The Manchester Irish Festival

The Manchester Irish Festival 2003
8th - 18th March 2003

Irish Festival Parade

St. Patricks Day Parade

Sunday 16th March

The object of the St. Patricks Day Parade is to celebrate the patron saint of Ireland and the Irish Culture, displayed in music, song, dance and costume.

The parade consists of over 70 vehicular floats, bands and walking groups. They all have an Irish cultural theme displayed in music or decoration, some representing their Home Counties through the Council of Irish Associations.

This year at least three marching bands from Ireland are participating in the Parade as well as the local bands, another band from Ireland is playing in the ‘Printworks’ Manchester from 11.30am before joining the Parade.

In this year’s Parade there will be representatives of the Commonwealth Games Volunteers.

At 11.45am the Parade will assemble at the Irish World Heritage Centre, Queens Road, Cheetham Hill, before moving off along Cheetham Hill Road towards the City Centre, led by Mounted Police who will be escorting the Lord Mayor of Manchester and other Civic Dignitaries.

The Parade route is Cheetham Hill Road, Corporation Street, Cross Street, Princess Street, Cooper Street, Lloyd Street, Albert Square, where it will be reviewed by the Lord Mayor returning to the Irish World Heritage Centre by the same route. A display will be given by the bands outside the Centre on their return. Entertainment and refreshments are available inside the Centre.