The Festival began in 1966 through the work of local radio station WMLT and our local newspaper, The Courier Herald. In 1970, the festival was incorporated. The festival is run solely by volunteers and is sponsored through individual and corporate donations, as well as, through the two volunteer memberships, the Order of Shillelagh and the Order of Blarney Stone. The Order of Shillelagh was organized as an organization of male volunteers who support, not only financially, but also through their time and talent, the St. Patrick’s festival events. Respectfully, the Order of Blarney Stone serves as the volunteer organization for women, who also support financially and through their time and talent the various St. Patrick’s events. These organizations make up hundreds of volunteers and civic clubs who support over 45 events each year during the month of March. We are very proud that the festival has grown from a local event to a major area attraction. The festival has been named as one of the top 20 events in the southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society and as stated earlier, one of only a few festivals in the state that is run solely by volunteers.