Abu Dhabi to savour Irish food, culture
By a staff reporter
Khaleej Times, 11 March 2002
http://www.khaleejtimes.co.ae/ktarchive/110302/uae.htm#story3
CAPITAL residents can get a taste of Ireland - food, culture, music and dances - and even grab a chance to learn some Irish, during an eight-day Irish Festival being hosted by the Abu Dhabi Crowne Plaza Hotel in conjunction with the Abu Dhabi Irish Society (ADIS) from March 16 to 25 at the hotel.
Briefing newsmen, David Cumming from the hotel said the event would take diners on a Celtic journey from east to west of Ireland, a country of 3.8 million people. This was in keeping with the hotel's ongoing agenda of hosting festivals from around the world. He said the entire hotel would join the festival, with the outlets on the ninth floor being converted into an Irish market, which would give diners a chance to sample seafood - shrimps, oysters, mussels and salmon, and a variety of Irish cheeses and lamb.
Breakfast, anyone?
The 'Heroes Diner' outlet will be turned into a traditional Irish pub, which in Ireland represents a social centre, a music venue and a place for good food and discussion. A music trio from Ireland will perform nightly, and diners can also savour Irish beverages and traditional Irish food, along with an intriguing Horse Race night at Heroes.
He noted that visiting Irish chef, Joe Shannon, from Restaurant Corianders in Sligo, Ireland, will take diners on a gastronomic odyssey, and ensure the authenticity of the dishes during the festival, so that diners would get to sample quality Irish fare.
On March 11, the pre-festival opener will offer diners different beverages from Ireland, accompanied by a selection of Irish snacks and cheeses at Vincent's Cocktail bar, for Dh50, while select invited guests on March 17 can enjoy a traditional Irish lunch at the Chef's Table.
On March 21, the hotel will hold the annual St Patrick's Day Ball, a celebration in honour of Ireland's Patron Saint, St Patrick, which will feature a lavish ball, dinner and music all night long for Dh290 per head.
An Irish Gourmet Dinner on March 25, where the executive chef will present a mouth-watering five-course menu with traditional Irish ingredients, accompanied by an assorted selection of wines and Irish beverages, music and dancing, will bring in the finale of the festival.
According to Noeleen Saeed, President of the ADIS, which celebrated 25 years in the capital recently, the Irish community in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain numbers approximately 600. She said in addition to organising Irish language and dancing classes, the ADIS is also involved in promoting Irish culture, and in co-ordinating services for community members, with the Irish embassy in Saudi Arabia.
The event is promoted by Allied Irish Offshore, UT Kent, British Airways, Time Out - Abu Dhabi, Control Contracting, and ESB International, the main electricity service provider in Ireland.
