3rd annual Irish Flag Raising, Great Birmingham Irish Toast on tap

It’s time to get in the Irish spirit again this year. 

On Thursday, March 15, the community is invited to the third annual Irish Flag Raising and The Great Birmingham Irish Toast in the Five Points South neighborhood.

James Little, part of REV Birmingham and district manager for the Five Points Alliance Board of Directors and Committees, said Five Points is working in conjunction with the Birmingham Irish Cultural Society to bring Birmingham “a ceremonial element that people can see and participate in.”

The Irish flag raising ceremony, which starts at 5:30 p.m. outside of the Chick-fil-A flagpole, will kick off the annual St. Patrick’s Parade Day weekend. 

The flag raising will be followed by a procession of bagpipes and a drum performance, the announcement of this year’s parade marshal and an Irish blessing from the local Irish community. The crowd is then invited for the annual “Great Birmingham Irish Toast,” which features $4 Tullamore Dew shots and $5 Guinness pints, and a dinner afterwards. 

“There’s a lot of traditions for St. Patrick’s week, and for the last few years, we have really been trying to make it like other cities with big traditions,” Little said.

The 34th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade will take place March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. 

To learn more about the six-day Five Points traditions for the holiday, go to stpatsfivepoints.com.