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Tina Shelley teaches a step to a student at Shelley’s School of Irish Dance in Pleasant Grove. Shelley has been doing Irish dance since she was 6-years-old and has an Irish step certification from the Commission of Irish Dance in Dublin, Ireland. She opened her school in 2000 after getting her certification. The school is the oldest one in Utah.
Tiny adolescent girls form four lines as the last of the sun peaks through the windows in the studio of Shelley's School of Irish Dance in Pleasant Grove.
INSTRUCTOR AND OWNER Tina Shelley picks a song from a computer in the corner of the studio and an Irish jig begins to play. Three-by-three, the girls dance out to the center of the room. Their upper body hardly moves as their thin legs bounce and kick with the quick beats of the music.
This is just their warm up.
"Running a school like this around St. Patrick's Day is a celebration time of year," Shelley said.
Shelley teaches classes at the school with her younger sister, Johanna Lambert. They are only a quarter Irish, but have grown to love the country's history and traditions through the dance, especially around St. Patrick's Day. Irish dancing is a rare find in Utah, where there's only four schools. They are requested for performances throughout the month of March.
The Shelley School of Irish Dance is the oldest school in Utah. It opened in 2000 when Shelley, 32, received her Irish step certification from the Commission of Irish Dance in Dublin, Ireland. Before she was certified, she was a BYU student on a folkdance scholarship and was a featured soloist.
"People called me in my freshman dorm asking for lessons," she said, laughing.
She started dancing at age 6 after watching her older sister compete in an Irish Dance competition and bring home several medals. By the age of 8, she was a championship Irish dancer. She qualified for the world championships four times, but, unfortunately, never went through with it.
"I remember it being bounteous awards," Shelley said of her 26 years of dancing. "Lots of medals. Lots of trophies. It was a great experience for me."
She has been all over the world with her dancing and even choreographed for the Disney TV movie, "The Luck of the Irish."
Lambert joined her from Maryland in August is also a certified teacher. Lambert's resume is just as extensive: qualified for the world championships at 10 years old, studied at the Contra Costa Ballet School and was invited to join the Contra Costa Ballet Company.

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In the mood to do an Irish jig? Or to see some traditional Irish step dancing? You can Sunday at the Landmark Center in St. Paul.
The local Irish Dance and Music Association is holding its annual “Day of Irish Dance” celebration, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day.
Lisa Conway, president of the IDMA, joined us live on 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS Weekend Morning with a preview of the festival, plus some of the dancers who will be performing.
Press play to watch the full interview.
On the web: http://www.irishmusicanddanceassociation.org/

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Guinness is great, but there are other notable Irish beers. Allow me to recommend a few in honor of St. Patrick’s Day (please, drink responsibly):
1. Kilkenny Irish Creme Ale: Malty and strong, and a close relative of Smithwick’s Draught
3. Kinsale Irish Lager: Mild, palatable and the perfect combo of bitter and sweet
4. Beamish Stout: Full, with a solid chocolate/coffee after-taste
5. Smithwick’s Ale: Grainy, dry and sweet due to the caramel backing
Nicole Reino, who writes for UTStreet.com and Passages, enjoys ales and stouts best.
Guinness is great, but there are other notable Irish beers. Allow me to recommend a few in honor of St. Patrick’s Day (please, drink responsibly):
1. Kilkenny Irish Creme Ale: Malty and strong, and a close relative of Smithwick’s Draught
3. Kinsale Irish Lager: Mild, palatable and the perfect combo of bitter and sweet
4. Beamish Stout: Full, with a solid chocolate/coffee after-taste
5. Smithwick’s Ale: Grainy, dry and sweet due to the caramel backing
Nicole Reino, who writes for UTStreet.com and Passages, enjoys ales and stouts best.

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DUBLIN, Ireland — Police have arrested four British Broadcasting Corp. journalists and several Irish Republican Army dissidents in an operation against a suspected propaganda stunt for Easter.
Ireland’s national police force, the Garda Siochana, said seven men - including the four BBC Belfast employees - were arrested Saturday night. Four more people were arrested Sunday.
All were being questioned at police stations in County Donegal, northwest Ireland. Under Irish anti-terror laws, they could be held for up to 72 hours before being charged or released.
The BBC in Belfast refused to discuss any details of the arrests or the program being planned, other than to confirm that its employees were on a fully authorized assignment. The broadcaster would not identify the lead reporter or any other staff members arrested.
A Garda Siochana detective said all were arrested after the BBC crew filmed a masked IRA dissident issuing a statement designed to coincide with Easter, the most important holiday on the IRA calendar.
The detective spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. He said police had seized BBC equipment, but declined to discuss what the police intended to do with any footage impounded.

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Sure ’twas a loud and raucous caucus that took place about the Wishing Tree in Emmer O’Malley’s yard at midnight on the 15th of February. More than 358,000 leprechauns gathered to attend to the arduous process of selecting honorees from more than 70 nominations, in their quest to honor “the noble deeds of common men and women.”
There was plenty of oration, recitation, nomination and libation as the politicking and promoting of nominees reached a fevered frenzy. But for the patience and understanding of the O’Malleys, McGowns and Michauds, the local “garde” might have been summoned to intervene and disperse the slightly overzealous wee-folk. After more than four hours of deafening debate, there was consensus achieved, and honorees were chosen. The honorees are:
Frankie Guidi: Known as “Ambassador of the Acre,” (Tommy Grealis was the “mayor”), Frankie has been the chief pot and bottle washer at Clinton Hospital for nearly 40 years. Frankie was a bowling team partner of our revered Grand Marshal Tommy Grealis and he brought luck to Clay Bucholz at Fenway Park the day he pitched his no-hitter. A friend to all and a fixture to the “Acre,” Frankie was nominated by Phil “Sneakers” Nolan. Our Grand Marshal will be beaming as he watches his pal receive a stick.

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Naugatuck St. Patrick’s events start at 9 a.m.
NAUGATUCK — The borough will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day today.
There will be a Mass at 9 a.m. at St. Francis Church to celebrate the day. Then those in attendance will march to the historical society building on Water Street, where they will hoist the Irish flag.
Mayor Mike Bronko will be at Town Hall, waiting for a call on his cell phone telling him when to raise the Irish flag there.
After the flag is raised there will be coffee and pastries inside the historical society, and a few speeches, said Burgess Pat Scully.
Dorothy Knowles, past president of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, said after the festivities at the historical society they will head to Duffy’s on Water Street for corned beef and cheer.

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On St. Patrick’s Day, everyone wants to be Irish. If you love to party, it is the perfect excuse to drink Guinness and have a great time. And if you love to feast, it is the annual feast day celebrating St. Patrick, one of the patron saints of Ireland.
For feasting themes, you could plan a meal around Irish recipes (drawing inspiration from these recipes). You could use recipes featuring Irish ingredients or even plan a green-coloured dinner. You won’t need the luck of the Irish for the recipes below, but it is always good to have luck on your side.
MELTED REBLOCHON CHEESE WITH WINTER HERBS
This irresistible and easy appetizer is from Irish cooking expert Darina Allen. In her book Ballymaloe Cooking School Cookbook, she says she likes to support local cheese makers (who produce cheese not necessarily widely available), so use a local Camembert-style cheese that you like. - 1 Reblochon or Camembert (about 1 lb/500g) - 1 large clove garlic, finely chopped - 2 tbsp (25mL) fresh thyme leaves - ½ tsp (2mL) freshly ground pepper
1. Cut a 12″ (30cm) square of tin foil. Cut the cheese horizontally, removing top rind, and set aside. Place the bottom part of the cheese in the centre of the tin foil. Sprinkle generously with garlic, thyme and pepper (use more or less to suit your own taste). 2. Replace top part of the cheese. Gather up the edges of the foil but leave a little vent for the steam to escape. Bake in a preheated 350F (180C) oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until cheese is soft and melting. 3. Remove the cheese from the package to a serving plate. Lift off top and serve immediately with hot crusty bread. Makes 8 servings.

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The three IRA members shot dead by the SAS in Gibraltar were gunned down after the Irish government passed on information about their movements, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams claimed today.
Mairead Farrell (31), Danny McCann (30) and Sean Savage (23) all from west Belfast, were shot by undercover soldiers as they prepared to launch a car bomb attack on troops almost 20 years ago.
It was claimed the three had been under surveillance by British intelligence and the authorities in Spain who monitored their movements as they crossed the border into Gibraltar, apparently after arriving on a flight from Dublin.
All three were unarmed when they were shot and later a car with 140lbs of explosives was found.
The European Court of Human rights found they were unlawfully killed but said they were engaged in terrorism.
The late Charles Haughey was then taoiseach with the late Brian Lenihan as his foreign minister. Margaret Thatcher was in power at Downing St in what was one of the most turbulent times of the troubles.
Mr Adams said today: “It is my strong view that the killings in Gibraltar were authorised by Margaret Thatcher, and it is my strong view that the Irish government of the day passed information to the authorities about the movements of those killed.

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