Brisbane, prepare to be swept off your feet as the Queensland Irish Association proudly presents the 127th annual St Patrick’s Eve Dinner, a night destined to dazzle and delight! 

DATES & DEETS

On Sunday, 16 March at 6pm, the grand Main Auditorium of Brisbane City Hall will once again transform into a vibrant tapestry of Irish culture and celebration. While outside, the grand City Hall will be lit up in the green, white and orange colours of the Irish flag.

Following the resounding success of last year’s sold-out event, this year’s gala promises to be even more spectacular. The esteemed Governor of Queensland has confirmed her attendance, underscoring the event’s significance in our community. 

Guests will be treated to an enchanting evening filled with traditional Irish music, dance, and camaraderie. Queensland Irish Association Pipe Band will fill the room with sound, and QIA Dancers will amaze you with their world-class dancing skills.

Queensland Irish Association are delighted to announce that author Hugh Lunn will propose the toast to ‘Australia Our Nation’ at the Dinner.

QIA President Jeff Spender presenting author Hugh Lunn with a copy of A Hundred Thousand Welcomes – The History of Queensland Irish Association. Credit: Queensland Irish Association

Hugh Lunn is a journalist and author, best known for his memoirs capturing the essence of post-war Queensland life. Born in Brisbane in 1941, he began his career as a journalist and gained recognition as a war correspondent in Vietnam during the late 1960s. 

His book Vietnam: A Reporter’s War (1985) provides a gripping account of his experiences covering the conflict, offering a first-hand perspective on the realities of war.

Hugh Lunn became widely celebrated for his nostalgic and humorous memoirs, beginning with Over the Top with Jim (1989), a best-selling account of his childhood in suburban Brisbane. Its sequel, Head Over Heels (1992), continues his personal story into adulthood. He has also written about Australian language in Words Fail Me (2005) and Lost for Words (2006), as well as a biography of tennis player Ken Fletcher in The Great Fletch (2011). His writing is known for its warmth, wit, and keen observation of Australian life.

Other special guests at QIA’s Saint Patrick’s Eve Dinner will include the Governor of Queensland, Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, and Minister Steven Minnikin MP representing The Premier of Queensland, the Honourable David Crisafulli MP.

The Toast to ‘The Day We Celebrate’ will be proposed by Emer Higgins TD, the Minister of State for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment in the Irish government. 

The cost is $160 per person. This is good value, for what will be a great night: 

• Five-hour drinks package for beer, Guinness, red and white wine and soft drinks, from 6pm to 11pm.

• A three-course dinner catered by Epicure at Brisbane City Hall.

• Entertainment by the QIA Dancers and the QIA Pipe Band. 

• Distinguished Irish and Australian guests, including the Governor of Queensland. 

• Community singing of Irish Favourites. 

You can download the booking form at www.queenslandirish.com/news/book-your-spot-for-st-patricks-eve-dinner-2025. Gather your loved ones and join in an unforgettable night of elegance, entertainment, and Irish charm.

This month, the Association is also holding a Saint Patrick’s Day lunch, hosting an Irish history tour of South Brisbane Cemetery and leading out the Brisbane parade with Saint Patrick himself.