THE city of Manchester is gearing up to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in style next month – with more than 100 events planned over ten days.
The city’s popular St Patrick’s parade returns this year on Sunday, March 10.
As one of the longest running St Patrick’s Day parades in Europe, the event regularly draws thousands out to the streets of Manchester to watch the procession as it weaves its way through the city’s streets.
For 2024 it will depart from the Irish World Heritage Centre in Cheetham Hill at midday, following St Patrick’s Mass which will take place at the centre at 10am.
This year the parade will be “an incredible celebration of our proud and thriving Irish community in Manchester” the organisers state.
It will showcase and champion local groups and organisations, such as GAA clubs, Irish dance classes, marching bands and pipe bands, along with a strong representation of the 32 counties in Ireland, they explained.
The parade will be led by the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Yasmin Dar and the General Consul of Ireland for the North of England, Sarah Mangan.
Ríoghnach Connolly, Lawrence Hennigan, Angela Durkin on banjo, and Kevin Fitzpatrick help launch the Manchester St Patrick's Festival scheduleManchester Irish Festival has teamed up with Tourism Ireland once again for 2024 and is inviting everyone to join them for “ten days and nights of free Irish music, sport and dance events” across the city.
The bulk of the activity takes place in Levenshulme and Burnage in south Manchester.
Home to one of the biggest Irish diaspora communities in Britain, the area will stage 35 free events in honour of Ireland’s national day, which start next Friday, March 8 and run right through to St Patrick’s Day itself on Sunday, March 17.
Highlights across the Manchester festivities include a ‘Fill your Heart with Ireland' Irish Music and Dance afternoon which will be held at the Farmers Arms pub on March 10.
The event will feature traditional Irish music from the McGuire Family and Irish dancing displays from the Keegan Academy of Irish Dance.
On the same day Irish singer/songwriter Gus Glynn will stage his free Songs of Ireland concert at the Union Irish Music Bar in the heart of Levenshulme.
Fiddler Colleen Langan will perform at the FestivalElsewhere on the festival schedule, the award-winning Angela Usher, from One Education, will be giving free lessons to children who want to learn how to play an Irish musical instrument.
The lessons take place at St Marys Primary School on Clare Road from 6pm on Wednesday, March 13.
If you would prefer to learn Irish dancing, then catch a free workshop which takes place at from 5pm on Tuesday, March 12 at the Horseshoe Pub in Levenshulme.
On St Patrick’s Day itself, March 17, the festival fun begins at 10am with a Full Irish Fry up at the Horseshoe Pub to get you ready for the 14 hour non-stop party in Levenshulme village.
This includes a free Trad session from the BBC Folk singer of the Year Ríoghnach Connolly at the newly opened Irish Bia Cafe Bar from 12noon.
“With over 100 events taking place all over Manchester, including the Irish World Heritage Centre Parade on Sunday 10th March and the return of the Festival tent to St Anns Square, there is something for everyone to enjoy,” the Manchester Irish Festival organisers said.
“Just remember you do not have to be Irish to enjoy the festival, a Cead mile Failte (one hundred thousand welcomes) is given to everyone," they added.
For full festival listings click here.
