On 22nd September 2011, a unique event is taking place all over the world, Arthur’s Day. Fans of Guinness Beer will raise their glasses in honor of the company’s founder, Arthur Guinness, who started the company in 1759, when he signed a 9,000-year lease with the famous St. James’s Gate brewery in Dublin. The third annual Arthur’s Day will kick off exactly at 17:59 GMT, all over Ireland and Europe, across to the USA and the Caribbean Islands, and then ending in Asia. The next 24 hours will be full of global celebrations and live music events.
Arthur’s Day started in 2009, the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Guinness Company. It was such a great success, the company decided to make it an annual event, as a way to celebrate its founder, the man responsible for the most famous drink in Ireland. It’s a great way to celebrate Arthur’s legacy and his great brewing tradition, by getting together with friends and enjoying live music by some of the greatest artists of our time. Arthur’s Day brings people together in their local pubs, in cities all over the world, to share and toast “the black stuff” together.
Proceeds from the music played during Arthur’s Day go to the Arthur Guinness Fund, a chartable outreach of the company that was begun to celebrate its 250th anniversary. Arthur Guinness was one of the greatest philanthropists of his time, improving the communities and the lives of the citizens where his products were sold, both in Ireland and all over the world. The Fund identifies and supports social entrepreneurs throughout the world—those with the skills and desires to deliver measureable and transformational differences in communities everywhere. In 2009, over £6 million was raised for the Arthur Guinness Fund.
Ticket prices to the concerts in Dublin, which have featured several high-profile acts like Tom Jones, David Gray, the Wombats, and Razorlight, vary depending upon the acts and the venues, but many set their price according to the familiar Guinness numbers of €9.99 and €17.59. The major venues in Dublin have been The Academy, Tripod, Vicar Street, Whelan’s, St. James’s Gate, the Olympia Theatre, and The Village. A festival not to be missed, and if you are attending then check out the
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