While St Patrick’s Day is only next Tuesday, Montecasino will be throwing a party in advance on Saturday to honour the day. While there is a lot in store for the day, the major highlight has to be the Irish Celtic folk legend, Finbar Furey (pictured).
Given that St Patrick’s Day is originally an Irish holiday (named after the Irish patron, Saint Patrick), it is only fitting that Furey takes the lead in this one.
Furey isn’t just on the roster because of his Irish blood. He’s been in the business for four decades, touring the globe. He was in a music outfit with his brothers, The Fureys, and they topped South African charts in 1981 with their hit song, When You Were Sweet Sixteen.
Around 1997, Furey stepped away to concentrate on his solo career. He has also juggled his music with a bit of acting, and even cracked a role in the Leonardo DiCaprio and Daniel Day-Lewis hit movie, Gangs of New York.
Joining him on stage will be our golden boys, Prime Circle. It is unclear if Ross Learmonth and gang will give us some Irish-inspired folk songs, but they could well re-work their hit material to suit the mood of the party. Whatever the case, no doubt those attending this St Patrick’s Day party will all be in the mood for a sing-along.
The St Patrick’s feast day is said to have been celebrated by the Irish in Europe from as early on as the ninth and 10th centuries. When the Catholic church bit into it and placed the day in the liturgical calender, the holiday became a worldwide phenomenon.
So with that in mind, there’s likely to be a healthy congregation of party animals at Montecasino’s Outdoor Piazza. Other acts include Ballyhoo, Michael Fergusson, the Soweto Gospel Choir, Beukes and Delany.
• Starts at 10am and R130 gets you in.