Go green, enjoy the craic, at London's St Patrick's Day celebrations

Camille O’Sullivan, Foy Vance, The Coronas, Kila and Hot Press Award winners join main stage line up on Sunday

Enjoy the 'craic'! That's the Mayor of London's message as the capital gears up for this year's St Patrick's Day Parade and Festival, which take place on Sunday 14 March. With support from the Mayor and Lebara Mobile, this free family day out celebrates the ties between London and Ireland and is a fun way to experience all things Irish, with live music, dance, crafts and food.

This year's highlights include a special performance by Camille O'Sullivan, who has built an international reputation for her interpretations of the songs of Jacques Brel, Nick Cave, Tom Waits and Kurt Weill, playing alongside the likes of Marc Almond and Diamanda Galas and acting roles in films such as Over the Edge and the Oscar-nominated Mrs Henderson Presents.

Also performing are two-time Meteor Award winner John Spillane, platinum selling pop band The Coronas and highly regarded Foy Vance, as well as Kila, renowned for the surprises they bring to shows, including trapeze artists, fire jugglers and belly dancers. Other sets will come from Mundy and Four Men And A Dog.

There will also be traditional Irish music and dance with All-Ireland champion dancers from Wexford and a unique collaboration between Comhaltas and the Trad Gathering — featuring young traditional musicians from different music schools across London, St Albans, Luton, Cambridge, Milton Keynes and further afield.

London's St Patrick's Day celebrations will kick off at midday, with the colourful parade of floats, marching bands and groups representing the Irish Counties making its way from Green Park to Trafalgar Square. Londoners and tourists alike are being encouraged to join the crowds lining the streets to cheer on the floats, as well as a giant St. Patrick, Snake Pageant and a stunning Emerald Queen. A new addition will be new eco friendly rickshaw floats – keep an eye out to see who is riding in them!

In addition to the best of traditional and contemporary Irish music and dance, Trafalgar Square will feature a variety of other activities, including crafts, culture and food. A Children's Culture Corner will offer plenty of things for the kids to do with storytelling, shadow animation, dance, musical instruments, art, drama and poetry.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: 'Ireland is a country rich with a vivacious culture, the influence of which is felt far beyond its shores, and Irish citizens across the world rightly take immense pride in their heritage.

'London would not be the place it is today without the massive contribution of Irish men and women, whose efforts and dynamism are embedded into the fabric and soul of our city. Celebrating St. Patrick's Day is our way of acknowledging the best of everything Irish, and in so doing we host one of the biggest parties marking the day anywhere outside of Ireland.

'Trafalgar Square will deliver a stellar line up of fine Irish musicians and the lively parade will give everyone the opportunity to cheer along and enjoy the craic. I hope you all have a very happy St Patrick's Day. Lá le Pádraig sona daoibh!'

Russell Atkinson, Managing Director for Lebara Mobile UK, said; 'We are delighted to be associated once again with the St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival in London. It is an exciting occasion that brings people together – something which Lebara Mobile itself stands for. “

ENDS

MEDIA ACCREDITATION
Media wishing to cover the event should email communitydesk@london.gov.uk ASAP.

TIMINGS
Event:   St Patrick's Day Parade and Festival
Date:    Sunday 14 March 2010
Time:   Parade starts midday - at Green Park, then Piccadilly, Haymarket, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall 
Festival in Trafalgar Square – midday to 6pm

Entry:  FREE

Information:    www.london.gov.uk/stpatricksday / 020 7983 4100

MAIN STAGE
11.30am   Hot Press Award Winner
12.10pm   Foy Vance
12.50pm   Coronas
1.20pm     Speeches – Deputy Mayor London Richard Barnes
1.35pm     John Spillane
2.20pm     Comahaltas
3.05pm     Mundy
3.50pm     Four Men and a Dog
4.35pm     Camille O'Sullivan
5.20pm     Kila
6pm           ENDS

CHILDREN'S CULTURE CORNER
1pm             Stories from Ireland and the Caribbean with Spud and Yam
2pm             Magical Music of the Harp – Members of the Irish National Harp Orchestra
3pm             Shadow puppets and more stories with Manju Gregory
4pm             Fiddles, Sticks, Buttons and Bows – Meet the family of Irish musical instruments – Fiddles, accordions, whistles, bodhráns and music more with the Mulkere Academy

Notes to editors

1.      The Mayor's St Patrick's Day Parade and Festival are organised in association with Lebara Mobile. Media partner is The Irish Post. The next major event supported by the Mayor will be celebrations to mark St George's Day that take place in Trafalgar Square on Saturday 24 April. For information about these and other events go to www.london.gov.uk/get-involved/festivals.