This year marks 35 years since Manchester’s first-ever St Patrick’s Day Parade took place and will see the spectacular music, dance and shamrock-filled parade, return to a city centre walking route for the first time since Covid.
Setting off at 12 noon from the Irish World Heritage Centre in Cheetham Hill, the parade will follow a route into the city centre along Bury Old Road, making its way onto Deansgate, before ending at the junction of King Street – where a finish line podium will welcome the parade as it comes to an end.
The parade is expected to attract thousands into the city centre and organisers promise lots of live (and loud!) Irish music played by marching, pipe, and accordion bands direct from Ireland who will be performing alongside toe-tapping troupes of traditional Irish dancers of all ages.
The parade will also feature representatives from all 32 counties of Ireland. Expect lots of noise, lots of colour, and lots of fun as the parade makes its way through the city streets.
The run-up to St Patrick’s Day on Monday also sees a bumper schedule of live music, Irish culture and good times through the weekend at venues across the city, including the pop-up Irish Village on St Ann’s Square, as part of Manchester Irish Festival.
Leading the parade and weekend celebrations will be Dublin-born city centre lead for the council, Councillor Pat Karney – who has this year been appointed Chair of the Irish Festival Committee, a role that sees him return to the organisation after a 7-year absence.
Councillor Karney said: “I make no secret of my Irish roots and you won’t find a prouder Irishman than me. Celebrating St Patrick’s Day here in Manchester – a city that has a long history of welcoming Irish people in and taking them to their hearts – is always amazing there’s literally nowhere else I’d rather be.
“I’ll always be eternally grateful to Manchester for letting me and so many others from Ireland grow up here. At the same time I’m also really proud, as we all should be, of the many contributions we Irish people have in turn made to this fabulous city.
“Despite my green Irish heart though, after living here for decades now I’m also fiercely Mancunian. Which is why it’s doubly brilliant to be back chairing the Irish Festival and helping make sure that everyone in Manchester has a good time and enjoys these celebrations.
“As one of Europe’s longest-running and best St. Patrick’s Day parades, you definitely won’t want to miss it. Everyone’s invited, so come along, grab a shamrock, get involved, and join in the craic!”
