St Patricks Day Parade Sunday 14th March 2010

The Parade Route

Following the Mass in Gaelic at 10am at Irish World Heritage Centre the St. Patrick’s Day Parade leaves Queens Road at 11.30am.

The route takes the parade into Manchester City Centre along Cheetham Hill Road, Corporation Street, Cross Street, John Dalton Street, Lloyd Street and arriving at Albert Square at 1pm.

The parade arrives back at the Irish World Heritage Centre at 2.30pm

The Irish Festival Parade Route

20th Anniversary of the St Patrick’s Day Parade

The Irish World Heritage Centre held their first St Patrick’s Day Parade on the 17th March 1990 when the Members paraded to St Chad’s Church where Mass was celebrated by Fr. McGarry before returning to the Centre. It is interesting to note that at that parade the County Longford Association were the first to display a parade banner.

In 1991 the parade was extended to go to the roundabout at the end of Cheetham Hill Road following Gaelic Mass at the Irish World Heritage Centre. It was in our third year, 1992, that the St. Patrick’s Day Parade was extended as far as Albert Square, where it was reviewed for the first time by the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Cllr., Billy Egerton.

In March 1993 the parade went again to Manchester Town Hall, but this time it was lead by the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Cllr., Bill Risby, accompanied by the Mayors of Trafford and Salford. The custom has continued to follow that route since and this year we are pleased to be celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

It continues to be a major Irish Festival event always preceded by Gaelic Mass. Fr. John Ahern, the well known Kerry Priest, has officiated at 17 of those Masses.

The Parade is very much a community based event with participants of all ages. Bands, floats and banners represent all the Counties of Ireland, the GAA, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Rose of Tralee, dancing schools and many more.

Tens of thousands of people turn out to line the route of the parade to revel in the party atmosphere.

The parade is reviewed by the Lord Mayor of Manchester as it passes around the Irish Markets in Albert Square and traverses its route back to the Irish World Heritage Centre.