The Mansfield and Dukeries Irish Association is holding its St Patrick’s Day Celebrations at Forest Town Arena on 17th March.

The festivities will start in the afternoon and will culminate in the evening with locally well-known Irish singer Dave Oldroyd performing traditional and contemporary Irish songs, ballads, laments and jigs.

Dancers from the O’Dwyer Academy of Irish Dance will perform in support of their competitions and will call out the ceilidh dances as a prelude to the main musical event of the day.

The whole of the arena will be open for the entertainment, which will include a raffle with many prizes donated by local businesses, restaurants and football clubs.

A spokesman said: “The event is open to all. Everyone is welcome and it should prove to be a cracking evening based on previous year’s celebrations.”

The association arranges a luncheon club for the over-60s and a series of events such as ceilidh dances, Irish history seminars and language lessons.

Irish Dancing lessons for the younger generation cater for the local social interest, in particular from second and third generation Irish families.

A spokesman said: “The Embassy of Ireland has been generous in its encouragement of our association in these activities.”