Manchester Irish Festival Declared A Success

By Stephen Ho

MANCUNIANS are being attributed with the success of the record breaking Manchester Irish Festival held this month.

The mammoth two-week festival is the longest of its kind in the world and, with 200 events across Greater Manchester, is one of the biggest in Europe.

The event is run by volunteers from Manchester’s Irish community with the help of local businesses and the Manchester City Council.

“The Manchester community is very helpful and work entirely voluntarily,” said the event Press Officer Tony Hennigan. “They are the reason the event is so big.”

The aim of the Manchester Irish Festival is to promote Irish culture and community and it seems it succeeded if the broken records are any indication.

The St Patrick’s Day Parade was declared the largest in the UK by the Irish Embassy and record crowds celebrated in Manchester on Saint Patrick’s Day.

The biggest Feast Day cake in the world was created by the Saint Patrick’s Day Society, in conjunction with the festival, dwarfing New York’s three tier effort.

Although meant as a showcase for Irish art, culture, dance, music, language and comedy the festival has also put a lot back into the community.

“Business has been great since the festival started,” says the manager of the Irish World Heritage Centre Betty Vicars.

“The festival has done a good job: it’s keeping the Irish over here going.”

The festival has also helped some of the festival goers to reconnect with their Irish heritage.

“This is my first interaction with the Irish community since I moved here,” said Lisa O’Donnell who moved to Manchester from Ireland three years ago.

Inclusiveness is also big parts of the festival.

“We want to attract people from all different backgrounds, it’s not just a party for the Irish,” said Mr Hennigan.

This policy was felt and appreciated by many who joined in the celebrations.

“Anyone can come and have a good time: all peoples and all denominations,” said Ged Murphy, an ex-marshal for the festival.

Mancunians can be proud of a job well done and take a much needed break until next year.