Be first to be a little green tomorrow

Over 20 per cent of New Zealanders claim Irish blood, but even those of us with no trace claim the right to be a bit green on St Patrick's Day. To be sure.

St Patrick's Festival has been celebrated in Auckland for the last 11 years, and our geographical position ensures that we are the first in the world to raise a glass to St Patrick on March 17.

So here's to it. Auckland's Irish pubs have been making a week of it, but have saved the best until tomorrow. Make a start with breakfast at one of the venues, go to Mass, and then cram the rest of the day with dance, music, craic (talk) and Guinness. Slainte!!

* Auckland Irish Club
Youth Mass at 10.30am, followed by entertainment and The Grail band from Ireland. Irish dancing, Druid band in the evening, admission free. Gribblehurst Park, Sandringham Rd.

* St Patrick's Festival Mass
St Benedict's Cathedral, 1 St Benedict's St, Newton, 12.10pm.

* The Muddy Farmer
13 Wyndham St, Auckland. Start at 7.30am with an Irish buffet breakfast ($20) and an all-day pass to the Muddy Farmer Festival. Buffet lunch ($25) from noon, live bands, face-painting, dancing. Tickets available from the Muddy Farmer. Wyndham St will be closed from 6pm today until 6am Sunday between Nelson and Hobson Sts. Visit their website below.

* The Claddagh Irish Pub
372 Broadway, Newmarket. St Patrick's Breakfast 7am-11am and all-day barbecue, $25. Bands include Thran, Ruff Copy and Ladies of the Night, plus Irish dancing. Visit the website below.

* The Bog Irish Bar
196 Parnell Rd, Parnell. Breakfast 9am-noon, $15. Book on 377-1510. Bands from 10am until late include Dodgy and the Bastard and Handpicked.

* The Clare Inn
274-278 Dominion Rd, Mt Eden. Sean Kelly, Nial Martin and the Mellatones.

* Murphy's Irish Bar
1 Wellesley St, City. Paddy's Friday, free Irish stew available all day.

* O'Hagan's Irish Pub
101-103 Customs St West, Viaduct. Breakfast from 8am, Guinness and Kilkenny, beef and Guinness pie. Bands include Jigs R Us and The Brothers.