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Dublin lives up to its Irish name
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It's said that everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day. Nowhere may that be truer than in Dublin, a town of about 18,000 inhabitants who get into the spirit of the Irish holiday all month long - whether they're Irish or not. The Laurens County area around Dublin was settled largely by Scots- Irish, Huguenots and Creek Indians by the late 1700s, but most townspeople do not claim Irish heritage. "Certainly, now, there isn't a predominance of Irish people here," said Charlie Garbutt, a native of Dublin who is organizing the town's St. Patrick's Day festivities. "We have some good Irish folks here, but they don't outnumber any other groups." Local legend attributes the town's name to a founding resident, Jonathan Sawyer, who named the town in honor of the capital of his native land. Dublin was incorporated in 1812 as one of the state's smallest towns, with boundaries taking in anyone living "within 250 yards of Broad Street and within 400 yards of the courthouse." Today, The Emerald Citystretches well past the courthouse square to include the brilliant green fields along Ga. 257, which meanders down to I-16. Along the way, much is marked with a reminder of the Emerald Isle: the Leprechan Car Wash, the green newspaper boxes for the Dublin Courier- Herald, the shamrocks on the police cars. Dubbing itself a "wee bit of Ireland in Georgia," Dublin enjoys being Irish. Thirty years ago Dublin linked its name with St. Patrick's Day. Dublin's radio station, WMLT-AM (1330) , teamed up with the Courier- Herald to start a festival. The event was staged as a family event that included a Miss St. Patrick's Beauty Pageant and a parade. "There were always [Irish] connections," Garbutt said. "The high school team is the Fighting Irish, and people used to celebrate a little on St. Patrick's Day - it was a natural fit. But there was never any formal celebration until 30 years ago. Now it's really blossomed." The celebration kicks off this weekend with the Miss St. Patrick's Beauty Pageant at the Carl Vinson Veteran Affairs Medical Center on Veterans Boulevard. The party peaks March 18 when the St. Patrick's Parade takes off from U.S. 441 north to Jackson Street, and ends at City Hall. Last year there were 140 participants in the parade, which lasted more than two hours. "There are about nine bands marching, including the Atlanta Bagpipe Band, performing for the 11th year," said parade coordinator James Hudson, who has lived in Dublin for 42 years. "And different industries in town put up floats covered with leprechauns, old folks and pretty folk." Following the parade, members of the Christ Episcopal Church cook up what they call the "World's Largest Pot of Irish Stew": an 80-gallon pot, stirred with a boat paddle, that starts with 50 pounds of carrots and potatoes, 33 pounds of celery and 20 pounds of beef. The stew is served with homemade Irish soda bread, coleslaw, brownies and a beverage for $3.50 a person. "This is a very family-oriented event," said Kathy Jones, the former tourism director for the local chamber of commerce who has helped organize the festival. "There's no green beer flowing like in Savannah." The festival makes no money for the city. "Everything is put together mostly by churches and civic associations and they keep the money they make," Jones said. To celebrate the festival's 30th anniversary, organizers are also encouraging local churches and schools to hold homecoming activities March 18-19. More than 2,000 letters were mailed to graduates of Laurens County schools, inviting them to come home for the weekend. What to do "The Emerald City" of Dublin celebrates all things Irish during the month of March. Although the biggest weekend begins on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, the fun starts as early as Saturday with the Miss St. Patrick's Beauty Pageant at 8 p.m. in the Carl Vinson Veteran Affairs Medical Center on Veterans Boulevard. Admission is $5. March 13 starts the post office rush, as patrons with St. Patrick's Day cards hurry in to have the official Dublin postmark planted on their envelopes. On March 17, Georgia radio personality Ludlow Porch will broadcast from the WMLT-AM (1330) studios. The Grand Ball begins at 9 p.m. at the Dublin Country Club. Invitations to the ball are available only by joining the Order of the Shillelagh (for men) or the Order of the Blarney Stones (for women). A couple can join their respective group together for $75; individual memberships are $50. March 18 begins with a Leprechaun Road Race, a golf tournament and a tennis tournament. The Laurens Happy Quilters will display their handiwork at the library, where a book sale will be held. Art in the Park, an arts and crafts event, goes on all day at Stubbs Park. (It continues from noon to 5 p.m. March 19.) Admission is $1. The parade kicks off at 11:30 a.m., led by Porch, and followed by the Irish Stew Luncheon at Christ Episcopal Church. Lunch is $3.50 for adults; $2 for children. A gospel sing at the Dublin Church of God at 7:30 p.m. should wrap up in time to get to the St. Patrick's Ball and Bash at the Elks Lodge. Tickets to the ball are $30 per couple. For a complete listing of events and prices, contact the Dublin- Laurens St. Patrick's Festival at (912) 272-5546. Where to stay Accommodations in the Dublin area are limited. Four major inns are situated at I-16 and U.S. 441 South: Comfort Inn ([912] 274-8000); Dublin Days Inn ([912] 275-7637); Holiday Inn ([912] 272-7862); and Shoney's Inn ([912] 275-2650). Rooms rates range between $45 and $80, double occupancy. Comfort Inn prices include continental breakfast; restaurants are in the Holiday Inn and Shoney's. Since this is Dublin's busiest weekend, early reservations are suggested. About 45 minutes south of Dublin in Hawkinsville is the Black Swan Inn, (912) 783-4466, a historic turn-of-the century mansion. Each of the six guest rooms has a fireplace, antique decor and private bath. In the evenings, the Black Swan Restaurant offers French cuisine in an intimate, 35-seat dining room. Reservations are required. Where to eat Dublin also has the usual assortment of fast-food restaurants, steakhouses and sandwich shops. At 124 W. Jackson St. is Ma Hawkins Restaurant, a favorite local eatery where Southern home-cooking has been dished up since 1931. Fried chicken, sugar-cured ham, turkey and dressing as well as seafood and steaks are menu staples. Complete dinners are $5.50, including tax. Traditional breakfasts with country ham and eggs, bacon, sausage and biscuits are served each morning. Hours are Mondays through Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (912) 272-0941. (This information was current at the time of publication, but hours and prices may have changed. It's always a good idea to call before you travel.)
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