Sober St. Patrick’s Day® Returns to NYC on March 16, 2013

New York, NY, March 01, 2013 --(PR.com)-- In one year, Sober St. Patrick’s Day® has established itself as a family friendly option for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, the greenest day on the world calendar. Over the years, the holiday has become associated with binge drinking and public intoxication, which reinforces the stereotype of the “Drunken Irish.” This negative image alienates large segments of the community: families with young children, teens, senior citizens, members of the recovery community and many others who have stopped celebrating the day due to concerns about out-of-control behavior.

Sober St. Patrick’s Day® was created as a fresh alternative for those who want to celebrate the holiday in an alcohol-free atmosphere. The event, which is in its second year, was launched by award-winning TV producer William Spencer Reilly, and features an entertainment lineup that includes world-class Irish musicians, dancers and comedians.

“Our mission is to reclaim the true spirit of the day, and to change the perception of what St. Patrick’s Day can be,” said Reilly. “We’re doing this by providing an event that focuses on the richness of Irish culture, in a rip-roaring party. For anyone not in recovery, we’re not against anyone enjoying a couple of drinks on St. Patrick’s Day; we're just against the practice of some people using the holiday as an excuse to get drunk.”

This year’s diverse lineup features a host of internationally-acclaimed artists, including John Whelan (eight-time All Ireland Champion Button Accordion player); Brian Conway (five-time All Ireland Champion fiddle player), Haley Richardson (10-year-old Irish Fiddle Champion) and Malachy McCourt (author, actor and raconteur). Also scheduled to appear are Brendan Dolan, Tara O’Grady, Marie Reilly, Fiona Conway, the Niall O’Leary School of Irish Dance plus special surprise celebrity guests and political leaders. Noel Kilkenny, the Consulte General of Ireland, will be attending again this year. George Heslin of Origin Theatre Company will serve as the MC. Two-time Tony Award nominee Peter Link will direct.

Sober St. Patrick’s Day® will launch its first international satellite event this year. The Belfast City Council in Northern Ireland recently announced that they will be incorporating Sober St. Patrick’s Day® into their St. Patrick’s Day Festival this year. More details will be made available next week.

Sober St. Patrick’s Day® Saturday, March 16, 2013, from 3 to 6 p.m. (Parade day in Manhattan) at Regis High School (60 East 85th Street, NYC)
Tickets: $12 / person, includes light refreshments
For information and tickets visit www.soberstpatricksday.org

Press Inquiries: Eileen Murphy, Media Director eileen@soberstpatricksday.org, (917) 727-2208

Sponsors for Sober St. Patrick’s Day® include: PepsiCo, The O’Sullivan Children Foundation, Caron Treatment Centers, Seabrook House, William C. Dowling Jr. Foundation, Tourism Ireland–The Gathering, Betty Ford Center, Hazelden, Northern Ireland Bureau, PRMA, NACoA, Father Martin’s Ashley, Freedom Institute, Inter-Care, Faces & Voices of Recovery, Creative Care Malibu, ATPA, Realization Center, Café Regular, New York Center for Living, NCADD, Bridge Back to Life, Inc. and individual donors Ruth Riddick, Sean Driscoll and Sis Wenger.