Worcester Hibernian Cultural Foundation Hosts Road Race on September 13



(WORCESTER, Mass., August 13, 2009)-The Worcester Hibernian Cultural Foundation will host the Fallon Community Health Plan Canal Diggers 5K Road Race on Sunday, September 13.

The race begins at 11AM from the Centre’s Fiddler’s Green Irish Pub on 19 Temple Street and will end at Harding Street, underneath which runs Blackstone Canal. The race is under the direction of Paul Collyer of BAEvents.Com, a well-known and experienced race director. Registration, which can be completed via the race’s website, http://www.canaldiggers.com/, has a fee of $20 on or before September 5th and $22 afterwards.

The day’s festivities will include live music provided by Irish music headliners “The Brennan Brothers”, an Irish BBQ, and a multitude of refreshments for the runners after the race. Festivities will span into the night as a traditional Irish Seisiun runs from 4 PM to 8 PM inside the Fiddler’s Green pub.

“We are expecting a record number of runners for our third race.” states event Co-Chair Paul Foley. “We’d love see the streets packed with spectators to cheer them on. And everyone is invited back to the Cultural Centre for the festivities following the race.”

The Canal Diggers 5K race winds through Green Island, Millbury Street, Water Street, Major Taylor Boulevard, Main Street, Kelley Square, and ends on Harding Street. Two water stations will be situated along the 5 kilometers, one on the course and one at the finish line. All participants of the race will be given an honorary finisher medal, while winners aged 21 and older will be given a bottle of Lock 48 wine, sponsored by the Canal District. A health walk of 1 mile is also part of the event for those who prefer to walk.

Proceeds from the race will directly support the Centre’s activities as well as other associated non-profit groups that participate in the race’s organization and operations. The Worcester Hibernian Cultural Centre is a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation organized perpetuate and promote Irish culture in the Worcester area. It supports efforts to revitalize the City’s Canal District. The Hibernian Cultural Centre has quickly become the premiere cultural venue for the Worcester area Irish community since its opening in 2005.

Sponsor’s for this year’s race, in addition to the Fallon Community Health Plan, include Winn Developers, Commerce Bank, Hanover Insurance, Harpoon Brewery, Kearney, Donovan & McGee, P.C., Emerald Meats, Congressman Jim McGovern and Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray .

History of the Hibernian Cultural Centre

The Hibernian Cultural Centre has quickly become the premiere cultural venue for the Worcester area Irish community since its opening in 2005. The building, once the site of the Polish American Veterans Hall, was refurbished by the W.H.C.F. and filled a void created in 2002 when the Commonwealth of Massachusetts took the former “Irish Club”, located on Millbury Street by eminent domain for the construction of the Route 146 Extension. The thriving Worcester Irish community was left without a home for many of cultural events through which it had ensured perpetuation of the Irish cultural to younger generations. For the interim years, the Irish community hosted its events at many local establishments that donated space. However, it was evident that the many once thriving Irish groups could not maintain their activities without a permanent home.


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