COVER STORY : A Guide to Things Irish

* Irish Day Civic Ceremonies, presentation of Irishwoman and Irishman of the Year awards at Council Chambers, Los Angeles City Hall, 200 N. Spring St., at 10 a.m. today, with a reception to follow in chambers. A luncheon is also scheduled today at Tam O’Shanter Inn, 2980 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Angeles. Call (818) 985-2233.

* The Irish Times Publishing Co. Inc., 7657 Winnetka Ave., Suite 454, Canoga Park 91306. Subscriptions are $16 a year. Call (818) 883-9324.

* Irish dancing classes and ceili dancing for adults and children at St. Ambrose Parish Hall, 1261 N. Fairfax Ave., West Hollywood. In April, Margaret Cleary will begin giving lessons at the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church Hall, 2411 Montrose Ave., Montrose. Call Cleary at (818) 503-4677.

* St. Therese Parish Hall, 515 N. Vega St., Alhambra. A St. Patrick’s Day dance will be held Wednesday. St. Ambrose Ceili Dancers will perform from 9:30 to 10 p.m. and Des Regan’s Irish American Band will play from 8 p.m. to midnight. $10 per person. Call (818) 284-6747.

* Shamrock Imports, 7945 Laurel Canyon Blvd., North Hollywood. Irish sausages, bacon, black and white puddings and sides of bacon arrive weekly on Thursdays from Ireland. The shop also sells Irish teas, gold, china, books, maps, Irish dance shoes, Donegal tweed caps and Aran sweaters. Call (818) 764-3934.

* The Irish Fair Foundation Inc., 6420 Coldwater Canyon, Suite A, North Hollywood 91606. Call (818) 985-2233.

* Ireland’s Own Social Club, based at St. Therese’s Parish Hall in Alhambra, is a club for Irish-Americans that puts on monthly social events, including ceilis, dances with Irish music and picnics, at St. Therese’s Parish Hall. Call Mary Ann Murphy at (818) 284-6747.

* Emigration Assistance Coalition, 7657 Winnetka Ave., Suite 454, Canoga Park 91306. The organization publishes “Guidebook for the New Irish Arrival in Los Angeles,” a second-edition booklet that helps newly arrived Irish people adjust to life in Southern California. Call (818) 883-9324.

* “The Irish Hour,” Glendale radio station KIEV (870-AM), hosted by Tom McConville from 3:05 to 4 p.m. every Sunday. P.O. Box 9186, North Hollywood 91509. Call (818) 765-0233.