A CHARITY night celebrating Consett’s Irish connections is being held in aid of Willow Burn Hospice.

Eat Drink and Be Irish is being held at The Demi Sports Bar, Consett, Durham on Friday, June 29 from 7.30pm.

There will be authentic Irish food and drink, a ceilidh band and Irish dancers from Durham’s O’Hehir’s School of Irish Dance.

Siobhan Marsh, the fundraiser behind the event, who grew up in Ireland: said: “We Irish are famed for our sense of fun.

“I wanted to recreate the kind of atmosphere you get when you walk into a room full of Irish people, chatting, laughing, playing music and enjoying themselves.

“When Irish immigration was at his peak in Consett the 1800s, public houses were always a hub for live music, storytelling and dancing.

“There was a belief that even in times of hardship, there was room for music and laughter; a concept that Willow Burn truly believes in.”

Tickets are £15 which includes the all entertainment, a reception drink, Irish stew with lots of games and prizes to be won.

To book log on to: willow-burn.co.uk/event/eat-drink-and-be-irish/ or call 01207-529-224.