NEWARK – This St. Patrick’s Day, Licking County residents will have the chance to celebrate with an Irish band, while also giving back to the community.

Galway, Ireland-based band We Banjo 3 will be performing at the Midland Theatre Friday, and this event will double as a fundraiser for Mental Health America of Licking County (MHALC).

The band is comprised of two sets of brothers, Enda and Fergal Scahill, and Martin and David Howley.

MHALC Executive Director Penny Sitler said the band also came to the county last year and she said they are so talented and energetic that she wanted them to come back for this year’s fundraiser, which is the agency’s largest fundraiser each year.

“They were so much fun and people will like them,” Sitler said.

The band plays a mix of traditional Irish music with a layer of American folk bluegrass music, said David Howley.

He said they have all always been influenced by the music that surrounded them.

Howley said their music is light-hearted, and when people come to the show, they can forget their worries of the world.

“Our music, the music of Ireland, is right joyful music,” he said.

They like to get people involved and dancing at their shows.

As a band, they try to give back and participate in many charity events. He said mental health challenges are something that exist on both sides of the water.

Last year, Sitler said the band members told MHALC that what they do is so important.

“They really got what we do,” Sitler said.

The band also made a financial contribution to MHALC.

Sitler said MHALC pays to rent the theater and hire the band. After the expenses related to the event, all proceeds go to MHALC.

VIP ticket holders and event sponsors will be able to participate in a one-hour meet-and-greet with the band.

The night will also feature a live auction at 7 p.m. Sitler said they will auction off about 22 items, such as baskets and meals out.

MHALC serves thousands of people in Licking County each year. Programs include support groups and suicide prevention.

Sitler said since they don’t charge for any programming, so they rely on fundraising and grants to be able to do what they do in the community.

“Mental heath impacts everyone,” Sitler said. “One in five adults in the United States every year will have a mental health issue.”

Tickets for the event are $35. Sitler said there are no VIP tickets left.

Interested residents can purchase tickets at the Midland Theatre box office or online at midlandtheatre.org.

For more information, call 740-345-5483.

slmurray@gannett.com

740-328-8544

@sydlmurray

Found in The Newark Advocate March 16, 2017