The two cultures love to party. They love to sing and dance. And there just happens to be a traditional Irish band namedFiárock storming Ireland with lively music ranging from Mexican and Irish folk to jazz harmonies and American old-time melodies.
It seems fitting, then, that Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant should hire the band (pronounced Fee-AH-rock) to bring its multi-cultural vibes to Orlando for its first-ever Irish Cinco de Mayo celebration. The merriment kicks off Friday, May 3, and runs through Sunday, May 5, 2024.
Along with rocking music that’ll enchant trad-heads and newcomers alike, the party will get started with signature Cinco de Mayo cocktails including Me Aul Flower, a smoky Tequila- based Old Fashioned;Mary Rita, the Irish margarita with Tequila Herradura, peach Schnapps, mango and passionfruit purée, hibiscus water bitters, and lemon sour; and Kavanagh’s Coffee, with Mezcal, espresso, Kahlúa, maple syrup, orange bitters and a dash of Cointreau.
Featured menu items will be chef-inspired Potacos—potato tacos—with three options: Beer-battered shrimp, seaweed tartare, crunchy slaw pea purée, malt vinegar gel and potato sticks on a potato taco;Pulled BBQ pork, cider BBQ sauce, jalapeno salsa, pickled red onion, corn purée, pickled slaw, diced Granny Smith and cilantro on a potato taco; andSmoked beef and Guinness-glazed short rib, red cabbage slaw, chimichurri, charred corn salsa, pickled shallot rings and tobacco onions on a potato taco.
How did the Irish love affair with Mexico begin? The “olé, olé, olé” heard round the world at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico caught fire with the Irish at the 1990 World Cup in Italy as Team Ireland picked up steam. From sporting events, and now concerts, the ubiquitous “olé, olé, olé” chant pumps up Irish crowds and has worked its way into the Irish national psyche.
The four-piece Irish trad band, Fiárock, features talented members from both sides of the Atlantic on vocals playing concertina, banjo, piano, and bodhrán. Noteworthy live performances across Ireland have captivated audiences and landed the group on RTE’s Raidió na Gaeltachta for multiple performances. Their Irish national TV debut was a live performance on Fleadh TV, and the band was a finalist on the Robinson Emerging Artist Show. They also played a night at Dublin’s legendary trad pub, The Cobblestone.
“The Irish have a great affinity and history with Mexicans, and we thought it would be fun to join the Cinco de Mayo celebrations with our own interpretation of an Irish-Mexican party,” said General Manager Rachael Conroy. “Come enjoy our fabulous band flown in for the occasion as well as our delicious Potacos and Irish-Mexican cocktails!”
At Raglan Road, Fiárock will play the Grand Room stage Friday, May 1, and Saturday, May 2, from 6:30 pm through close. The band plays the Raglan Road patio Sunday from 6:15 pm through close.Reservations are recommended. Call 407/938-0300
Michele also contributes theme park news for Fox 35 Orlando 11pm news and on the radio on WDBO.
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