8 NEBRASKAland • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016
esidents
paint
the
town
green
in
O'Neill
every
March.
Known
as
the
"Irish
Capital
of
Nebraska,"
this
northeastern
Nebraska
city's
claim
to
fame
is
its
all-
out
St.
Patrick's
Day
celebrations,
scheduled
March
16-18
this
year.
In
2009,
Smithsonian
Magazine
named
O'Neill,
Nebraska,
the
third
best
"unusual"
place
to
celebrate
this
Irish
holiday
in
the
nation,
and
the
city
made
CNN's
list
of
"quirky"
St.
Patrick's
Day
destinations
in
2011.
On
this
weekend,
the
town
of
4,000
doubles
its
population
with
visitors
every
year.
Visitors
flock
to
O'Neill
to
see
the
world's
largest
shamrock
on
blacktop,
prominently
displayed
at
the
intersection
of
4th
and
Douglas
streets.
Visitors
can
view
the
shamrock
year-round,
but
prepare
for
the
weekend's
celebrations
that
Wednesday
by
watching
the
giant
clover
refreshed
with
a
new
coat
of
emerald
paint.
Saturday
festivities
include
a
morning
fun
run,
Irish
Dancers
on
the
shamrock
at
noon,
followed
by
a
parade
at
1
p.m.,
where
spectators
will
see
the
famous
green
horse
gracing
O'Neill's
streets.
Past
fun
and
games
at
the
local
high
school
included
donkey
basketball
and
husker
hoops.
In
the
evening,
enjoy
live
music
in
various
establishments.
Stay
the
entire
weekend
and
explore
O'Neill's
many
charms.
For
nourishment
and
libations,
dine
at
the
Blarney
Stone
for
Guinness
on
tap,
La
Herradura
for
authentic
Mexican
food
or
Chesterfield
West
for
classic
bar
food.
Looking
for
lodging?
The
Historic
Golden
Hotel
is
listed
on
the
National
Register
of
Historic
Places
and
has
been
"the
jewel
of
the
plains
in
O'Neill
since
1913."
RV
campers
will
find
ample
amenities
and
comfort
at
Carney
Park.
For
public
fishing
and
hunting
opportunities
nearby,
check
out
Goose
Lake
Wildlife
Management
Area
(27
miles
south).
Atkinson
Lake
State
Recreation
Area
(20
miles
west)
offers
fishing,
picnicking,
wildlife
viewing,
electrical
hookups
and
primitive
camping.
For
more
information,
visit
Cityofoneillnebraska.
com
or
Oneillchamber.
org.
By
Jenny
Nguyen
O'Neill
e
M
n
out
St
Repaint
the
world's
largest
shamrock.
st)
life
Donkey
basketball
at
O'Neill
High
School
O'Neill
St.
Patrick's
Day
Parade
Reuben and sweet
potato fries at the
Blarney Stone.
Background photo: Waterfowl fly over Goose Lake
Wildlife Management Area in northern Nebraska.
PHOTOS
COUR
