10 March 2019: PIA's 6th Annual St. Patrick's Day Festival in Penang
The annual St. Patrick's Day celebration in Penang was held on Sunday, 10 March 2019 at Straits Quay with a host of activities including the Shamrock 5K Fun Run and electrifying live performances. The theme of the festival that year was, "A Glimpse into Irish Literature – Celebrating the Nobel Quartet".
Here is a pictorial essay of the dynamic festivities organised by Penang Irish Association and photographed by Adrian Cheah. These photographs were first published in Irish Insights, No 13, May 2019.

Continue Reading
9 March 2018: Celebrating PIA St. Patrick’s Day Malaysian Style
“Sharing Our Traditions; Céilí agus Ceol” – the theme of the 2018 Penang St. Patrick’s Festival and Gala Ball promised lots of Irish-style ‘craic’ with family and friends from around the world.
Flashback to my first experience of a St. Patrick’s Ball abroad, while working in Lusaka, Zambia in the 1980s. Members of the Irish diaspora gathered to celebrate Irish heritage, culture and traditions. It included energetic Irish dancing, haunting violin music, ‘The Green Fields of France’ and other ballads, smooth Black Velvets and a sense of pride in our intrinsic Irish identity. Powerful diaspora memories!

Continue Reading
11 March 2017: PIA's 4th Annual St. Patrick's Day Festival in Penang
Location: Straits Quay, Penang, Malaysia
Theme: The Viking Connection
These photographs by Adrian Cheah were first published in Irish Insights, No 11, May 2017.

Continue Reading
10 March 2017: PIA St. Patrick's Day ball in Penang
Venue: E&O Hotel, Penang, Malaysia
Theme: The Viking Connection
These photographs by Adrian Cheah were first published in Irish Insights, No 11, May 2017.

Continue Reading