Small gatherings of Irish-born and Irish-loving residents will push through health fears this week to celebrate St Patrick's Day.
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As has become customary over the years, Tolland Hotel poured whiskeys and filled plates with Irish-themed dishes on Tuesday.
With the night representing its usual trivia night, organiser Kim Shiels said there would be an Irish-twist laid over the usual music-themed questions.
"We did a best dressed competition as well. We do it every year, but we mix it up depending on which day of the week it falls on," Ms Shiels said.
Given the unfolding health crisis across the world, the staff at the hotel had to implement additional operations to keep the night running.
"We don't get over 500 people into the hotel, but we all have taken precautions anyway," Ms Shiels said.
"We have hand sanitiser available, and we're sanitising the tables hourly, so if we've got the flu or anything there, we'll kill it on the spot to stop the spread."
Alongside the Tolland Hotel dinner, The Vic will also host its St Patrick's Day celebrations for lunch and dinner on Tuesday and Wednesday.
But the luck of the Irish was not enough to stave off the COVID-19 health concerns and keep the city's largest St Patrick's Day festival on Friday.
As the president of the Rotary Club of Wagga Murrumbidgee, Irish-born Eilagh Rurenga had planned to use the event at Romano's as a fundraiser.
But, having pulled the pin on the event on Monday, she said she would instead be spending the week "wearing green in isolation".
"Given the climate it seemed irresponsible to host something big that will pull a crowd," Ms Rurenga said.
The club was not expecting to see an enormous crowd of more than a couple hundred, but Ms Rurenga said "you just can't risk" by hosting a gathering.
Since relocating to Australia 30 years ago, and returning to Wagga in the past two years, Ms Rurenga has been looking for an opportunity to introduce her new home to the Irish festival favourite.
"St Patrick's Day is recognised all over the world, but as far as I know, Wagga has never had a big event for it," she said.
"We had the idea to bring it here in August, but unfortunately, it looks like it'll have to be next year."