3 July 2018
By Mary Bermingham
mary@TheCork.ie
Launching the Imperial Hotel’s Fourth of July Weekend Celebrations are Frits Potgieter, General Manager, Imperial Hotel and Pat Duffy, Funding and Advocacy Coordinator, Pieta House Cork.
Photo: Cathal Noonan
For Americans living in Cork, it must be a little odd to celebrate Independence Day thousands of miles from home. Not having a day off from work and a lack of fireworks displays may have them longing for traditions from home, but all that’s about to change as the Imperial Hotel, Cork City is here to make this Fourth of July weekend one to remember!
The Imperial Hotel is extending a very special invite to Americans living, working or simply visiting Cork to come and celebrate the holiday in style with their fellow countrymen and women from Wednesday, July 4th to Saturday, July 7th.
On Wednesday, July 4th, a special charity Hot Dog and Lemonade stand will be set up outside the front of the hotel from 12pm to 7pm; with all proceeds raised going towards the Imperial’s charity partner, Pieta House. This is just one of a number of fundraising events and initiatives that are planned for the year ahead, including the hotel’s popular annual Black Tie Gala Ball which will take place in October in aid of the charity.
The celebrations will continue right through until Saturday night, with live music from soul, funk and RnB band, The Velvin Lamont Band on Wednesday and Friday night; with blues and rock from Bad Boy Blues on Thursday and Saturday night.
American style food and drinks will be served in Seventy Six on the Mall at the Imperial from Wednesday to Saturday, where you can expect to wash down hot dogs, burgers and mini sliders with all American favourites like the famous Long Island Iced Tea, an Old Fashioned, or a tasty Manhattan cocktail. Gin lovers can try the Imperial’s very own “All American Gin and Tonic” served with fresh raspberries and blueberries; while if beer is more your thing, buckets of Budweiser will also be available.
Speaking about the Fourth of July celebrations planned, Frits Potgieter, General Manager of the Imperial Hotel said “If you’re American – whether you now consider yourself a local, are new in town, or are just passing through – we invite you to join us and celebrate Independence Day at the Imperial. We have a great few days planned, and would love you to help kick off the celebrations at our Hot Dog and Lemonade Stand in aid of Pieta House on Wednesday. We are very proud to lend our support to this worthy charity, and through our partnership with them we hope to make a real difference in helping them to raise awareness around self-harm and suicide in Ireland.”
Pieta House offers a free, accessible and community-based service for people that have attempted, are thinking about, or have been bereaved by suicide, and people engaging in self-harm. The nationwide charity provides round the clock services by fully accredited therapists. People can connect with a Pieta House therapist by phone, face-to-face, email, text or by post, so there is always someone to talk to. For more information visit www.pieta.ie or call 1800 247 247.
Angela Horgan, Funding and Advocacy Coordinator at Pieta House Cork, said “Of all of Pieta House’s centres, the Cork service is the busiest, seeing an average of 84 people every day. The service is completely free of charge, but we rely heavily on donations to meet this need. All funds raised in Cork directly support the Cork centre; and engaging with organisations such as the Imperial Hotel is so important to the work we do.”
