A Packed Caribbean-Style Programme in Store on “The Other Emerald Isle”

BRADES, Montserrat (February 3rd, 2011) - Joining the festivities during Montserrat’s annual St Patrick Festival 2011 in mid-March just got easier, with the announcement of additional ferry services from Antigua and special fares.  During the period of March 14th-19th, the current four (4) day schedule from Antigua will be increased to a daily service, and there will also be extra rotations on March 16th and on March 17th, which is St. Patrick’s Day.  Additionally, just for that week, revelers and other travellers will pay a reduced fare of US$100 (EC$270) return for adults, and US$50 (EC$135) for children under 12.  The full ferry schedule for that week is as follows:

Monday March 14th                        Ferry Departs Montserrat            8:30 a.m.
                                                     Ferry Departs Antigua                5:30 p.m.

Tuesday March 15th                        Ferry Departs Montserrat            8:30 a.m.
                                                     Ferry Departs Antigua                 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday March 16th                 Ferry Departs Montserrat            8:30 a.m.
                                                   Ferry Departs Antigua                 5:30 p.m.
                                                   Ferry Departs Montserrat            8:00 p.m. (overnights in Antigua)

Thursday March 17th                    Ferry Departs Antigua                 8:00 a.m.

(St Patrick’s Day Holiday)             Ferry Departs Montserrat            4:00 p.m.
                                                  Ferry Departs Antigua                 6:30 p.m.

Friday March 18th                        Ferry Departs Montserrat            8:30 a.m.
                                                  Ferry Departs Antigua                 5:30 p.m.

Saturday March 19th                   Ferry Departs Montserrat            8:30 a.m.
                                                 Ferry Departs Antigua                 5:30 p.m.

The ferry leaves out of the Deep Water Harbour in St. Johns, Antigua, with the trip taking approximately 2 hours each way, and no advance reservations or ticketing is required.  

Montserrat is the only country outside of Ireland to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day as a national holiday, and the island will come alive in true Caribbean-style with ten (10) days of festivities from March 11-20, 2011.  Highlights of the week include the Freedom Run and Walk; a Hike on the Cassava-Duberry Trail; a Kite Festival; a University of the West Indies’ Lecture with Dr. Samuel Joseph; a cultural dance exchange with a visiting dance troupe from India; an All-Island Heritage Feast which will feature traditional food and drinks; an island-wide pub crawl; and performances throughout the week from the Irish group the Martin Healy Band, Emerald Community Singers, and masqueraders. The highly anticipated Junior Calypso Final and a beach jam closes out the packed week. 

To view the full schedule of events and activities for Montserrat’s St Patrick’s Festival 2011 go to http://www.visitmontserrat.com/St_Patricks_Festival

For further information on the ferry service call Mr. Roosevelt Jemmotte at 664 496 9912 in Montserrat and Jennifer Burke in Antigua at 268 722 8188.  The ferry schedule and information on getting to Montserrat by air can be found at www.visitmontserrat.com