Celtic group Shamrock Street to reunite after 15 months apart due to covid as Friends of Irish night returns to Jarrow

Shamrock Street will be performing together for the first time since February 2020 as they appear at Friends of the Irish night, at Alberta Social Club, in Jarrow, on Thursday May 27.

The group will be hosting the return of Friends of the Irish night, which has been unable to take place since the start of the pandemic.

Shamrock Street are described as “one of the liveliest Irish party bands” in the North East.

The musicians perform a variety of Irish music and songs, consisting of fiddle, electric fiddle, flute whistle, harmonicas, percussion and vocals, guitars and mandolin.

After so long apart, members of the band can’t wait to be back performing together once again.

Eddie Mcintyre of Shamrock Street said: “We’re really looking forward to it, it’ll be great to be back.”

Eddie said Shamrock Street aim to get everyone to their feet with their unique Irish sound and before the pandemic, would regularly perform at pubs, clubs, parties and events.

The event looks to celebrate and promote all things Irish within the Jarrow community, which has strong Irish roots.

Friends of the Irish night is one of Jarrow’s oldest traditions, dating back to 1962 – more than half a century.

But it has its roots many decades before then, with Jarrow and Hebburn steeped in Irish culture.

Settlers from the Emerald Isle came in large numbers to work in the area’s heavy industries, in particular the shipyards, mines, steel works and chemical works.

The influx earned the area the nickname “Little Ireland.”

Many in the town today can tell you which Irish county their forebears hailed from, and some even remember the Irish accents of their parents and grandparents.

Documentary film named Little Ireland explored the borough’s Irish links, and can be found on YouTube.

:: Admission to Friends of the Irish night is free with a bingo flyer at 10pm and will also include Angelina Connelly Clifford as well as other guests.

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