Warrington to host Irish Weekender

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WARRINGTON is to hold an Irish celebration next month to coincide with St Patrick’s Day and to celebrate the heritage of a number of its residents.
The Warrington Irish Weekender, which is being produced by Culture Warrington and is commissioned by Warrington Borough Council, will take place over the St Patrick’s Day weekend from Friday 14 until Monday 17 March.
The event has been inspired by the Fleadhs which took place in Warrington in the late 90s and brought the town together with traditional Celtic singing and dancing.
The programme for the weekend has been put together with input from the town’s Irish Community and support from Deputy Leader of the Council, Mike Hannon who was involved in Warrington’s first Fleadh which was held in 1996.
The celebration kicks off on Friday evening (14 March) at Pyramid arts centre in the Cultural Quarter with a Ceili, which is a traditional evening of Irish dancing. Rogers Academy of Irish dancers along with Shannagh will take to the stage at Pyramid’s Exhibition Hall to entertain the crowds from 8pm. There will also be the chance for the audience to try their hand at Celtic dancing.
On Saturday (15 March) shoppers will be treated to traditional Irish sounds and dance with three bands playing at a purpose built stage in Golden Square’s Old Market Place, the same site which hosted the Happy Mondays headline slot at Warrington Music Festival last year.
The afternoon of live music starts at 1pm with Beer for Breakfast, a professional Ceili band, who play a lively range of traditional and contemporary Irish music as well as Celtic rock and country rock & roll. Whiskey In The Jar, who are renowned for being the North of England’s favourite Irish band, will also be performing during the afternoon, along with Celtic Knot, a Merseyside based six piece band. Irish cuisine including traditional stew and pints of Guinness will be on offer throughout the day.
On Sunday 16 March members of the Irish community will be joined by the Mayor of Warrington in a parade from the town’s Irish Club on Orford Lane to St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church on Buttermarket Street. The public are invited to join the march, which will also involve a pipe band and Irish dancers, and attend mass at the church. After the mass the group will return to the Irish club for refreshments and a music act.
The four day festival will culminate on St Patrick’s Day (Monday 17 March) with a closing celebration at the Irish club comprising of a day of entertainment and traditional Irish food.
Maureen Banner, Chair of Culture Warrington said: “It’s important to Culture Warrington to not let this weekend pass without celebrating St Patrick’s Day and the heritage of the town’s Irish residents and descendants. Everyone enjoys a good Celtic ‘knees-up’ and there’s plenty going on during the festival to entertain you.”
Cllr Mike Hannon, deputy leader of the council, said: “I’m delighted we are supporting this cultural celebration and hope the people of Warrington join in the festivities. I know many residents will remember the first Fleadh, which took place all those years ago, and it will be great to come together as a town once again to mark this occasion.”


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