AFTER a four-year break, Worthing’s Flash Company are reviving their annual St Patrick’s Day charity fundraiser at St Paul’s Art Centre in Worthing, to raise funds for local hospice St Barnabas House.

The band will be playing lively, foot-stomping Irish folk music from 7pm to midnight on Saturday 17 March, with guest slots to create a party atmosphere. Seating will be cabaret style with the dancefloor and bar open through the evening.

Flash Company play mainly Irish, singalong, clap-along and dance-along music.

The band comprises Dom O’Connor (guitar, vocals), Steve Collett (mandolin, mandola, vocals), Lin Bowen (fiddle) and Charlie Cleary (button accordian), plus regular guest member Brenock O’Connor (ukulele, guitar, vocals).

Dom said: “We have all had reason to visit St Barnabas over the past few years and really want to give our own little contribution to this beautiful local treasure.”

Mary Bye, St Barnabas House Fundraising Officer, said: “Thank you so much to Flash Company for choosing to support St Barnabas House.

“We’re looking forward to a great party night which will raise vital funds to help us provide our specialist care to more local patients and families at a very difficult time.”

The concert is from 7pm to midnight, tickets cost £14 (plus booking fee) and can be purchased at www.seetickets.com/event/st-pats-for-st-barnabas/st-pauls/1193048

If you would like more information about fundraising for St Barnabas House, please contact the Fundraising Team on 01903 254777 or fundraising@stbh.org.uk

Flash Company started in 1987 as an open mic session at the Cellar Wine Bar in Anne Street Worthing, (now Cheers II).

Pretty quickly a band was formed and they called themselves Flash Company from the song of the same title and loosely linked to the Victorian era.

A spokesman said: “People seemed to like this ramshackle high energy band of sometimes up to 10 people and before we knew it we were getting gigs in pubs, clubs and festivals all along the South Coast and beyond.

“High on this success, we decided to chance our arms at a St Patrick’s party at the lovely Worthing Pavilion Theatre.

“After the first one worked we decided to make it an annual event and use the event to raise money for various charities.

“After 19 years of these events we decided that the work to make it happen was too much and did our last St Patrick’s Party at The Pavilion in 2014.

“Now, after a bit of a gap we are at it again, switching to a slightly smaller venue... the atmospheric St Paul’s Community Centre.

“We have all had reason to visit St Barnabas over the past few years and really want to give our own little contribution to this beautiful local treasure.”

The current line-up of Flash Company is:

Dom O’Connor – Guitar and vocals

Steve Collett – Mandolin, Mandola and vocals

Lin Bowen – Fiddle

Charlie Cleary – Button accordion

Plus regular guest member Brenock O’Connor – Ukulele, Guitar and vocals