PADDY'S DAY PARTY IS ON!

London Irish is delighted to announce there will be a St Patrick's Day match at the Madejski Stadium this season!  The Exiles' home Zurich Premiership fixture against Bath Rugby has been rescheduled for Sunday, 21 March 2004.

The London Irish St Patrick's Day party has become legendary and last year a crowd of over 18,000 turned out to enjoy the Craic!  The Exiles' initial 2003/04 fixture list disappointingly left the club without a match to celebrate Ireland's national saint's day.  However, with the help of Premier Rugby and the RFU, Irish have managed to rearrange the home fixture against Bath to the March weekend, and the club is already planning another notorious Paddy's Day party!

Pat Coyne, Commercial Director of London Irish, comments: "We are thrilled to be planning our fourth St Patrick's Day match at the Madejski.  Each year the party gets bigger and better and I'm sure this season's will be the best yet!"

Match tickets will go on sale in January, however if you would like to enjoy corporate hospitality please book early to avoid disappointment - email kelly.adey@london-irish.com or abigail.findlay@london-irish.com for more information.

Spectators don't need to wait until next March to enjoy the Craic!  Irish are kicking off the season with a massive party at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday, 21 September, when the team will take on Premiership giants Gloucester.  There will be an outdoor stage with live music, a bouncy castle and other activities to guarantee a full afternoon of entertainment.  Tickets can be bought via the ticket hotline (0118 968 1000) or book through the new London Irish website (www.london-irish.com) and save £2!

PRE-SEASON MEDIA BRIEFING

The annual media briefing took place earlier today at Sunbury.  To view the press releases and announcements, visit the news section on the website.

EXILES CLUB OFFER FOR THE 'RETURN OF THE CRAIC'

We have a limited number of spaces available in our Exiles Club for the first game of the season.  Enjoy a three course buffet meal then watch us take on Gloucester on Sunday 21st September from the comfort of a luxury hospitality seat on the half way line.

As this is our opening match of the 2003/2004 season, we are offering the package at last season's price of £100 inc. VAT per person.

If you would like to join us, please contact Kelly on 01932 750113 or e-mail kelly.adey@london-irish.com

MERCHANDISE NEW ARRIVALS

We have some fantastic new items in the shop to coincide with the arrival of autumn! Just in are the Squad Fleece Jacket (£40), Rain Jacket (£45) and the Squad Tracksuit (£65).

We are also pleased to confirm that we now have long sleeve home shirts (priced at £50) and polo shirts (£25) back in stock.

All these items can be purchased via the online shop, by visiting the Megastore at the Madejski Stadium (open 9am to 5.30pm during the week and from midday on match days) or by telephone on 0118 968 1239.

Should you need any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact Ann Stanford on the above number or via e-mail at londonirish@readingfc.co.uk

ALTERATIONS TO TOUCH RUGBY FESTIVALS

London Irish has made two alterations to the six-a-side Touch Rugby Festivals running later this month.  The Redingensians festival has been rescheduled for Spring 2004, and the Staines festival has been moved to Wednesday, 10 September (from Sunday, 7 September).  The Ealing festival is still running as planned on Sunday, 14 September.

The Staines festival has been rescheduled due to Staines RFC's fantastic success in the Powergen Cup.  A win last weekend has put Staines into the first round of the Powergen Cup competition, playing on Sunday, 7 September (the same day as the Touch Rugby Tournament was due to take place) in Cornwall against Launceston RFC.

Ealing Festival is running as scheduled on Sunday, 14 September, and is very close to capacity - teams interested in entering should register as soon as possible!

The Redingensians Festival has had to be rescheduled due to lack of entries, but Irish are confident the festival will be successfully held next spring.

To register a team for either the Ealing or rescheduled Staines festival, visit www.touchrugby.com.  Squads can consist of up to 10 players, and must have at least one female each.   If you don' have a group of 10, individuals or small groups can enter and be combined with other groups to make a team of ten.  Entry in the tournaments cost £40 for a squad of ten or £5 per individual. To register for the tournament log onto www.touchrugby.com.  No applications can be taken in person or by post at Sunbury-on-Thames.

If you have any further questions or would like any more information please call David Law on 01932 750 102 or email david.law@london-irish.com.

DIGGER GETS BACK IN TRAINING

Digger, Irish Wolfhound and mascot to London Irish Rugby Club, will be limbering up for the Mascot Grand National at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday, 21 September, before the London Irish vs. Gloucester match.

The Irish Wolfhound has had a rest over the summer months, but with the start of the rugby season and the Mascot Grand National fast approaching, Digger has two good reasons to start getting back in shape. A special obstacle course will be set up at the Madejski Stadium on the 21st to put the furry wolfhound through his paces.

Digger woofs, "I got a taste for running in the Reading Half Marathon earlier this year. The last time I took part in the Mascot Grand National I was bone idle and came a shameful 44th, but now I'm fit as a butcher's dog I plan to do much better."

The Mascot Grand National will be run at Huntingdon Racecourse at the end of September and Digger is running to raise money for ex-London Irish player Jarrod Cunningham, who was diagnosed with a strain of Motor Neurone disease in the summer of 2002. Cheques should be made payable to the Jarrod Cunningham SALSA Foundation and sent to Digger at London Irish, The Avenue, Sunbury on Thames, TW16 5EQ.

PLAYER SPONSORSHIP

AN INTERVIEW WITH .....

This week is the turn of Delon Armitage.  We are looking for your burning questions to ask the players, and next week Pierre Durant will be interviewed.  E-mail your questions for him to info@london-irish.com

THE BLARNEY

Over 5,100 people have currently subscribed to the Blarney; do you forward this to your mates? Or do you print it out and pass it around? Well, why not provide us with their e-mail address so that they can receive their own personal copy. E-mail Jon Salinger (jon.salinger@london-irish.com) with e-mail addresses. Let us try and spread the word of London Irish to a much greater audience.