Ep 303 – Manchester St Patrick’s Day Parade and Irish Heritage Celebration in Bradford

In Part 1… It’s that time again! Marching bands, dancers and even donkeys! In celebration of the patron saint of the Emerald Isle, almost the entire Irish population of Manchester and surrounding areas take to the streets. Martin and Annette are out capturing the flavour of the day and after a few years of adversity, the annual celebration of all things Irish is back at full steam.

The day is launched by The Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Donna Ludford along with Carina O’Brien, Vice Consul of Ireland to the North of England.

 

In part 2… Travelling up the M62, we’re in Bradford for an evening of entertainment. The Irish Heritage Celebration at St George’s Hall in Bradford is just the start of things to come. Despite having a substantial Irish population, Bradford no longer has an Irish Club. The vibrant Irish Association represented by Conor MacMahon and Paul Meszaros plans on putting Bradford back on the Irish map. The evening’s events are a springboard to future plans, with great music, archive photos and toe-tapping dance all adding to the experience on St Patrick’s day eve! (is that a day?)

We talk to Conor and Paul along with Historian Aidan Enright and Heritage Officer, Penny Green and find out why Bradford is yet another UK town that was built by the Irish!

It’s a lively evening of entertainment! Keep an eye out for the full evening’s entertainment, coming soon to your favourite Irish TV YouTube channel.

For more information…

Irish World Heritage Centre, Manchester… https://iwhc.com/

Trad music in Bradford, search Facebook… bradfordtradsessions or follow link https://www.facebook.com/bradfordtradsessions/

 

REMEMBER!! If you also watch on Sky, we’re now on channel 186… same time, just new channel.

Watch the Irish in the UK every Thursday night at 7.30pm on SKY 186 or Freesat 162. Repeated on Tuesday at 1 pm