London going green for St Patrick

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has confirmed details of this year’s St Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival in London, one of the biggest Irish celebrations in the world.

The colourful procession of Irish marching bands, lively dance groups and spectacular costumes will begin forming at 10am at Green Park and pass iconic locations on the way to Trafalgar Square and Whitehall. Over 70 community groups will be represented on the parade and Londoners and tourists are being urged to line the streets to cheer them on.

A highlight of this year’s parade will be an interactive and theatrical show from the street performance and spectacle company Macnas, who are based in an old pram factory in Galway city on the west coast of Ireland. The group is internationally acclaimed and has performed around the world on a U2 tour, as part of the millennium celebrations in New York’s Times Square and at the MTV Awards.

Trafalgar Square will also be going green, this year with a focus on talent from the diverse Irish community in the capital. From musicians, MCs and DJs to Irish dancers, bands and Big Céilís, the stage will be jam-packed with top talent from the Irish in London.

Throughout the afternoon, hundreds of performers from age eight to 88 will bring the finest Irish culture and creativity to the stage. Holding it all together, and keeping Trafalgar Square buzzing, will be UK-based Irish comedian, Jarlath Regan. The party will also welcome special musical guests from Ireland and beyond, with announcements coming shortly.

Visitors to the square will also will be treated to the flavours of Irish cuisine at the street food market.