Companies sought to join Irish Post as Sponsors of Europe’s biggest Irish Festival

Companies sought to join Irish Post as Sponsors of Europe’s biggest Irish Festival

Companies and individual sponsors are being sought to join The Irish Post show their Love for Manchester’s annual two week Irish Festival and maintain its position as one of the biggest celebrations of Irish Culture in Europe.

Last year over 200,000 visitors were attracted to the 17 day extravaganza which featured over 200 events at fifty five different venues throughout Greater Manchester.

This year the festival will run from Friday 2 March until Sunday 18 March. The community based festival which is run by a team of hard working volunteers relies heavily on local venues and companies to help support its annual Irish celebration.

This year’s headline acts include the likes of Noel Gallagher, The Dubliners, Sinead O’Connor and a world premier for Paul O’Grady’s ‘Street of Dreams’ about Coronation Street. It also features the UK screening of an Irish Music documentary filmed in New York amongst the 200 events which are being staged at 80 different venues.

The Festival will also be staging a four day city centre Irish Festival market and entertainment marquee which is expected to attract over 100,000 during the Parade weekend. It’s website www.manchesteririshfestival.co.uk attracted over one million hits last year and is already one of the world’s top ranked Irish Festival sites.

Cllr Pat Karney the Life President of the festival said "We recognise times are tough but this is a terrific business opportunity to reach tens of thousands of people The festival is now one of the great and unmissable Manchester events."

Kevin Fitzpatrick one of the co-chairs of the festival added “We are now in our seventeenth year as a two week festival and are very proud of our title as one of Europe’s biggest Irish Festivals. But we do not as yet receive any big lottery funds or major government grants. We rely upon the goodwill and support of local companies and Manchester City Council who help support this non-profit making celebration.”

“The money that we receive from sponsors helps us fund the annual three hour St Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday 11 March which is already the biggest in the UK. It also helps us promote the festival and fund the free fifty six page colour brochure. We are not just looking for support from inside and outside the Irish community; the festival is an ideal advertising vehicle from a whole range of organisations.”

Companies or individuals who would like further information about sponsorship or advertising opportunities in the festival can contact Kevin on 0770 237 1966 or email info@manchesteririshfestival.co.uk or visit the website on www.manchesteririshfestival.co.uk