MONTSERRAT’S ST.PATRICKS WEEK ACTIVITIES
The “other” Emerald Isle celebrates St. Patrick’s Day
Montserrat, West Indies – January 20, 2006 – The island of Montserrat is the only place in the world, besides Ireland, that recognizes St. Patrick’s Day as a national holiday. This lush, tropical island in the Caribbean with a rich Irish heritage celebrates with an annual festival from March 11 – 18, 2006.
To commemorate the slave uprising that took place on the predominantly Irish island on St. Patrick’s Day in 1768, Montserratians celebrate the holiday with much enthusiasm and activities that include feasts, parades, concerts, and outdoor theater productions. Declared a national holiday in 1985, the bulk of the festivities took place in the village of St. Patrick’s in the southern region of the island but due to the eruption of the Soufrière Hills Volcano in 1995, that area has been declared uninhabitable and celebrations are now held in the northern part of the island. During the weeklong festival, a slave village will be erected in Festival Village in Little Bay that will include individually decorated slave huts and a slave feast where indigenous foods, such as goat water, stewed yard fowl, and bush tea, can be sampled. Other activities include the dancing of the masqueraders, masked mummers dressed in colorful costumes, a kite festival, a national exhibit with local art and crafts, junior calypso competition, St. Patrick’s Day Barbeque, and an annual church service. In addition to selling Guinness, local bars celebrate in a more mainstream way by decorating bars in green and shamrocks.
Montserrat is the only island in the entire Caribbean chain that is of noticeable Irish heritage. In the 17th century, the island was a haven for Irish Catholics who had served out their time as indentured servants in the British West Indian islands. Today, there’s a touch of Ireland in its looks, sounds and even tastes. The harp and the female figure on the island's flag and official seal are derived from the Irish heraldy. The local speech is softly laced with Irish brogue and the Irish legacy is evident in surnames and folklore. Even the national dish, Goat Water, a stew made of kid or mutton and spiced with cloves and rum, is of Irish origin.
The full list of activities for 2006 St Patrick's Week Celebrations is as follows and is also available on http://www.visitmontserrat.com/
2006 St. Patrick's Week of Activities
Sat March 11
Freedon Hike organised by the National Trust (6:00 am)
Kite Festival at Gov't Headquarters (3:00 pm)
Call in Cadio Programme on Montserrat's Heritage (ZJB Radio)
Sun March 12th
Special Church Service (RC Church in Salem, 9:00 am)
Heroes of St Patrick's Day (ZJB Radio, 2:30 pm)
Creative Expressions (Brades Arts & Ed. Centre, 5:00 pm)
Mon March 13
National Exhibitions (March 13-16th) - M'rat Arts & Craft Association (MACA, Brades, All Day) - Montserrat National Trust (MNT, All Day) - Public Library (Brades, All Day)
Annual St. Patrick's Day Lecture (UWI Centre, 7:30pm)
Tue March 14
"De Long Journey" Concert (Venue TBC, 8:00 pm)
Wed March 15 Oldie Goldie Dance Time (Lookout Comm Centre, 6:00pm)
St Patrick's Day Bar B Que (Vue Pointe Hotel, 7:00 pm)
Thu March 16
Carrs Bay Plantation Archeological Site Open House Junior Calypso Competition (Police HQ Car Park, 7:00 pm)
Fri March 17
St Patrick's Day Holiday Freedom Walk and Run (Cudjoe Head Corner, 6:00 am)
Community Fun Sports & Breakfast (Salem Park, 7:15 am)
"Mout' Open - Tory Jump Out" Radio Programme (ZJB Radio)
Heritage Day - Slave Village & Feast (Festival Village, 2:00 pm)
Ole-Time Bingo (Festival Village, 6:00 pm)
Sat March 18
Carrs Bay Plantation Archeological Site Open House (7:00 am)
Annual St Patrick's Day Dinner (Vue Pointe Hotel, 7:00 pm)
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Tourism Highlights
Thanks to the Montserrat Tourist Board and Ishwar Persad for the following information. I hope we all get to read some of this material and pass it on to friends.
MTBs PUBLIC RELATIONS EFFORTS YIELDING HIGH RETURNS
The Montserrat Tourist Board’s (MTB) strategy of focusing its tourism promotional efforts in the area of public relations continue to pay high dividends. This has been clearly reflected in the significant positive coverage that Montserrat’s tourism products continue to receive in international media over the past year. In the last couple of months the media coverage has been particularly intense. Some of the coverage that the island has received recently are as follows:
Sport Diver Magazine (January/February 2006 Issue) – The spectacular and unique dive product of Montserrat was highlighted in three (3) full colour pages in this prestigious dive magazine, which has a circulation of 350,000. This piece was done by Ms. Tanya Burnett, who was part of a US press trip hosted by the MTB in mid-2005. Ms. Burnett also wrote highly of the friendliness and fun nature of the people, saying that, “Montserratians have a knack for having fun, and they love sharing it with visitors.”
BWIAs Caribbean Beat Magazine (January/February 2006 Issue) - BWIA's monthly in-flight magazine, Caribbean Beat, featured Montserrat in a four (4) page full-colour feature article. Under the caption ‘Volcano is Boss’, travel writer Mark Meredith highlighted the unique tourism products of Montserrat, namely the Soufriere Hills Volcano and the attractions that it has created. He writes that he found “…a mountain in no mood to go back to sleep,” and that this was the exact reason for persons to consider a detour to Montserrat on their next holiday. Caribbean Beat is a free magazine that is available for passengers on all BWIA flights.
The Sunday Telegraph (January 15th, 2006) - This major UK newspaper had a lead feature entitled 'The Places to be in 2006'" in its Sunday edition on January 15, 2006. Montserrat was mentioned on one of those places to be in 2006 and its dive product was singled out for attention. Soon after this article the MTBs London based PR agency fielded a number of inquiries from prospective visitors from the UK.
The Times Newspaper (UK, January 14, 2006) – The Saturday edition of this paper ran details of a Dive Worldwide package to Montserrat on its 'Departures' page on January 14th, 2006. This piece can be read online at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,71-1982734,00.htm
Frommers.com (November 2005)
Under the title of “Montserrat: A Hidden Gem in the Caribbean,” travel writer Mark Nadeau highlighted in detail the resurgence of the island in an article on Frommers.com, one of the world’s most influential travel sources. Mark was hosted by the MTB in mid-2005 and was suitably impressed with the island’s nature product, Plymouth and the excellent diving that were on offer. This very positive article included information and contact details on the Montserrat National Trust, the Montserrat Tourist Board, the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, WinAir and other tourism businesses on the island. The full story can be read online at http://frommers.com/articles/3256.html
Caribbean Travel & Life (December 2005) – This upscale travel magazine, with a circulation of 350,000 ran a half page feature on Montserrat in its December 2005 issue. Details were provided on Montserrat’s St Patrick's Day celebrations, as well as other attractions.
The Province Newspaper (November 27th, 2005) – Montserrat’s new airport and its and tourism products were the feature of an article in this newspaper in British Columbia, Canada. This paper has a circulation of 250,000.
Travel Agent Magazine (December 19th, 2005) – Writing for this influential travel trade magazine, Mark Rogers chronicled the Emerald Isle’s comeback to the international tourism arena. He focused on the new airport, St Patrick’s Day, Hiking Trails and the MVO.
The Banker - Financial Times (December 2005) – In this publication, Irish journalist Mr Hugh O'Shaughnessy focused on Montserrat's financial and tourism sector's revival. This was a result of the MTB hosting Mr. O'Shaughnessy in late 2005. A more tourism oriented piece by him also appeared in the in the Irish Times in November 2005, and the Independent Newspaper (UK) is also supposed to run similar story very soon.
Destinations (Armed Forces Magazine) – Montserrat was given four (4) full colour pages of editorial and pictorial content in this UK magazine.
Olive Magazine (December 2005) - Montserrat is listed as along with Belize and the Turks and Caicos Islands as "Three of a Kind - Secret Caribbean" in this UK publication.
Commenting on the high level of positive coverage that Montserrat is getting in the international media, the MTBs Director of Tourism, Ms. Ernestine M. Cassell said that, “We have been getting extremely high returns on our very moderate investment in PR and we will continue to work in the arena to help raise the tourism profile of Montserrat. I would like to thank all of our overseas representatives for their hard efforts in helping us to rejuvenate Montserrat’s tourism sector.“
MTBs PUBLIC RELATIONS EFFORTS YIELDING HIGH RETURNS
The Montserrat Tourist Board’s (MTB) strategy of focusing its tourism promotional efforts in the area of public relations continue to pay high dividends. This has been clearly reflected in the significant positive coverage that Montserrat’s tourism products continue to receive in international media over the past year. In the last couple of months the media coverage has been particularly intense. Some of the coverage that the island has received recently are as follows:
Sport Diver Magazine (January/February 2006 Issue) – The spectacular and unique dive product of Montserrat was highlighted in three (3) full colour pages in this prestigious dive magazine, which has a circulation of 350,000. This piece was done by Ms. Tanya Burnett, who was part of a US press trip hosted by the MTB in mid-2005. Ms. Burnett also wrote highly of the friendliness and fun nature of the people, saying that, “Montserratians have a knack for having fun, and they love sharing it with visitors.”
BWIAs Caribbean Beat Magazine (January/February 2006 Issue) - BWIA's monthly in-flight magazine, Caribbean Beat, featured Montserrat in a four (4) page full-colour feature article. Under the caption ‘Volcano is Boss’, travel writer Mark Meredith highlighted the unique tourism products of Montserrat, namely the Soufriere Hills Volcano and the attractions that it has created. He writes that he found “…a mountain in no mood to go back to sleep,” and that this was the exact reason for persons to consider a detour to Montserrat on their next holiday. Caribbean Beat is a free magazine that is available for passengers on all BWIA flights.
The Sunday Telegraph (January 15th, 2006) - This major UK newspaper had a lead feature entitled 'The Places to be in 2006'" in its Sunday edition on January 15, 2006. Montserrat was mentioned on one of those places to be in 2006 and its dive product was singled out for attention. Soon after this article the MTBs London based PR agency fielded a number of inquiries from prospective visitors from the UK.
The Times Newspaper (UK, January 14, 2006) – The Saturday edition of this paper ran details of a Dive Worldwide package to Montserrat on its 'Departures' page on January 14th, 2006. This piece can be read online at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,71-1982734,00.htm
Frommers.com (November 2005)
Under the title of “Montserrat: A Hidden Gem in the Caribbean,” travel writer Mark Nadeau highlighted in detail the resurgence of the island in an article on Frommers.com, one of the world’s most influential travel sources. Mark was hosted by the MTB in mid-2005 and was suitably impressed with the island’s nature product, Plymouth and the excellent diving that were on offer. This very positive article included information and contact details on the Montserrat National Trust, the Montserrat Tourist Board, the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, WinAir and other tourism businesses on the island. The full story can be read online at http://frommers.com/articles/3256.html
Caribbean Travel & Life (December 2005) – This upscale travel magazine, with a circulation of 350,000 ran a half page feature on Montserrat in its December 2005 issue. Details were provided on Montserrat’s St Patrick's Day celebrations, as well as other attractions.
The Province Newspaper (November 27th, 2005) – Montserrat’s new airport and its and tourism products were the feature of an article in this newspaper in British Columbia, Canada. This paper has a circulation of 250,000.
Travel Agent Magazine (December 19th, 2005) – Writing for this influential travel trade magazine, Mark Rogers chronicled the Emerald Isle’s comeback to the international tourism arena. He focused on the new airport, St Patrick’s Day, Hiking Trails and the MVO.
The Banker - Financial Times (December 2005) – In this publication, Irish journalist Mr Hugh O'Shaughnessy focused on Montserrat's financial and tourism sector's revival. This was a result of the MTB hosting Mr. O'Shaughnessy in late 2005. A more tourism oriented piece by him also appeared in the in the Irish Times in November 2005, and the Independent Newspaper (UK) is also supposed to run similar story very soon.
Destinations (Armed Forces Magazine) – Montserrat was given four (4) full colour pages of editorial and pictorial content in this UK magazine.
Olive Magazine (December 2005) - Montserrat is listed as along with Belize and the Turks and Caicos Islands as "Three of a Kind - Secret Caribbean" in this UK publication.
Commenting on the high level of positive coverage that Montserrat is getting in the international media, the MTBs Director of Tourism, Ms. Ernestine M. Cassell said that, “We have been getting extremely high returns on our very moderate investment in PR and we will continue to work in the arena to help raise the tourism profile of Montserrat. I would like to thank all of our overseas representatives for their hard efforts in helping us to rejuvenate Montserrat’s tourism sector.“
About Blogs
I am not being patronizing, but a number of people I contacted about contributing to this blog asked me what a blog was…..so here goes:
About Blogs:
A blog is basically a journal that is available on the web. The activity of updating a blog is "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger." Blogs are typically updated daily using software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain the blog.
To publish this blog, I use “Pingomatic.com” to ping automatically every time I publish a new item in the blog. Publishing (and pinging) frequently will keep the blog on the web-wide lists of most-updated sites, which will bring more traffic and more search engines to check out the blog and the websites behind it.
For everyone who helps make this a great Blog about villa life in Montserrat, I will gladly include a link to your selected website -- and thank you.
About Blogs:
A blog is basically a journal that is available on the web. The activity of updating a blog is "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger." Blogs are typically updated daily using software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain the blog.
To publish this blog, I use “Pingomatic.com” to ping automatically every time I publish a new item in the blog. Publishing (and pinging) frequently will keep the blog on the web-wide lists of most-updated sites, which will bring more traffic and more search engines to check out the blog and the websites behind it.
For everyone who helps make this a great Blog about villa life in Montserrat, I will gladly include a link to your selected website -- and thank you.
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Hello and welcome
I will be posting regularly on life in Montserrat. Have you heard of Montserrat? Have you ever visited?
It's a tiny island in the Caribbean, right between Antigua and Guadeloupe. You probably won't find it on your map. That's why most of us just love being here.
My husband and I have lived here for nearly twenty years. We built our home (that will be another story....soon come) and lived here full time until 1997 ... and the volcano. Then we came back and spent about six and a half months here every year, leaving for the hurricane season.
Although I will be able to give you some great tips on living in Montserrat (in your own villa), I will ask others who live here to share their feelings and experiences with you. All in all, most of us think Montserrat is one of the greatest places ...despite the volcano. Yes, we have a volcano that does -- at times -- make itself heard and smelled (think rotten eggs).
Take a quick look at our home in Montserrat . I will let you know what some of our visitors are saying. One comment about this villa, made by two people on two separate occasions is: "What is there not to love?"
If you have any questions about Montserrat -- just let me know, and I will try to get the information out to you.
Come back and visit a while :)
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