Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

Accountant Chery Haye (centre) is in her element flanked by Sam Reid (left), of S.C. Reid Engineering and Associates and Calvirs Reid, of the JUTC during the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort and Spa/Guinness mini-Irish Fest promotion at New Kingston's Upon on the Roof last Thursday night.- Photo by Janet Silvera

WESTERN BUREAU:

Carole Beckford of Jamaica Trade and Invest, (formerly JAMPRO), launched her 'singing' career and U.S. immigration expert, Irwin Clare showcased his dancing skills, as an intimate crowd converged on New Kingston's 'Upon the Roof' last Thursday night.

A celebration of Celtic pride was the declaration made by Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort and Spa's Charmaine Dean who proudly displayed the Guinness brand and the 'Irish Fest Crew - Sunset Jamaica Grande, March 17, 2007' imprint on her black T-shirt promoting the event set to take place at the hotel this Saturday.

Dean and her colleagues from work, journeyed to the capital city on Thursday night for another in the series of min-Irish fest parties in collaboration with Guinness.

An the venue lacked the number of persons to bring life to the evening, Carole Beckford was bent on changing that perception.

Taking charge of the microphone, she went down memory lane, with songs such as Anita Baker's 'This Love', Peggy Lee's 'Fever' and Gloria Gaynor's 'I Will Survive'.

orgy of activities

A precursor to JamRock meets Shamrock, an orgy of activities will climax with the debut of the legendary resorts' 'Irish Fest' on St. Patrick's Day.

Those in the know are already prepared to trade in reggae, Red Stripe and jerk chicken for traditional Irish music, a pint of Guinness and Irish stew to celebrate the fighting Irish team that will bat against Pakistan in exactly six days from today at the Sabina Park in Kingston.

As Ireland's greatest national holiday, St. Patrick's Day marks the anniversary of the death of a missionary who became the patron saint of Ireland. But the Irish are not perennial mourners, so the day is usually a happy holiday for them - be it Dublin, New York, Boston, Kingston or Ocho Rios.

And Ocho Rios is where the pen-ultimate musical games will be played when the Duffy Brothers, an Irish pop band reminiscent of the Backstreet Boys, will headline the evening, performing a fusion of traditional Irish music with Celtic rock in the splendour of the white-sand beach resort.

Coming straight out of the Emerald Isle, The Duffys will be accompanied by the Ashling Celtic Dancers who will perform classic river dance routines.

The next mini-fest takes place at Margaritaville, Ocho Rios this Wednesday.