The King Steals the Show at Irish Festival Launch

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The King Steals the Show at Irish Festival Launch

This years 2010 Manchester Irish Festival civic launch at Manchester Town Hall erupted when an Irish Elvis Presley aka the award winning broadcaster Joe Casserley appeared in the great hall in front of a packed room of celebrities and invited members of the Irish community. The popular presenter with Manchester’s Full Irish radio show had the audience screaming for more when he made his Royal appearance as The King of Rock n Roll to kick start the opening night of this years fifteenth Manchester Irish Festival on Friday 5 March . The civic launch was hosted by the Lord Mayor of Manchester – Councillor Alison Firth who is pictured above being serenaded by Joe during his performance which saw every single member of the audience giving him a standing ovation and joining in with his performance.
Irish Mancunian Terry Christian an award winning broadcaster and writer, along with Celtic and United legend, Paddy Crerand helped the Lord Mayor to officially launch what is now Europe’s biggest Irish Festival. The festival which has over 200 events at over 50 venues all around Greater Manchester, is a sixteen day party which runs until Sunday 21 March.
The Guinness loving Terry said “It is a honour to help launch this years Manchester Irish Festival and my late parents who came from Dublin would have been really proud to see me do it.” Terry during his speech paid home to Manchester’s second generation Irish community who had contributed to the city’s new musical heritage. These included the late Tony Wilson (the founder of Manchester’s annual inthecity music conference and ground breaking TV journalist), the late Rob Gretton (Founder of Factory records, manager of New Order and co-owner of the world famous Hacienda club), The Smiths, Oasis and The Courteeners.
Entertainment on the night featured performances from the highly acclaimed Keegan Kennedy School of Irish dancing who performed a piece from their sell out Charity Concert for The Christie Cancer hospital, which this year raised over £10,000.
Other star attractions included the international tenor Martin Toal, Irish Country star Stephen Smyth, a choir from St.John Fisher & St.Thomas More R C Primary School in Wythenshawe and the award winning Morgan School of Irish Dance. The evening was hosted by Evelyn Grealey from BBC Radio Manchester’s Irish Citizen Manchester, which is broadcast every Monday evening and is the UK's longest running Irish Radio show.