NORTH PLATTE – The 51st annual Irish Fest event drew a large crowd to St. Patrick’s High School on Sunday, March 1st, resulting in over $30,000 net proceeds for the North Platte Catholic Schools Endowment-Trust, Inc. Endowment Director Wendy Dodson says that over 270 guests enjoyed a homemade roast beef dinner, over 6,800 game tickets were sold for the mini carnival in the school gym, over 5,000 raffle tickets sold, $1,200 worth of baked goods sold, and the silent auction generated $6,500. Event proceeds support the Endowment’s Annual Fund, which provides funding for the general operations of the North Platte Catholic Schools.
Raffle winners were: Sharon Struckman, Amy Kylar, Steve Weber, Tom Courter, Ali Blake, and Bill McGahan. Raffle prizes were donated by: Kwik Stop, Dave’s Place, Double Dips Ice Creamery, and Irish Fest sponsors. A complete sponsor listing can be found at: www.bidpal.net/irishfest26.
Dodson notes that the Endowment is particularly grateful to those who sponsored and volunteered at Irish Fest.
Longtime school parent and volunteer Marty Troshynski prepared and cooked the meal with beef provided by the Lincoln County Feedyard, LLC. Dodson adds that special recognition is due to the faculty, families, and students of St. Patrick’s, McDaid and Little Leprechaun schools. St. Pat’s student volunteers staffed the game booths, served in the cafeteria, and provided baked goods for the event. McDaid Elementary and Little Leprechaun Preschool classes provided themed baskets for the silent auction.
The 52nd annual Irish Fest is already on the calendar for next year, slated for February 28th, 2027. Since its inception in 1975, Irish Fest (formerly Mardi Gras) has generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of the North Platte Catholic Schools… Just shy of $500,000 in proceeds over the past 20 years.
