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2010 London's St Patrick's Day Parade
The parade will follow the route from Park Lane to Hyde Park Corner down Piccadilly on to Regent St. by Trafalgar Square and dispersing in Whitehall Place.
Hyde Park Corner, Piccadilly ,Piccadilly Circus, Lower Regent Street ,Trafalgar Square,
Whitehall
London’s Irish Community is the largest minority group in London with approximately 400,000 people of Irish descent. The event marks the enormous contribution Irish communities have made to the capital – socially, economically and historically.
Everyone is invited to join in the fun and the free parade is a perfect day out in the capital for all the family.
The event is organized by the Council of Irish Counties Association and many London Irish community groups and associations, and is supported by the Mayor of London.
The parade promises to be bigger and better this year and the Mayor Ken Livingstone has said that he would like it to rival the annual international parades in Dublin, New York and Chicago and other cities round the world.
Spectators can expect to see a musical procession of large marching bands, colorful floats, local community groups and schools.
The parade will form up in Hyde Park Corner from 11am and move off at 12 noon dispersing in Whitehall ending at approximately 3pm.
Now in its fifth year London’s St Patrick’s Day Festival is the capital’s celebration of the Irish community’s unique contribution to life in the city. It is a festival enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds with approximately 100,000 a year attending.
2010 will build on the success of previous years celebrations and look towards securing its future amongst the best St Patrick’s Day festivals in the world!
Trafalgar Square includes a main performance stage showcasing the best of Irish from traditional to contemporary music plus food and drink outlets and a travel exhibition area. It will run from 12noon until 6pm.
Leicester Square will feature dance, music and story-telling workshops, Ceili Mor, Arts and Crafts stalls plus a children’s area and street performers.
Covent Garden is where people can experience a gastronomic delight of Irish artisan foods at the Irish Market, while listening to traditional music. The Food fair will run on Saturday and Sunday with the stage only opening on Sunday.
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We are very eager to build on the success of previous years’ parades and would like to encourage organizations such as community groups, marching bands, schools, sports groups and others to showcase all the wonderful talent that exists among community groups in London. The parade will set off at 11.30pm from Hyde Park and make its way through central London. To get involved in next year’s parade on Sunday 12th March 2006 call 020 7983 4000, email [email protected], or write to: London St Patrick's Day – 2010 Event:
St Patrick's Day Parade and Festival
FREE TO ATTEND PARADE AND FESTIVAL – ALL WELCOME The third annual St Patrick's Day parade will involve marching bands, pageantry, floats and troupes representing Irish county associations, as well as businesses and other organizations. They will be joining Mayor Ken Livingstone, who is supporting London's St Patrick's Day celebrations for the third time, and politicians expected to include: John O'Donoghue, T.D Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism; The Rt Hon Councillor Martin Morgan, Lord Mayor of Belfast; John McDonnell MP; Enda Kenny, Party Leader Fine Gael; Pat Doherty MP and Sinn Féin Vice President. Also taking part will be St Patrick on stilts and a town crier. Performers include: The Men they Couldn't Hang; Sinéad Quinn; Damien Dempsey; Sharon Shannon; Pauline Scanlon; the Celtic Tenors; Celtic Feet; London Lasses; and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann. Community groups and bands include:
Cavan Association (Clapton); Clare
Association (SE London); Limerick Association in London (SW
London); London Cork Association (South Harrow) St Patrick's Band (Wapping) Organizations and businesses taking part include the Metropolitan Police; Irish Nurses Unison; London Irish RFC; Lynch Plant Hire based in Wembley; McNicholas plc; Porterhouse (Covent Garden) Twickenham based Lawlor School of Irish Dancing; Waxy O'Connors; Dulwich Harps Gaelic Football Team. The parade will set off from Hyde Park at round 11.30pm, taking in Piccadilly, Trafalgar Square and finishing at the Embankment. People watching the parade are also welcome to attend the free festival on London's Southbank. The festival is free and everyone is welcome. It will take place from 11pm-6pm with live music and performances, exhibitions, food stalls, and children's activities. There is also an opportunity to join the Mayor and other guests for the traditional pre-St Patrick's Day parade dinner on Saturday 11 March. A limited number of seats and tables are available to purchase for the Mayor's St Patrick's Day dinner and drinks evening reception at the Hilton Hotel Park Lane. The Mayor says: 'I'm proud to be supporting London’s St Patrick's Day celebrations. These events mark the enormous contribution that generations of Irish people have made, and continue to make to the social, economic and cultural life of our city. This is the third time London has hosted St Patrick's Day events and each year it has grown from strength to strength. I encourage all Londoners from every community to mark the date in their diaries and get ready for a great family day out.' ends Notes to editors 1. For public enquiries call 020 7983 4100 or email [email protected] or visit . 2. The Mayor will be hosting a St Patrick's Day dinner and drinks evening reception at the Hilton Hotel Park Lane on Saturday 11 March 2004. A limited number of seats and tables are available to purchase. For further information call 020 7983 4297. 3. Sponsors for St Patrick's Day include McNicholas Plc, Tourism Ireland, Western Union, Irish Food Board, UNISON, Transport for London, London Development Agency, VGC Group, Kelly Group, Anglo Irish Bank and Porterhouse. For details of sponsorship opportunities call 020 7983 4297. 4. BBC London 94.9FM are media partner and will broadcast live on the day. MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Press information is available from Rachelle Laurence on 020 7983 4068 \ 07771 814 478 or Ben McKnight on 020 7983 4071 \ 07881 501 920, (numbers not for publication) GENERAL PUBLIC/NON-MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Call the Public Liaison Unit at the Greater London Authority on 020 7983 4100 DUTY PRESS OFFICER: For out-of-hours media enquiries, please call 020 7983 4000 Parade assembly from 11am at Queen Elizabeth Gate in Hyde Park, departs 11:30pm Route: Hyde Park - Piccadilly - Lower Regent Street - Trafalgar Square - Embankment - Temple Please help us to have a wonderful, vibrant parade by encouraging your organization to take part. The Greater London Authority is assisting the Council of Irish Counties Association with the co-ordination of the London St Patrick's Day parade. Tens of thousands of people turned out in bright sunshine to line the streets of central London for the annual St Patrick's Day pageantry in 2003. Visitors saw eight marching bands, 15 floats, dancing schools and troupes representing Irish county associations. We are very eager to build on the success of previous years and are encouraging organisations such as community groups, marching bands, schools, sports groups etc. to showcase all the wonderful talent that exists among community groups in London. Anyone wishing to enter the parade will need to read the safety regulations, fill in the parade entry form and return it to:
Please note that each walking contingent must provide 2 volunteer stewards and each float 4 volunteer stewards. All volunteer stewards and parade participants will be asked to register on the morning of the parade.
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