Manchester Irish Festival 2001

The Manchester Irish Festival 2001

The Manchester Irish Festival 9th-18th March 2001 The St. Patricks' Parade Sunday 11th March
Thousands of Revellers, young and old, packed the centre of Manchester for the city's most successfull St. Patrick's parade, bringing the city to a standstill.
	Over 70,000 people were out to see the 60 plus floats wind their way from Cheetham Hill through the city centre. Thousands more thronged Albert Square in front of the Town Hall as the area was turned into a traditional Irish Market for the weekend. Photographs by Irish Post Photographer Danny Claffey are here
Brian Kennedy one of the main organisers of the parade gets piped in by the Irish World Heritage Pipe Band.
The Irish World Heritage’s Rock n Roll group get parade watchers in the swing with their hip swivelling jive routines.
Vintage tractors from County Meath ploughed their way through the city centre.	The Meath Viking led the Meath float in his bright orange classic MG sports car.
Secretary of the Irish County Associations gives Peter Bailey the chauffeur of VIP limo’s a helping hand distributing the festival programmes on the parade.
Rose Morris from the Irish World Heritage Centre gives a helping hand on the County Tyrone Float.
Even a brass band joined in celebrating St Patrick’s Day.
Joe Hennigan senior and Lawrence Hennigan junior enjoy the fun of the parade.	George Cox orders his Guinness
Irish World Heritage Pipe band