Manchester's
sixth annual Irish Festival is now the biggest Irish Festival in the UK
with events taking place all over Greater Manchester
The President of Ireland Mary McAleese officially launched the
festival on Thursday 22nd February with a Civic Reception at Manchester
Town Hall.
The Manchester Irish Festival
9th-18th
March 2001
Manchester Irish Fiddle
player Dezi Donnelly got the presidential seal of approval from
Dr. Mary McAleese the President of Ireland at the reception
Dezi recently won Ireland's 'Young Traditional Musician of The Year' but
ranks his performance for the president in his home town amongst his highest
accolades.
"It was a great honour
to play for the president of Ireland, my mum comes from Ballyhalle in
County Kilkenny and she was very proud that I had been selected to perform."
Dezi along with pianist Andy Jones accompanied the principal performers
from the award winning Young, Gifted & Green Irish Music, Song & Dance
troupe (from St Bede's College).
Photographs
of the Irish Festival Parade
including those by
Irish Post Photographer Danny Claffey
News
A Message from President McAleese
Introduction
from Councillor Karney
Councillor
Hennigan's Festival Diary
They are also going to be playing with the troupe at
their sell out world charity premiere of the
Young, Gifted and Green Show at the 2,000 capacity Bridgewater Hall
during the festival on Monday 12th March in aid of Francis House.
Tony Hennigan the
director of the show said "We were very honoured to be selected to perform
the presentation, our only regret is that we could not have included all
the troupe's 100 performers and had a longer presentation. The president
was fantastic, she insisted on meeting and having photographs with all
the performers
'Lawrence Hennigan, a member
of the Manchester Irish Festival steering committee welcomes the President
of Ireland to Manchester.'