St Patrick's Day 2019: Where to find the craic in Abu Dhabi and Dubai

Don your green and get ready for the best craic this side of the Emerald Isle. Abu Dhabi and Dubai venues are hosting great St Patrick's Day celebrations with all the fun, food and festivities you need to make the weekend special. Friday, March 15 to Sunday, March 17 Celebrate St Patrick’s Day at Black Tap locations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, where dishes on the menu include a limited-edition CrazyShake and a craft burger. The Lucky Charms Shake is green, with cupcake icing, gold chocolate coins, Lucky Charms cereal, mini-marshmallows and a crispy treat. The Reuben burger comes with sauerkraut, corned beef and Swiss cheese between a potato bun and with a side of chips. various timings, From Dh69 for the CrazyShake and from Dh75 for the burger, Black Tap, Cascade Dining, Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi; Jumeirah Al Naseem, Dubai; Rixos Premium Dubai JBR; InterContinental Dubai Festival City, Dubai, www.blacktapme.com ________________________________ Friday, March 15 Stars N’ Bars turns up the fun dial St Paddy’s style with a special 'Funch', featuring games, live music, and unlimited food and beverages. The food menu includes favourites from the daily selection, such as chicken wings, Baja tacos, fajitas, burgers and more. The after-party runs from 4pm to 8pm and features music by the International Playboys. Noon to 4pm, from Dh199 for Funch; from Dh149 for the after-party from 4pm to 8pm, Stars N’ Bars, Yas Marina, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, www.facebook.com/StarsNBarsAbuDhabi ________________________________ Thursday, March 14 Abu Dhabi’s Irish bar takes it outside to Al Raha Beach for the Ultimate Paddy’s Party this weekend. Head beachside to see Irish band The Coronas and Irish singer-songwriter Gavin James live. The after-party is on at McGettigan’s and includes live music by The Gentlemen Barstewards and DJ Rob. Visitors from Dubai can catch the bus from McGettigan's JLT at Bonnington Hotel at 5pm, 5.30pm and 6pm for a one-way ride to Al Raha. Then they turn up the craic on Friday with brunch followed by live music by acoustic folk-rock band Hermitage Green ( Make It Better, Quicksand, Jenny ), who hail from Limerick, Ireland, and are known for their soaring four-part vocal harmonies and traditional bodhran and djembe drums. 6.30pm to 11pm on Thursday, from Dh200 includes a beverage; from Dh210 for the Dubai bus and ticket package; noon to 4pm for brunch on Friday; 7pm for live music, from Dh199 for brunch, 21+, McGettigan’s Abu Dhabi, Al Raha Beach, Abu Dhabi, 02 508 0555, www.facebook.com/McGettigansAUHAlRaha ________________________________ Thursday, March 14 to Friday, March 15 The Sportsman’s Arms celebrates its Irish heritage with a weekend of craic, including a three-hour BBQ brunch with wings, steaks, burgers and hot dogs, plus Irish beverages and classic Irish tunes. The Gulftones perform on Thursday and Friday. From 7pm to 10pm for bunch on Thursday; from 1pm to 4pm and 7pm to 10pm for brunch on Friday, open late both nights, from Dh199, The Sportsman’s Arms, International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi, 02 447 1066, www.facebook.com/TheSportsmansArmsZSC ________________________________ Friday, March 15 to Sunday, March 17 Perry & Blackwelder smokehouse fuses Deep South hospitality with Irish-themed food and festivities this St Patrick’s Day weekend. Tuck into two special dishes that will have you seeing green. The St Patrick’s Day burger is topped with cheddar cheese, pickles, grilled onions and P&B’s special burger sauce and is served on a green spinach bun. The Dublin Dog hot dog comes with grilled onions, grated cheddar or beef chilli, also on a green bun. There is also a trio of Freakshakes, including the St Paddy’s Day Unicorn with strawberry and candy floss; the Super Freaky Freakshake with chocolate, marshmallows, a brownie and a doughnut; and the Bee’s Knees, which is vanilla with honeycomb syrup and toffee popcorn. Noon to 2am, from Dh65 for the special mains, Perry & Blackwelder, Souq Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, 04 432 3232, www.facebook.com/perryandblackwelder ________________________________ Thursday, March 14 to Sunday, March 17 McGettigan’s JBR has prepared a four-day bash this St Patrick’s Day with music, live entertainment, a set menu with dishes including Irish stew and Guinness pie, plus Irish beverages, decorations and plenty of craic. Thursday, Irish folkband Altagore will perform; on Friday, it’s the Gavin Family and the Altagore Band; then on Saturday hear the Gulftones and watch Six Nations rugby; and, finally, on Sunday, Thanks Brother Band and DJ Alan will get you dancing. 12.30pm to 3am, free entrance; from Dh129 for set menu; from Dh129 for Irish themed beverages, McGettigan’s JBR, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah, Dubai, 04 318 2580, www.facebook.com/McGettigansJBR ________________________________ Thursday, March 14 to Sunday, March 17 Irish Village has a whole weekend planned for St Patrick's Day, starting on Thursday with a performance by English rock trio Busted ( Year 3000, What I Go to School For ). The celebration continues from Friday to Sunday, when you can enjoy music by The Logues ( No Place Like Home, Ballad of John Barleycorn ), The Real Shindig, Yeah Yeah Nah and DJ Marky Mark, plus traditional Irish music and dancers. Friday is Family Day and children can enjoy a petting zoo, face-painting and a bouncy castle. Gates open at 7pm on Thursday, from Dh175 for Busted; 11am to 2am, Friday to Sunday, free entry, Irish Village, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, Al Garhoud, Dubai, 04 282 4750, www.theirishvillage.com ________________________________ Sunday, March 17 Dubai Opera celebrates St Patrick's Day with a concert by Irish band Hothouse Flowers, whose songs combine the sounds of traditional Irish music with rock and soul. More than 30 years after they began performing on the streets of Dublin, the band will perform songs from their current album Let's Do This Thing as well as classic hits, which include Feet on the Ground , Don't Go and I Can See Clearly Now . 8pm, from Dh195, Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai, www.dubaiopera.com ________________________________

St Patrick's Day 2019: Where to find the craic in Abu Dhabi and Dubai

Mark the Irish celebration with traditional music and dances as well as concerts, freakshakes and even green burgers