St Patrick's Day Ball, Kigali

Welcoming the New Irish Ambassador to Rwanda

Apr 6, 2009 Marion Grace Woolley

All of Rwanda's high society were out in force for the country's first organised St. Patrick's Day ball in the capital city.

Friday 20th March 2009 saw a spectacular St. Patrick’s Day ball take place at the Serena Hotel in Kigali .

The bash was especially extravagant this year in honour of the new Irish Ambassador to Rwanda: Kevin Kelly. Tickets cost FRW 35,000 with a Champaign and Guinness reception and free-flowing wine at every table.

400 People Attend Paddy's Day at Serena Hotel

Around 400 people attended in tuxedos and sumptuous evening wear. It was the first time Paddy’s Day has been celebrated in such style in Kigali, and the first time ever that Irish Champ has appeared on a Serena Hotel menu anywhere in the world!

As well as the traditional Irish dish, the buffet dinner included lamb casserole, chicken curry, chickpea curry, fish, fresh ham salad, soup and a plethora of deserts: chocolate mouse, fruit blamange and black forest gateaux.

Kigali Irish Committee Raising Money for Charity

A presentation of FRW 3.5million was made to the charity Nsanga Association of Child-Headed Households in Kinyinya village. The money was raised by the event and a huge ‘thank you’ went out to Rwanda’s Irish Community and all who attended.

A raffle also took place with luxury prizes including a return flight to Johannasbery (Kenya Airways), return flight to Brussels (SMS Brussels), weekends away and dinners for two from Serena Hotel, Blackberries and Nokia phones from MTN and a helicopter ride from Akagera Aviation.

In a sign of mutual good-will and celebration, Mary Baine, the Commissioner General of Rwanda Revenue Authority raised a toast to Ireland and Mr. Kelly returned a toast to Rwanda. The event heralds an important acknowledgement of the strong aid links between Ireland and the East African Community.

Riff Raff, Irish Band from Galway

Party-goers then proceeded to dance the night away to a real Irish band flown all the way from Galway. Riff Raff, headed by lead-man John James Joyce, put so much energy into their performance they almost shorted out the national grid and continue to play for a straight three hours without break.

Riff Raff had originally played a couple of nights before for the St. Patrick’s Day ball in Kampala and a large Ugandan contingent had ventured down to Kigali to support this first event.

After the band a DJ continued to play a mixture old favourites until the party wound-down around 2:30am. People started to make their way home: green ribbon, sequin shamrocks, balloons and free packets of Café Aromec coffee in tow.

All-in-all a fantastic night that everyone hopes to see repeated next year, with the Irish community in Rwanda making its presence felt and kick-starting a tradition of Paddy's Fay balls raising money for worthy causes.

The copyright of the article St Patrick's Day Ball, Kigali in Sub-Sahara Africa Travel is owned by Marion Grace Woolley. Permission to republish St Patrick's Day Ball, Kigali in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Dancin the night away

Decorated tables

The spread