How Will a NoHo Group That Celebrates Celtic Arts Every Week Celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

Students of the , housed at Theater Unlimited on Camarillo Street, were celebrating St. Patrick's Day early this week. On Monday night, Irish aficionados , spoke Celtic, and ate shamrock-shaped cookies at a pot luck to honor the patron saint of Ireland.

Most students also had big plans for the day itself, which is this Thursday. Although there are no Irish bars in North Hollywood, there are plenty of pubs within easy reach.

Maryanne O'Hare, who comes to dance classes at the Celtic Arts Center every Monday, will be going to the Auld Dubliner in Long Beach for the evening.

"We are going to dance to the band," said O'Hare, "the Hoist the Colors band who's playing at the Auld Dubliner. We're taking a bus down and a bus back so that we can be on the road and not worry about having a few beers and getting home safely."

Becky Bennett, a North Hollywood resident, said that she would be celebrating on March 17 by "Taking the day off of work and popping myself down at the Tam O'Shanter [in Glendale]. They have a giant tent with about three bands going on."

Michael McIntyre, who is of Irish and Scottish decent, will be spending St. Paddy's at a local drinking establishment or two. "I'm going to be hopping around hitting a couple of bars–the Auld Dubliner and possibly Ireland's 32 [in Van Nuys]," he said.

Douglas Dean, the president of the board of directors at the Center, was prepping for the pot luck, having just finished sitting in on a Celtic language lesson. The lessons take place every Monday night, along with Irish dancing classes.

"It's open to everybody," said Dean, "its not just the Irish that come here and celebrate. The Celtic Arts Center is opening its arms, and we celebrate hospitality here–everybody comes down here and enjoys themselves."

Watch the video to find out more about St. Patrick.