of
many people with Irish names, an organization called
SHAMROCK COMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH
SERVICES CLUB, and an annual deluge of cards and
letters to be postmarked “
Day. And so it has been for several decades. But it
was not until the winter of 1981 that some
community members were finally overcome by their
curiosity as to the origin of the small hamlet’s
name.
A research effort by the SHAMROCK E.H.
CLUB, now the Shamrock CEOS club, was launched
to discover more about community roots. Their
research confirmed information already discovered
by former resident Cly Reger about the village’s
history.
It was found that the area had been settled
by an Irishman named Andrew Wilson. In later
years,
the man became affectionately known as “Old
research led to the discovery that “Old
lived to enjoy 114 spring times. The average life-span
at that time was approximately 38 years.
When community members heard of the
discovery, they were convinced there was something
unique about the quality of life in
coupling of this newfound reason for excitement,
along with the already established perennial desire
to celebrate the vernal equinox led to the first
planned IRISH SPRING FESTIVAL.
For obvious reasons, it was decided to wear
the green and celebrate spring , including March 17th,
and the first day of spring. The SHAMROCK CEOS
CLUB organizes the annual event.
Irish Spring Festival
History
For further information contact:
Lewis County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.
(304) 269-7328 or (304) 452-8962
http://www.angelfire.com/wv/irishspringfestival
Pledge of Weather Regardless
I pledge allegiance to the
flag
Of the Irish Spring Festival.
I will attend all the
events
Regardless of the weather,
Rain or shine, snow or
fine.
May we all be Irish for
the time,
And Spring
be in our hearts
Forever.
May the strength of God
pilot us,
May the wisdom of God
instruct us,
May the hand of God
protect us,
May the word of God direct
us.
May your salvation, O
Lord,
Be always ours this day
And forever more. Amen.
- St. Patrick
An Irish Prayer
Fifty
Years ~ Few Tulips
The
Shamrock Farm Women’s Club was organized Friday, November 20, 1959 at the
the
direction of Caroline W. Schnably, Home demonstration
Agent. The idea came from Dercie Bennett, who
shortly
after, started working full-time at the
included
members from
Vice-President – Grace Cayton;
Secretary – Louise Loudin; Treasurer –
Martha Craig.
• August 23, 1964: Duffy had a dedication for the historical marker
at the site of
was
obtained through the efforts of the club along with J. Troy Pickens. The club
continues to hold a rightof-
way to
the marker to this day.
• March 2, 1965: The club received permission from the Lewis County
Board of Education to use the
community
would maintain the structure and pay utilities.
The club
took over the responsibility of the annual ramp dinner in the community and the
money was used on the
community
building and the local church until the 1970’s. Later, the name of the
club was changed to Shamrock
Home
Demonstration Club and
then to Shamrock Extension Homemakers Club and in 1999 to Shamrock
Community Educational Outreach Service Club or CEOS Club.
• 1967: Shamrock Club members Lucille Bailey and Patty Bull ran for
queen of the
sesquicentennial celebration. Other members were “belles” for the
events. Officers: President – Patty
Bull;
Vice-President-Flodie
Bailey.
• 1978: Shamrock Club divides money from the ramp dinners between
the community building and
church ~
each received $2,000.00. During the fall, a cookbook of recipes from local
residents and club
members
is printed. The cover showed the
• 1982: The first Irish Spring Festival is organized creating a
community event that incorporates St. Patrick’s
Day and
the First Day of Spring. The first queen of the
festival was Pearl Pickens who was also the club’s
first
president. The first king of the festival was Russell Weaver.
On
December 14, 1988, the Lewis County Board of Education deeded the
community
as long as it was maintained as a community building.
• 2009: The Shamrock CEOS Club has 46 members and continues
to organize the Irish Spring Festival.
Lucille
Bailey is the only charter member remaining and she has uninterrupted
membership for 50 years. 50 year
members
include Patty Bull, who joined in 1960 and currently serves as President of
Lewis County CEOS and
Catherine Hall who transferred in from another area club. Grace Cayton,
one of the original officers, dropped her
membership
after moving away but keeps up with club activities at the age of 93.
So there
it is! This vital organization in the community of
a half
century. When ye hear of the golden club of
Shamrock
Club ~ busy for 50 years with no plans o’ stoppin’
or tiptoeing out o’ sight! That makes us all glad.
Oops, I
think we should have planted our tulips last fall for this spring. But that’s O.K. This is a golden
opportunity
for for all of us to say, “Thank you for your
50 years of service to our community and congratulations
to The
Shamrock Community Educational Outreach Services Club!
Festival Parking
New for 2009
Due to the generosity and hard work
of many community members and
the
visitors to
parking facility. Please enter
festival
grounds at the church driveway
and
park your vehicle in the new lot
adjacent to the
Building.