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Mayor unveils capital’s plans to celebrate St Patrick’s Day

Created on
21 February 2020

Event: London’s St Patrick’s Day Festival

Dates: Friday 13 – Sunday 15 March (Parade and stage line-up on Sunday 15 March at 12pm)

Location: Across London

Media seeking accreditation for the festival need to register here: /online-press-accreditation-form-st-patricks-day-2020

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced a weekend of celebrations across the capital to mark St Patrick’s Day.

The best of Irish arts, culture, food and music will be available from Friday 13 March to Sunday 15 March as Londoners and visitors join together to celebrate the significant contribution Irish people have made to the city.

Women in sport will be the theme of this year’s festival in support of the Federation of Irish Sports 20x20 campaign to improve coverage of women’s sport. The Grand Marshall for the world-renowned parade on Sunday will be Dublin camogie player Laura Twomey.

The Festival culminates on Sunday 15 March in the annual parade which attracts more than 50,000 people for a colourful procession of Irish marching bands from the UK, US and Ireland, dance troupes and pageantry, including the Garda band from Dublin and the return of the popular Giant St Patrick. It starts at Hyde Park Corner, then travels through Piccadilly, St James’s Street, Pall Mall, Cockspur Street and Whitehall.

At Trafalgar Square there will be a world-class line-up of Irish culture and music, in partnership with the London Irish Centre, compered by Derry Girls actor Siobhan McSweeney. There will be family concerts, storytelling, children’s films and youth performances, as well as community choirs, schools, dance troops and collectives. There will also be performances by Imelda May, KILA and a singalong finale.

Alongside the main stage, there will be food demonstrations from International Chef of the Year 2019, Anna Haugh, a replica Irish cottage, children’s workshops featuring camogie games, medal making and face painting, and a great selection of food and drinks stalls.

Across the capital, there will be a further series of events throughout the weekend, including a takeover of Camden Market, busking on the Underground, free walking tours and a three-day film festival by Irish Film London.

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m proud that every year our celebrations for St Patrick’s Day get better and better, and that 2020 will be our biggest yet. I’m particularly pleased that this year the theme will be women in sport and that we will join together to celebrate the impact sport has on our communities and inspire the next generation of talent. The Festival is a great way for Londoners and visitors to celebrate the way London’s Irish community have helped to shape life in our city – showing once again that London is open to all.”

Founder and Director Irish Film London, Kelly O’Connor, said: "Irish Film is one of our greatest contemporary creative mediums. It's the perfect way to come together to celebrate our heritage, learn something new about Ireland, or simply revel in the filmmaking talent of our fellow Irish men and women! I'm particularly looking forward to seeing some short Irish films and animations on the big screen in Trafalgar Square this year. "

The Irish Post Managing Editor, Fiona Audley, said: “We are proud to be the main media partner for the St Patrick’s Day Festival in London once again this year. Now in its 18th year the event encompasses the best that the Irish culture and community has to offer and invites all communities to enjoy it with us. 2020 is particularly special for The Irish Post as we mark our 50th anniversary year – and where better to celebrate that then at the St Patrick’s Day festivities? We look forward to seeing everybody there for an extra special celebration in the capital!”

Julie Wakley, Tourism Ireland – Head of GB said: “Tourism Ireland is proud to support the St Patrick's Festival in London and celebrate Ireland’s warm and close relationship with our nearest neighbour. In 2019 around 4.7 million Britons visited the island of Ireland and this celebration is just a taster of our warm welcome and hospitality. This year in particular, Tourism Ireland is working with a number of trade and tour operators, helping GB consumers discover amazing offers and deals to visit the island of Ireland. This new initiative “Green is the New Black” will be available for two weeks starting on 13th March and running over the course of St Patrick’s Day on www.Ireland.com.”

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