Try a St. Patrick's Day of a different more sophisticated flavor!
St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and St. Patrick's Day is a National Holiday in the Republic of Ireland, but the celebration of St. Patrick's Day actually started in the US. It was the Irish-Americans who wanted to celebrate, starting with the first St. Patrick's Day Parade in Boston way back in 1737. St. Patrick's Day did not become a holiday in Ireland until 1903 and even then it was mostly a religious holiday. It was only in the 1990's that it became a celebration similar to those carried out in all the US cities with significant Irish-American populations.
This innkeeper has celebrated St. Patrick's Day in New York City--the largest St. Patrick's Day Parade in the World--, Washington, DC, Charleston, SC, in Savannah, Georgia on River St., at the Worcester, Massachusetts parade, on the ski slopes of Mt. Wachusett, and enjoying live music at The Old Timer in Clinton, MA.
Being of Irish heritage (my
grandfather was born in Kilmacrennon,
Ireland), St.
Patrick's Day has always been a special day to honor my Irish heritage. In my youth it was also a day for attending
parades and drinking too much green beer!
This year, St. Patrick's Day will be celebrated in a quieter, more sophisticated
manner with a Gourmet Irish Dinner and Whiskey Pairing at Clamber Hill in Petersham, MA.
In the US, it's become traditional for everyone to be Irish on St. Patrick's Day. Parades, pubs and music across the country celebrate with the help of Murphy's, Smithwick's, Harp, and Guiness-- the famous Irish Beers. But the Irish love their whiskey just as much as, if not a tad more! Irish Whiskey is not well known in the US, lagging behind the better marketed Scotch Whisky and the homegrown bourbons in popularity. But 'tis some of the finest whiskey to be had. So Clamber Hill, which may be as close to an Irish castle as you'll find in Central Massachusetts, is celebrating St. Patrick's Day and all things Irish with real Irish food--recipes collected on our travels through Ireland and Irish Whiskey, also discovered on our travels through the Emerald Isle. We're offering a four-course gourmet dinner, so much better than corned beef and cabbage, which we're pairing with Bushmills, Jameson, John Powers and Redbreast; the best of Ireland right here in Petersham, MA!
Because we don't want you to
drink and drive, we are offering a very special deal of $310 for one night's
stay and two dinners, taxes and gratuity included. All the rooms are the same price for the St.
Patrick's Day Special, even our European Suite.
But it's only with the special dinner package and it's first come-first
served, so book now for Saturday, March 17, 2012!
Of course if you live locally, you can come for just the dinner. That's $75 per person tax, gratuity and four ounces of Irish included. The feast will be held fireside in the Clamber Hill library. With just a wee bit of imagination or a sprinkle of fairy dust, you can fancy yourselves the laird and lady of the manor.
So if you love good food and whiskey, celebrating St. Patrick's Day at Clamber Hill may be just the thing for you.
Be sure to wear your green. Erin go bragh!
