LISTINGS for Europe’s biggest Irish event outside of Ireland, the Manchester Irish Festival, have been revealed.
The 11 day celebration, which runs from Friday 7 March through to St Patrick’s Day on Monday 17 March, is expected to attract over 200,000 people to over 200 events at 100 venues.
Marketing Director of the festival website Lawrence Hennigan said: “This year’s festival is a celebration of our achievements of last year working with Tourism Ireland to promote Tourism links between Manchester and Ireland.
“We were delighted to receive the Mayo Diaspora award from the Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), the Attymass Gathering award and to be named as the biggest Gathering organised by any group in the UK by Tourism Ireland.”
A special pre-launch of the festival – sponsored by Manchester City Council – took place on Saturday when the award winning 'Young, Gifted & Green' staged a charity concert at St Bede's College with over one hundred Irish musicians, singers and dancers.
Just over 100,000 visitors are expected to converge on the city centre for the St Patrick's Day Parade on Sunday 16 March to greet the annual parade.
The parade will begin with a Mass in Gaelic at the Irish World Heritage Centre at 10am.
Following this, the Parade will line up on Queens Road and start at 11.30am from the Irish World Heritage Centre and end in Albert Square at around 1pm.
FULL LISTINGS:
Friday 7 March - Irish Themed Menu at Isis Cafe, Levenshulme
910 Stockport Road Levenshulme M19 3AD
Starts : 8am
Finishes : March 17
Isis Cafe in Levenshulme will be serving a special Irish themed menu for the duration of the festival. In tribute to the late Michael Lyons from Roscommon, the cafe will be serving a special Festival menu.
Friday 7 - 17 March - Manchester Mayo Gathering Exhibition, The Union Inn, Levenshulme
845 Stockport Road Levenshulme, M19 3PW
Telephone: 0161 224 1271
Starts : 8pm
A special documentary exhibition of the biggest Gathering organised by any group in the UK. The photographs will chart the 14 month build up to this nine day Gathering.
Admission: Free
Saturday 8 March - Blues night with Sean Taylor, M19 Bar & Venue, Levenshulme
847-849 Stockport Road Levenshulme, M19 3PW
Telephone: 0161 224 1271
Starts : 7pm
Finishes : late
This year’s 2014 Manchester Irish Festival is staging a special opening weekend concert sponsored by BUDWEISER, dedicated to Ireland’s Blues favourites such as Van Morrison, Rory Gallagher, Thin Lizzy and Bob Dylan.
Headlining the opening night is the North London based Blues singer songwriter ‘Sean Taylor’ whose new album ‘Chase the Night’ has been earning him great reviews around the world.
Doors open at 7pm, with the opening support act on at 7.30pm.
Support from The Celtic Blues Trio with Ged Wilson, Mairead Hussey and Fidelma O’Brien, Blues singer Jo Lewis, Blues Band Hey Bulldog, Singer songwriter Tracey Browne and Blues guitarist Zacc Rogers.
Admission: £5
Saturday 8 March - Paudie O'Shea, The Union Inn, Levenshulme
845 Stockport Road Levenshulme, M19 3PW
Telephone: 0161 224 1271
Starts : 9pm
Finishes : late
Expect everything from Van Morrison, the Saw Doctors, U2, The Pogues - if it's from the Emerald Isle, Paudie knows it! If you've got an instrument why not bring it for Paudie's famous jammin' session!
Admission: Free
Saturday 8 March - Keegan Academy of Irish Dancing Chorlton Irish Club
17 High Lane Chorlton Manchester, M21 9DJ
Telephone: 0161 881 2898
Starts : 10-11am
Keegan Academy of Irish Dancing with Lord of the Dance James Keegan and Louise Keegan.
This lesson is for beginners.
Monday 10 March - Up for the Craic Comedy Night, M19 Bar & Venue, Levenshulme
847-849 Stockport Road Levenshulme,M19 3PW
Telephone: 0161 224 1271
Starts : 8pm
Up for the Craic Comedy Night with Martin Mor (aka Martin BigPig), Steve Gribbin, Andrew Ryan, Chris Mcilroy.
Admission: £7 Advance Tickets
Tuesday 11 March - Irish Community Care Social Group, St Marys Parish Centre, Levenshulme
Starts : 12 pm
Finishes : 3pm
Irish Community Care Social Group, every Tuesday in the Parish Centre, includes: Live Music, Bingo and Raffles. Refreshments of tea, sandwiches and cakes also served.
Admission: Free
Tuesday 11 March - Keegan Academy of Irish Dancing, Chorlton Irish Club
17 High Lane Chorlton Manchester, M21 9DJ
Telephone: 0161 881 2898
Starts : 5.30pm
Keegan Academy of Irish Dancing with Lord of the Dance James Keegan and Louise Keegan. This lesson is for beginners.
Wednesday 12 March - Manchester Ceilidh - Irish Festival Special, St Kentigern’s Irish Club, Fallowfield
Hart Road, Fallowfield M14 7DW
Telephone: 0161 224 2033
Starts : 8.00am
Finishes : late
Thursday 13 March - MMU Charity Gold Day in support of St Anne's Hospice, Heaton Moor Golf Club
Mauldeth Road, Heaton Moor, Stockport, SK4 3NX
Telephone: 0161 432 2134
Starts : 9am
Finishes : 11.30am
Limehouse Events and MMU in association with St Kents present a charity Golf Day at Heaton Moor Golf Club in aid of St Anne's Hospice. There is golf, an evening meal, a raffle and auction.
Admission: £40 per person.
Thursday 13th March 2014 - Manchester Irish Festival Darts Competition, The Union Inn, Levenshulme
845 Stockport Road Levenshulme, M19 3PW
Telephone: 0161 224 1271
Starts : 8pm
Finishes : Late
Thursday 13 March - Mary Black & Clannad, The Lowry, Salford Quays
Pier 8 Salford Quays, M50 3AZ
Telephone: 0870 787 5780
Starts : 8pm
Finishes : Late
Two of Ireland’s musical icons share the stage in a special show that will be sure to delight fans of both Artists. Performing both separate sets and together, this unique concert is one not to be missed.
Admission: Tickets: £30.50 & £34.50 (includes a £2 booking fee)
Friday 14 March - A taste of Ireland - Food Special, The Farmer’s Arms
254 Burnage Lane, Burnage, Manchester, M19 1EN
Telephone: 0161 432 6441
Starts : 6pm
Finishes : 9pm
The Farmers pay tribute to Irish Cuisine including introducing the Burnage 'Bacon and Cabbage' Burger! They say that Irish food tastes better with a pint of the black stuff - so from 6-9pm Guinness is £2 a pint!
Friday 14 March - St Patrick's Weekend Tradfest Night with Zacc Rogers plus Juliet Rises, Hennigans Sports Bar, Levenshulme
908 Stockport Road M19 3AD
Telephone: 0161 257 2484
Starts : 8pm - 11pm
Levenshulme's legendary Blues guitarist will headline this free concert paying tribute to Ireland's legendary Blues artists, which is being sponsored by Guinness and the Levenshulme Pub company. Plus support from three piece trad and Juliet Rises.
Admission: Free
Friday 14 March - Irish Ceilidh night organised by St Mary's PTFA, Adults only, St Marys Parish Centre, Levenshulme
Elbow Stree, Levenshulme, M19
Starts : 8pm
Raising funds for St.Mary's School. Also welcoming the Firies Gaelic football team from Co, Kerry.
Friday 14 March to Sunday 16 March -Manchester Irish Festival Irish Market, Albert Square, Manchester City Centre
Friday 14 March - Oysterband live at The Lowry, Salford Quays
The Lowry, Salford Quays, Pier 8 Salford Quays, M50 3AZ
Telephone: 0870 787 5780
Starts : 8pm
Finishes : Late
Band on the Wall present this very special concert by one of the UK's most loved electric folk bands.
Admission: Tickets £19.50 (includes £2 booking fee)
Saturday 15 March - St Patrick’s weekend Family Fun Day, Chorlton Irish Club
17 High Lane Chorlton Manchester, M21 9DJ
Telephone: 0161 881 2898
Starts : 1pm
Finishes : 4pm
Bouncy Castles, DJ Jimmy from King of the Castle Entertainment, food, disco, Irish dancing displays with Keegan Academy of Irish Dance plus other surprises along the way.
Admission: Family tickets £5: 1pm – 4pm
Saturday 15 March - Toss the Feathers with Special Guests, St Kentigerns Irish Club, Fallowfield
Hart Road, Fallowfield M14 7DW
Telephone: 0161 224 2033
Starts : 7:30pm
Finishes : Late
On stage tonight we have the classic line up of Eddie Sheehan, Mike McGoldrick, Dezi Donnolly, Dave Smylie and Che Beresford.
Admission: £20.00
Saturday 15 March - Live Music with Outer Limits, Farmers Arms, Burnage
254 Burnage Lane, Burnage, Manchester, M19 1EN
Telephone: 0161 432 6441
Starts : 9pm
Finishes : Late
Five piece covers band including Irish Hits. They play a wide range of music from indie hits, rock classics, party tunes and ballads.
Admission: Free
Sunday 16 March - St Patrick's Day Parade Tea Dance in aid of The Christie's, St Marys Parish Centre, Levenshulme
Elbow Street, Levenshulme, M19
Starts : 12:30pm
A fundraising event for The Christie Charity Social Tea Dance will take place here in St. Mary’s Parish Centre. The afternoon will consist of music provided by JIB Mobile Disco, dancing, bingo, games, and raffles.
Admission: £5 donation to The Christies Cancer Hospital
Sunday 16 March - St Patrick’s Day Parade and Irish Market, Albert Square, Manchester
Parade will leave the Irish World Heritage Centre at 11.30am and arrive in Albert Square around 1pm.
Sunday 16 March 2014 - St Patrick's Eve with Nicky McCallan, The Union Inn, Levenshulme
845 Stockport Road, Levenshulme, M19 3PW
Telephone: 0161 224 1271
Starts : 3pm
Finishes : 7pm
Admission: Free
Sunday 16 March - Farmer Dan and his band! St Kentigerns Irish Club, Fallowfield
Hart Road, Fallowfield, M14 7DW
Telephone: 0161 224 2033
Starts : 4pm
Finishes : late
Also known as Barry Doyle, Farmer Dan brings his big band to St Kents for this special event.
The fun starts at 4pm for this special post parade party with popular DJ Tony Cagney. Farmer Dan is on stage at 7pm and the party goes on right until the early hours of St Patrick's Day.
Admission: £10, £5 kids
Sunday 16 March - Adam Kelly - Singer / Songwriter, Farmers Arms, Burnage
254 Burnage Lane, Burnage, Manchester, M19 1EN
Telephone: 0161 432 6441
Starts : 8pm
Finishes : Late
Adam's set includes all the Irish Classics from U2 to the Fureys and Saw Doctors to the Pogues. He will also be playing party classics for the second part of his set including his Sixties and Seventies Special.
Admission: Free
Sunday 16 March - The Johnny Cash Story starring Roger Dean, The Lowry, Salford Quays Pier 8 Salford Quays, M50 3AZ
Telephone: 0870 787 5780
Starts : 7pm
Finishes : Late
‘The Johnny Cash Story' comes to the Lowry on the 16 March during the Irish Festival with Roger Dean and his band, 'The Lazy Boys'.
Admission: £18.50 (includes £2 booking fee)
Monday 17 March - St Patrick's Night Special with Joe Casserley's Last Drop
St Kentigerns Irish Club, Hart Road, Fallowfield, M14 7DW
Telephone: 0161 224 2033
Starts : 7pm
Finishes : late
Admission: £10
Monday 17 March - Manchester Irish Festival St Patrick's Day Breakfast, St Kentigerns Irish Club, Fallowfield
Hart Road, Fallowfield, M14 7DW
Telephone: 0161 224 2033
Starts : 11am
Finishes : 2pm
Join us for the annual Manchester Irish Festival St Patrick's Day Full Irish breakfast in aid of Irish Community Care with live Music and Irish Dancing displays.
Admission: £5 donation to Irish Community Care
Monday 17 March - Farmer's St Patrick's Day Special! Farmers Arms, Burnage
254 Burnage Lane, Burnage, Manchester, M19 1EN
Telephone: 0161 432 6441
Starts : 11am
Finishes : Late
From the start we have a re-run of the 2013 Gaelic and Hurling Finals in our GAA Special.
Then at 4pm, the Doc takes to the stage for his St Patrick's Day special with his Karaoke and Disco. They'll be a special Irish Menu on the day, so why not pop in for a feed, a pint and some great entertainment.
In the evening - we have the one and only Tony Sullivan plus an Irish Dancing Display. Tony will be spinning your favourite classics from all 32 Counties.
Admission: Free
Monday 17 March - St Patrick's Day Special with Nicky McCallan and Friends, The Union Inn, Levenshulme
845 Stockport Road Levenshulme, M19 3PW
Telephone: 0161 224 1271
Starts : 3pm
Finishes : late
Admission: Free
Monday 17 March - Hennigan's Hooley with Dave Hennigan and Friends, M19 Bar & Venue, Levenshulme
847-849 Stockport Road Levenshulme, M19 3PW
Telephone: 0161 224 8135
Starts : 3pm
Finishes : 9pm
Get in early for plenty of surprises including competitions, live music, dancers and plenty of craic!
Admission: Free
Monday 17 March - Mayo Mary's Irish Megamix, The Union Inn, Levenshulme
845 Stockport Road Levenshulme M19 3PW
Telephone: 0161 224 1271
Starts : 8pm
Finishes : Late
Admission: Free
