South Manchester leads Irish Festival celebrations

From Tony Hennigan
Tel 07912512977
press@manchesteririshfestival.co.uk
www.manchesteririshfestival.co.uk

South Manchester leads Irish Festival celebrations

South Manchester was once again this year at the forefront of the 2010 Manchester Irish Festival celebrations which is now in its fifteenth year. The St Patrick’s weekend celebrations started early on Thursday 11 March when Magners sponsored a special Irish Comedy Festival at M19 as part of a two week tradfest in the village which is home to the biggest Irish community outside of London. On Friday 12 March the highly acclaimed Donegal band ‘The Henry Girls’ played an exclusive sell out gig to launch their new album in the UK at the same venue. The night also featured Irish American banjo player Zoe Mulford, Manchester’s Shake the Barley and the award winning Scally brothers. While over at St Kentigern’s Irish Club in Fallowfield a Irish Country Music Festival has been taking place with acts flying in from all over Ireland. Over the weekend the pubs and clubs in the area have been packed out with a series of free gigs including an appearance by Coronation Street’s newest edition – actor and musician Kieran Cunningham who appeared at the Union Irish bar on Saturday night.

The highlight of the weekend was the annual St Patrick’s Day Parade which took place in Albert Square on Sunday 14 March. The three hour Parade brought the city to a standstill and turned it green for the day. It was officially named as the biggest in the UK by an official from the Irish Embassy. The Irish media declared the event which featured close to 2,000 participants in the parade alone as the third biggest I the world close behind Dublin and New York. Withington Councillor, Alison Firth the Lord Mayor of Manchester led the Parade with Fallowfield’s Kevin Fitzpatrick the co-chair of the festival together with the chief constable Peter Fahy and a host of other VIP’s.

James Hennigan pictured here with Levenshulme councillor John Commons9Festival committee member) and Lawrrence Hennigan in front of the Manchester Town Hall featuring a banner with Levenshulme dancer Pierce O’Connor said “It has been a great festival so far, South Manchester deserves a pat on the back for being so involved with the festival. There have been numerous highlights for me but the Parade and the Young, Gifted & Green concert for Christie’s at the Town Hall were fantastic. I am looking forward to djing for the St Patrick’s Family night on Saturday 20 March at St Mary’s which features a host of Irish dancing and music groups. It is raising money for the Niall Melon Township trust and should be a great finale for the festival.”

Margaret Casserley from the Levenshulme based award winning Full Irish Radio show on ALLFM was asked to carry the Roscommon Flag. As chairperson of the association she helped organise the Roscommon float and group along with the Castlerea Roscommon Brass and Reed band who came over from Ireland to march in the Parade. Joining the Roscommon association leading the Parade were the Mayo association which saw Levenshulme’s Lawrence Hennigan the marketing director of the festival website turned out in his Mayo colours. He was joined by other members of Mayo’s South Manchester community which included the President of the association Marcella Wilkinson from Burnage.

The Parade had a number of floats from South Manchester but a special mention should go to Levenshulme’s seventeen year old David Costello who built and restored a vintage tractor with his own pocket money to take part in the celebration. He was awarded a special prize at the civic launch by MP Tony Lloyd. He was accompanied in the parade by his Dad Jim Costello who helped David complete the restoration.

Festival events continue until Sunday 21 March with numerous events taking place all over South Manchester. On St Patrick’s Day itself the 17 March, the party starts early in the afternoon with a traditional Irish music session by Grace Kelly in the Union. Grace is trying to set a new UK record for the most Irish musicians playing in a session in a pub. A record which they set themselves two years ago of one hundred and twenty five, they hope to double it this year to mark the two hundred and fifty anniversary of Guinness. Guest musicians are invited to bring their instruments to join in the session from 3pm til late. Other free gigs on St Patrick’s Day include a tradfest with Denise Morgan and friends at Hennigans Sports Bar, m19 stage a free Irish club night and the Farmers in Burnage stage the reformation of Irish band ‘Driftwood’ for one night only. St Kent’s in Fallowfield have a special concert by one of Ireland’s favourite bands The Indians which is £10 admission.