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Early birds in Manchester get celebrations started  Manchester
will celebrate the city’s 13th Irish Festival this month with an
action-packed two weeks of Irish art, comedy, dance, music, sport and
theatre.
The festival, which runs for 14 days until March 20, is now established
as one of the biggest Irish events in Europe.
This year’s festival will be launched by Dana on Friday, March 7
at City Hall.
The St. Patrick’s Parade will take place on Sunday, March 9 with
over 70 floats, bands and walking groups celebrating the Patron Saint
of Ireland.
And the Celtic event has been described as a showcase incorporating all
the best of Irish talent and culture, which has long been an integral
part of Manchester’s calendar.
Co-chair of the Manchester Irish Festival Councillor John Flanagan said:
“As we embark on the 2008 festival, we ask everyone in the city
or beyond to join us in turning Manchester ‘green’ and making
this our best festival yet.
“We would also like to publicly thank the Festival Committee, who
are all volunteers and give a lot of time and effort each year to organise
the festival for everyone.”
Irish Ambassador to Britain Mr David Cooney also congratulated Manchester
for its dedication to making the city a major highlight of St. Patrick’s
Day festivities in Britain.
He said: “I would like to extend my appreciation to all those involved
in supporting and organising the festival this year, particularly the
Lord Mayor Councillor Glynn Evans and all his staff at Manchester City
Council.
“It is a very real demonstration of the esteem with which the Irish
community in Manchester is held that the launch takes place at the Town
Hall in Albert Square and that the Irish flag is flown to mark our national
day.
“The Lord Mayor has made children and young people the focus of
his year in office.
“And this is entirely in keeping with the tradition of the Manchester
St. Patrick’s Day Festival which always provides lots of family-friendly
entertainment and events.”
For further information about how to hold or attend an event during the
Festival email info@irishfestival.co.uk.
FRIDAY, MARCH 7
- Acousticfest
With Claire Mooney, the Moving House Band, ODI featuring Claire Odlum
and Steve O’Donoghue. M19 Bar, Levenshulme. Doors 8pm, Admission
£3.
- Art Exhibition and reception
Manchester Town Hall. Exhibiting local children’s artwork. Noon-2pm.
- The Irish Festival Market Albert Square
Featuring the best in Irish art and crafts and foods. 10am to 6pm. Fri,
Sat, Sun.
- Chris Ball
Irish World Heritage Centre. 9.30pm
- Peter Mylett The Mayo Man.
This popular Irish balladeer will keep all eyes smiling when he plays
and sings well-known songs of Ireland. Royal Exchange Theatre. 6pm–7pm.
- Festival Start Indoor Sport and Race Night
The Talbot Club. 12 Eldon Place, Eccles, Manchester M30 8QE. 0161 789
1021.
- The Coolers
O’Shea’s Irish Bar. Featuring X Factor’s Gavin Jones,
Roger Hughes and Kenji Fenton. 9pm-2am
- Tommy Gallagher
The Huntington.
- Festival Launch Party with Lone Star
Irish and Country music. The Southern Hotel
- Sawdoctors Irish Karaoke and Tribute night with DOC
Union Irish Music Lounge. 8pm-late. Admission is free.
- Festival Launch Party with Mustang
Irish and country music. Conor’s Irish Bar & Lounge. 8pm until
late
- ‘Irish Blood, English Heart’ A tribute to The Smiths Club
Night
Plus hits from Morrissey, Oasis, Badly Drawn Boy and other Manchester
bands with Irish roots. Doors 8pm.
SATURDAY, MARCH 8
- Irish Language Taster Day
Manchester Town Hall. 10am-noon and 1-3pm. Free Admission.
- Young, Gifted & Green
Irish Music and Dance Charity Concert.
Lowry Theatre, Salford. SOLD OUT.
- Club Cuideachta
The Briton’s Protection. Irish language chat over a drink to the
backdrop of live traditional music. 8pm.
Tradfest Night
Irish Music night with Quare Craic. Union Music Lounge. 8pm until late.
Admission is free.
- Green Hot Clover
O’Shea’s Irish Bar. 9pm-2am.
- Mick & The Irish Rovers
Irish and Country Music. The Southern Hotel.
- Annie Mac
The Huntington.
- Irish Party Night
With DJ Tom Dee. Playing the very best of his Irish collection. M19 Bar.
- Festival Party Night
Conor’s Irish Bar & Lounge. Traditional Irish and Irish and
Country music. 8pm until late. Admission is free (£2 door charge
after 11pm).
- Tony Sullivan
Irish World Heritage Centre. 9.30 until late.
- Sean Wilson
English Martyrs’ Parish Centre. 8pm until late. Admission. £5
- Old Caubeen
The Whalley Hotel, Brooks Bar.
- Easy Feeling.
The Talbot Club
SUNDAY, MARCH 9
- Irish Festival Parade 2008
The St. Patrick’s Parade will take place on Sunday, March 9 with
over 70 floats, bands and walking groups. Starts 11.45am outside Irish
World Heritage Centre.
- St. Patrick’s Day Mass
Mass in main hall of Irish World Heritage Centre at 10am before parade
departure.
- Mayo Man & Ged Graham
Irish world Heritage Centre.12am-6pm.
- Céilí
The Great Hall at Manchester Town Hall. Céilí after the
parade — 2.30pm until 4.30pm. Admission is free
- Tradfest Post Parade Celtic Rock Night
James Cannon & the Sinners. M19 Bar. Doors 8pm, on stage 9pm.
- Green Hot Clover/Celtic Rogue
O’Shea’s Irish Bar. Noon-12.30am.
- The Deadbeats
O’Neill’s Bar, Didsbury.
- JIB and Phoenix
The Whalley Hotel, Brooks Bar.
- St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Party
St. Kentigern’s Social Club. Fermanagh Association and minibus leaving
St. Kent’s at 10.30am. After party in St. Kent’s at 3pm until
late
- Post Parade Party
With Tricky Micky disco. English Martyrs’ Parish Centre. 3pm.
- St. Patrick’s Day Parade Celebration
With Nathan Carter and the Festival Roadshow Disco. The Southern Hotel
- Festival Party Disco
Conor’s Irish Bar & Lounge. 8pm until late. Admission is free
(£2 door charge after 11pm).
- Manchester Irish Festival Parade exhibition and film launch
Union Music Lounge, Levenshulme. Featuring photographs by Dave Brunton,
Danny Claffey, Ged Noonan, Bernie White, Joe Casserley and Tony Hennigan,
plus a Parade DVD shot by film maker Lynda Gilbert. 4pm-7pm.
- Tradfest
Sunday afternoon session from Driftwood. Union Music Lounge. 4pm-7pm.
Admission is free.
MONDAY, MARCH 10
- Around the Fire
Irish World Heritage Centre. Informal evening of singing, dancing and
music.
Admission is free.
- St. Patrick’s Social
St. Mary’s Centre, Elbow Street, Levenshulme. Live music and craft
workshop. 12-3pm.
- Acoustic Showcase
M19 Bar. Singer/songwriters and musicians welcome. Starts 8pm.
TUESDAY MARCH 11
- Set dancing with JIB Irish Sounds Disco
St. Kentigern’s Social Club. 8pm.
- Over 50s Activity Groups
St. Richard’s Parish centre, Sutcliffe Street, Longsight. Music,
dancing and refreshments. 12.30-3pm.
- Around the Fire
Irish World Heritage Centre. Informal evening of singing, dancing and
music.
8pm. Admission is free.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12
- Boddingtons YGG Unsigned 2008 Final
Final for new bands competition.The Pack Horse Music Venue, 861 Stockport
Road, Levenshulme. Doors 7.30pm, Admission £5.
- Full Irish
Live radio broadcast of The Irish Session with Grace Kelly and Friends.
Union Music Lounge. 6.30pm-late. Live radio broadcast 7pm-9pm.
- All Things Irish Irish Festival
Fun Quiz and music with Ged Graham. Conor’s Irish Bar & Lounge.
8pm.
- Around the Fire
Irish World Heritage Centre. 8pm.
- Skirm
O’Shea’s Irish Bar. Seamus Curly with relaxed live music.
9pm-1am.
- Over 50s St. Patricks Celebration
Excercises with music, dancing and refreshments. 12.30-3.00pm. St. Anne’s
Parish Centre, Chester Road, Stretford.
- Shamrock Shufflers Line Dancing
English Martyr’s Parish Centre.
THURSDAY, MARCH 13
- All Things Irish Fun Quiz
The 2008 All Things Irish festival fun quiz and game show. The Southern
Hotel.
- Barrel of Laughs Irish Special
The Frog and Bucket Comedy Club. Five Irish comedy acts. Admission £5/£3.
Doors 7.30pm.
- Manchester Schools Presentation
Irish World Heritage Centre. Noon-2pm.
- Sean O’Connor and Richard Sanderson
O’Shea’s Irish Bar. 9pm-1am.
- St. Patrick’s celebration
Space, Marlborough Road, Salford. Chat over a cup of tea or get involved
in the craft workshop. 12.30-3.00pm
- Sean’s Bit O’ Blarney Quiz
The Albert Inn. Quiz from 8pm. The Albert Inn, Wilmslow Road, Withington.
 -
Manchester Irish Festival DVD launch
M19 Bar. Chorlton film-maker Lynda Gilbert showcases her DVD promoting
different aspects of the Manchester Irish Festival. Plus Irish club night
with Tom Dee. Doors 7pm.
- Irish poetry and stories
Irish World Heritage Centre. Admission £3 (£1.50 conc.)
- Set Dancing with JIB Irish Sounds Disc
St. Kentigern’s Social Club. 8pm
- The Cheltenham Festival
The Southern Hotel and Conor’s Irish Bar & Lounge.
FRIDAY, MARCH 14
- St Patrick’s Eve Concert
Dublin-based singer-songwriter Ray Heffernan with Paddy O’Hare and
Ash Mountain. M19 Bar, Levenshulme. Admission £3. Doors 7.30pm.
- Council of Irish Associations Dinner Dance
Irish World Heritage Centre. Special guest RTÉ’s Brian Carty.
7.30pm. Tickets £23.
- St. Patrick’s Eve club night with DJ James H
M19 Bar. Admission is free. Doors 8pm.
- Barrel of Laughs Irish Special
The Frog and Bucket comedy club. Comic Simon O Keefe. £13/£6
concs. Doors 7.30pm.
- St. Patrick’s Eve Celebration
Actor and musician Kieran Cunningham with Irish music and song. 6pm-7pm.
Royal Exchange, St. Ann’s Square, Manchester.
- JIB Irish Sounds Disco
The Whalley Hotel.
- Ged Graham in the lounge Irish World Heritage Centre 9.30pm until
late.
- JIB Irish Sound Disco
The Royal Oak, Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton.
- Tommy Gallagher
The Huntington, Northmoor Road, Longsight, Manchester.
- Cripple Creek
Traditional and contemporary Irish ballads and country tunes. 8pm until
late. Admission is free (£2 door charge after 11pm). Conors Irish
Bar & Lounge.
- Céilí at The Riverside
Whitworth Civic Hall. Irish céilí dancing and craic. 7.30pm
and 12pm. Tickets £5.
- Green Hot Clover
O’Shea’s Irish Bar. 9pm-2am.
SATURDAY, MARCH 15
St. Patrick’s Weekend Family Fun Fair. Erwood Park, Levenshulme
Village, Erwood Park, Cringle Fields, Levenshulme. Noon-9 pm.
- St. Patrick’s Night tradfest
With Liverpool’s band Innishfree. Union Music Lounge. Doors 8pm.
- Barrel of Laughs Irish Special
The Frog and Bucket Comedy Club. Brendan Burke, Micheal Legge, Simon O’Keefe.
Doors 7.30pm.
- St. Patrick’s Day Tradfest family afternoon
M19 Bar, Levenshulme. Music and dance with Young, Gifted & Green.
Doors noon.
- St. Patrick’s Tradfest concert
M19 Bar. St Patrick’s Tradfest concert with Lyra Celtica. Irish
club night with DJ James H follows. Doors 7.30pm.
- Toss The Feathers
Celebrating 21 years on the road. St. Kentigern’s Social Club. Tickets
£15.
- Irish Festival Party with Stiff Little Fingers
Manchester Academy. Good natured mayhem and Irish-flavoured tunes.
Tickets £18.
- 25th Anniversary Reunion Céilí
The Castlemore Céilí Band. Lowton Civic Hall. 8pm until
12pm.
Meadow Lane, Lowton, Nr Golborne. Tickets £5 adults) £3 OAPs/children.
- Tradfest Session
James O’Connor & Audrey Trainor. Hennigan’s Sports Bar,
908 Stockport Road, Levenshulme. Doors 7pm. Admission is free.
- Jim McClouskey and band
English Martyrs’ Parish Centre
8pm until late. Tickets on the door.
- The Ryans
The Southern Hotel.
- Young, Gorgeous & Green
M19 Bar, Levenshulme. Doors 7pm. Admission free before 9pm.
- Levenshulme Celtic Supporters Club
St. Patrick’s Day Party
Hennigan’s Sports Bar. Doors noon. Admssion is free.
- Tony Sullivan in the lounge
Irish World Heritage Centre. 9.30pm until late.
- Festival Party Night
Conors Irish Bar & Lounge. 3pm. Admission is free.
- St. Patrick’s Fun Day
The Albert Inn. Traditional fayre, Irish food and music. Admission is
free. Wilmslow Road, Withington.
- Ged Graham
The Whalley Hotel.
- Slap ’n’ Tickle
O’Shea’s Irish Bar. 9pm-2am.
- Ragamuffin
The Royal Oak, Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton. 0161 860 7438.
- Two Star Country from Ireland
The Talbot Club, Eccles.
- St. Patrick’s Celebration night
Bolton Irish Centre, 95 Lever Street, Bolton. 01204 5226 32.
SUNDAY, MARCH 16
- St Patrick’s Weekend Family Funfair
Erwood Park, Levenshulme. Noon-9pm. Admission is free.
- Tradfest Irish family afternoon
M19 Bar, Levenshulme. James O’Connor and Audrey Trainor. Doors 2pm-6pm.
Admission £3 donation or £6 per family pass.
- Quare Craic
Featuring Kieran Cunningham & Friends. Conor’s Irish Bar &
Lounge. 3pm. Admission free.
- Live Music from Driftwood
Irish, Country and Western music. Union Music Lounge. 4pm-7pm.
- Tradfest with The Tim O’Connor Band
M19 Bar, Levenshulme. Doors 7pm.
Admission is free before 9pm.
- Ged Graham
Irish World Heritage Centre. 2pm-4pm.
- Shaun Cuddy
Irish World Heritage Centre. 9.30pm until late.
- Live music with Toss The Feathers
St. Kentigern’s Social Club. Adm. £10.
- Celtic Rogue
O’Shea’s Irish Bar. The ex-Toss The Feathers men of Celtic
Rogue. 9pm-12.30am.
- Groovy Revolutions
O’Neill’s Bar.
- St. Patricks Celebration with Finian’s Rainbow
St. Anne’s Chester Road, Stretford.
- Waxy O’Connor’s
Live Irish band playing from 9pm.
MONDAY 17 MARCH
- St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
With Richard O’Brien and his band. English Martyrs’ Parish
Centre. 8pm until late. Tickets on the door.
- Beat the frog Irish special
The Frog and Bucket Comedy Club. MC Jason Cook presents 10 up and coming
acts with an Irish theme. Free entry. Doors 7.30pm.
- St. Patricks Day Celebration with JIB
All day. The Whalley Hotel.
- St. Patrick’s Day Party
With Live Music. O’Shea’s Irish Bar. Free Entry. From 7.30pm
ticket only.
- The Mayo Man in the Lounge
Irish World Heritage Centre. 9.30pm until late.
- St. Patrick’s Day Party
Conor’s Irish Bar & Lounge. Featuring Mick & The Irish Rovers,
The Morgan School of Irish Dancing, Lone Star. Admission free, £2
charge after 11pm.
- St. Patrick’s Day Party
Featuring Mustang, The Morgan School of Irish Dancing, The Ranchers and
the Festival Roadshow Disco. The Southern Hotel.
- Tradfest Closing Party
Irish Music night with Quare Craic featuring Kieran Cunningham and friends.
Union Music Lounge. 8pm until late. Admission is free.
- Steven Smyth
St. Kentigern’s Social Club.
- Tradfest Closing Party
With DJ James H. M19 Bar. Doors 8pm. Admission is free.
- St Patrick’s Celebration
With Sean McSherry and Michael Coyne. The Talbot Club.
- The Ryan Brothers
St. Patrick’s Celebration. Music from 4pm. Serving Bacon ’n’
Cabbage. The Royal Oak, Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton. 0161 860 7438.
- For the Love of Mrs Brown
Manchester Opera House. Quay Street, Manchester at 7.30pm. March 17-22
www.manchesteroperahouse.
org.uk
- St. Patrick’s Day Party
Waxy O’Connor’s. Doors open at noon.
TUESDAY, MARCH 18
- The Mayo Man in the Lounge
Irish World Heritage Centre
9.30pm until late.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19
- Shamrock Shufflers Line Dancing
English Martyr’s Parish Centre.
- Mayo Man in the Lounge
Irish World Heritage Centre. 9.30pm until late.
THURSDAY, MARCH 20
The Mayo Man in the Lounge
Irish World Heritage Centre. 9.30 until late. Set dancing and Irish music
lessons.
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