B is for...Barnsley
Tuesday, March 17
Sean Wilson: The newly-refurbished Durty O’Dwyers Irish Bar in Barnsley will have Sean Wilson perform from 2 — 4pm on St Patrick’s Day. 22 Market Hill, Barnsley S70 2QE.
Blackburn
Saturday, March 14
Irish Night at St Joseph’s Hall: An Irish Night will take place at St. Josephs Hall in Audley, Blackburn, with music by Sean Wilson and Tony Mac. Tickets cost £6 with proceeds going to the Handicapped Children’s Pilgrimage Trust. Purchase tickets from Fr Barry on 01 254 675534.
Bournemouth
Saturday, March 14
St Patrick’s Day Supper: The Bournemouth Irish & District Society hosts its St Patrick’s Day Supper & Dance at Hoburne Park in Hoburne Lane, Christchurch, BH23 4HU from 8pm. Music by Noel Lennon’s Band. Tickets £10. Entertainment on the night will include an exhibition of Irish Dancing by the Durham School of Irish Dancing. For details call 01202 246538.
Bristol
Sunday, March 15
St Patrick’s Day Parade: This year’s parade and family party kicks off at 12.30pm. The parade will set off from St Patrick’s School on Blackswarth Road at 1pm — with a live band, floats and dancers to entertain spectators as they make their way through the city. From 1.30pm until 6pm, there will be live music from Peel Your Own Spuds at the City Academy. Irish stew, Irish dancing and céilí will all be on offer. Tickets cost £5 but children under five go free.
C is for...Coatbridge
Friday, March 13
Family Irish Céilí: Traditional Irish music and dance led by Coatbridge’s St. Patrick’s branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann at St Patrick’s Hall. Kicks off at 7.30pm, tickets £3 for adults and £1 for children. Contact 01236 6016116.
Saturday March 14
Family Fun Day: From 11am, Coatbridge town centre is transformed into a vibrant, colourful carnival in honour of St Patrick’s Day. Music and dance is on offer from two stages, located at the bottom of St. John Street and next to the Quadrant Centre. The afternoon offers street entertainment and fun for all the family.
Coventry
Tuesday, March 17
Coventry Irish Society celebrations: Flannellys and Coventry Irish Society gear up for a day of celebrations. Pop down to Flannelly’s from 1.30pm where Frankie will be performing his moves until 7pm before DJ Rory Ryan takes over, playing the best Irish music into the night. Coventry Irish Society will also be promoting Irish citizenship at the venue and will have forms available for Irish passport applications.
D is for...Derby
Saturday, March 14
St Patrick’s Day Parade: The timings for the day are: 10am Meet at Derby Market Place, 10.30am Parade to St Mary’s Church, 11am Civic Mass at St Mary’s Church, 12.15pm Return Parade to Market Place, 12.30pm Display of Irish Music and Dancing in Market Place, 1pm Parade through City Centre, 1.30pm — 3pm Civic Reception and Entertainment at Derby Irish Centre.
Tuesday, March 17
St Patrick’s Day Celebrations: A day of music and celebrations will be held at the Derby Irish Centre in Beckett Street. Call Martin Cassidy on 07982 239 970 for details.
E is for...Edinburgh
Saturday, March 14
Gig in the Gardens Concert: Part of Edinburgh’s Festival of Ireland programme, this concert features Irish music, dance and song with some of Edinburgh’s best traditional performers. Taking place at the Ross Bandstand in West Princes Street Gardens from 12noon — 3pm.
Sunday, March 15
St Patrick’s Day Pageant: Join some of the local community groups, including Row Porty, Portovelo Cycle Club and the Girl Guides, in a parade along Portobello Promenade led by Morningside Youth Pipe Band with a jazz band. Begins 2pm at Dalriada, 77 Promenade, Edinburgh EH15 2EL and proceeds support the Portobello Promenade organisation.
G is for...Glasgow
Saturday, March 14
Festival Family Day: The fun and festivities kick off in Merchant Square from 12noon on Family Fun Day, with music, food, good craic and activities on offer until 5.30pm. Free event.
Festival Fling: Dance the evening away on a night of only Irish tunes — with DJ Caz and a Trad Disco set from DJ Pad! Get in the groove from 9pm at the Basement in Merchant Square, where revellers can keep rocking until 1am. Tickets £5.
Gloucester
Saturday, March 14
St Patrick’s Day Parade: The Halifax St Patrick’s Day Parade starts at Holy Cross cemetery on South Park Street and then turns down Spring Garden Road, before continuing along Barrington Street to Grand Parade. All are welcome to join in the celebrations!
L is for...Leeds
Sunday, March 15
St Patrick’s Parade: Leeds city centre is once again set to become a sea of green, white and gold as it hosts its annual St Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday March 15. Officially opened by former Leeds United manager David O’Leary, the parade will leave Millennium Square at 11.00am before making its way around the streets of the city centre and returning to the square just after 12 noon.
St Patrick’s Festival: A range of marquees, tents and entertainment will be available on Millennium Square from 10.30am-4pm on parade day. Bands taking to the stage will include Beware Of The Pig, The Duets and Leeds CCE, while dancers from the city’s traditional Irish dancing schools will also take part. Family entertainment continues throughout the day, with Leeds Civic Hall hosting a number of displays from 12.30pm— 3.30pm.
Liverpool
Saturday, March 14
St Patrick’s Day Ball: Organised by the Institute of Irish Studies at the University of Liverpool, the city's annual St Patrick's Day Ball takes place at the Britannia Adelphi Hotel in Ranelagh Place from 8pm. The event is open to all, with tickets costing £50 each.
London
Tuesday, March 17
The London Irish Centre in Camden Town is warming up for a big day of celebration this St. Patrick’s Day. From 1pm, there will be a very special St. Patrick’s Day Afternoon Dance and Bacon and Cabbage Lunch in the main room, with live music from Mustang. Tickets cost £10.
From 5pm there will be traditional sessions in the front bar. At 7pm, an exhibition called ‘London Irish’ will be opened. This exhibition features photographic portraits of the Irish in London by Irish photographer Kim Cunningham. From 8pm, there will be a Country & Irish concert with the legendary Brendan Quinn & Band in the main room. In the second room there’ll be set dancing with resident set dancing tutor, Geoff Holland.
Luton
Sunday, March 15
St Patrick’s Parade: From 11am the Festival Parade will follow its traditional route from Manor Road though the town centre, led by the Luton Irish Forum Emerald Pipe Band. This year the St Patrick’s Festival is being headlined by The Fureys and up and coming local band The Skivers will close the set playing a variety of songs from indie, rock, country and good old Irish music.
M is for...Manchester
Sunday, March 15
Mass as Gaeilge: Mass will be celebrated in Gaelic at 9.30am at The Irish World Heritage Centre
St Patrick’s Parade: The annual parade kicks off at 11.30am from the Irish World Heritage Centre in Irish Town Way. It will make its way through the city before finishing up in Albert Square, where the fun continues with a host of Irish food, music and activity stalls on offer throughout the city and its pubs.
Tuesday, March 17
Chorlton Irish Club: A trad session will kick off from 2pm on St Patrick’s Day.
St Patrick’s Night Hooley: With Juliet Rises at Fred’s Ale House from 7.30pm.
Milton Keynes
Saturday, March 14
St Patrick’s Day Parade: The annual St Patrick’s Day parade in Milton Keynes will take place on the Saturday before the big day itself this year in Bletchley. The parade starts outside the Irish Centre at 2pm and heads for the band stand via Aylesbury Street, where there will be live music and speeches from several people, including the Mayor. The parade itself will feature a pipe band, Irish dancers and fancy dress.
N is for...NOTTINGHAM
Tuesday, March 17
St Patrick’s Day Parade: Enjoy celebrating of Irish culture by watching the annual parade. Departing 12pm from the Forest Recreation Ground, marching along Mansfield Road before arriving in the Old Market Square at 12.30pm. Live music in the Old Market Square from 11.30am — 4.15pm, with street performers around the Square from 1pm-3pm.
R is for...Rotherham
Friday, March 20
St Patrick’s Day Dance: The Irish Society in Rotherham are organising a St. Patrick’s Dance on Friday, March 20 at Rotherham Trades Club from 8pm. Music by Chris O’Malley. Admission £5.
S is for...Sandwell
Saturday, March 14
Sandwell Irish Society: St. Patrick’s Day celebration will be held at Central Sixth Sandwell College (formerly The Public) in New Street, West Bromwich B70 7PG, 10am and runs until 3pm. Entertainment includes traditional Irish, Gospel and other music, singing, dancing and poetry. For information contact Siobhán Gorman on 0121 553 4402/0777 391 7073.
Sheffield
Tuesday, March 17
St Patrick’s Parade: Parade kicking off from outside St Maries Cathedral, Norfolk Row, 1.30pm. The Byrne School of Irish Dance
Will perform at the Peace Gardens, 1.45pm followed by a reception and entertaiment at the Town Hall at 2pm.
T...is for Tyneside
Saturday, March 14
Irish Race Day : Celebrate this month at the MTrec St Patrick’s Day race day with live entertainment from The Derry Boys in the Grandstand Hall. Tyneside Irish Centre members can call 01912362020 for tickets or quote ‘NIC15’ online at www.newcastle-reacecourse.co.uk to get a special discount package for £15.
Shamrock Ball: The Lionra British Irish Business Network Ball takes place at the Hilton hotel Newcastle-Gateshead, hosted by comedian Brendan Healy. Irish dancing from Innova Dance company and live music form The Baghdaddies. Call 08456032815 for tickets or email [email protected].
Tuesday, March 17
St Patrick’s Day Mass: St Patrick’s Day Mass takes place at St Michael’s, Westmorland Road at 10.30am.
Wreath Ceremony: A shamrock wreath in honour of the Tyneside Irish Battalions who fought in WWI will be laid at Eldon Square War Memorial.
Céili and more: There will be live music and dance at the Tyneside Irish Centre from noon until 11pm with the Tony Corcoran Céilí Band, Liam Turner and Dermot Hegarty & Band, Paul Ruane & Friends. Tickets required. Call 01912610348 for details.
W is for...Warrington
Sunday, March 15
St Patrick’s Day Parade: Celebrations kick off at the Warrington Irish Club in Orford Lane with mass at 9.30am with the parade making its way to the ‘River of Life’ in Bridge Street at 10.30am. Entertainment continues back at the Irish Club in the afternoon.
Friday, March 20
Irish Céilí: Get your dancing shoes on at the Pyramid. From 7.30pm (doors 7pm), tickets £3
Y is for...York
March 14-15
St Patrick’s Day Festival: Celebrate York’s first St Patrick’s Festival weekend taking place from Saturday, March 14 (11am-9.30pm) and Sunday, March 15 (noon-4pm) in St Sampson’s Square. Enjoy the best of Irish music, dancing, children’s storytelling, talks, poetry, food and drink. Performances from 2 Bob, The New Fox Band, Gaelstrom, Paula Ryan, The Riley School of Irish Dance, Fiddler’s Wreck and more. Call 07456327101 or go to www.yorkirish.co.uk for details.
