Pictures John Hopkins
MEMBERS of the town’s Irish community turned out in force for the annual St Patrick’s Day Parade through Warrington town centre, organised and funded by the local Irish Club on Orford Lane.
The walkers were joined by various local dignitaries, including the Mayor of Warrington, Cllr. Mo Hussain, and the town’s MPs, Charlotte Nichols and Sarah Hall.
Mayor of Warrington Cllr Mo Hussain said: “It was an absolute pleasure to attend the St Patrick’s Day parade today. Despite a bit of rain, the fun certainly didn’t stop, and the atmosphere was absolutely amazing!
“We started the celebrations at the Warrington Irish Club on Orford Lane, paraded through the town, and finished back at the club for more festivities. It was a wonderful reminder of the vibrant Irish heritage and the strong spirit of togetherness that makes our community so special.
“A huge thank you to all the organisers, volunteers, and performers who brought so much colour and joy to our streets. A special thanks to Ian Corbett and Ann Delaney for the kind invitation.
“It was great to see such a fantastic turnout, including Sarah Hall MP, Charlotte Nichols MP, the Council Leader, Deputy Leader, Deputy Mayor, and the Chief Officer from the Irish Consulate in Manchester, along with many other dignitaries.
“Events like these truly highlight the diverse and welcoming community we have here in Warrington.
“May the luck of the Irish be with you all!”
Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols added: “A real pleasure to join, as I do every year, with such a vibrant celebration of Irish culture and heritage beginning with the parade, and returning back to the club for music, dancing, food, donkey rides, and of course blessing the shamrocks! Thank you to the Consulate General of Ireland, Manchester, for their ongoing support for the event, to the amazing committee and volunteers of the Irish Club for all their hard work at every stage in making today such an enormous success, and to everyone who showed their support!
“And a huge good luck to Robinson Irish Dance Academy, who will soon be off to the World Championships in Chicago – if today’s performances are any indication, I’m sure you’ll be bringing back more silverware to Warrington! We’re all rooting for you.”
Also in attendance at the St Patrick’s Day Parade was former Deputy Leader of the council Mike Hannon, who was heavly involved in building bridges with the island of Reland in the wake of the Warrington IRA bombing in March 1993, which claimed the lives of three-year-old Jonathan Ball and 12-year-old Tim Parry, injurying more than 50 people out shopping the day before Mother’s Day, after bombs were planted in two litter bins on Bridge Street. A third victim, Bronwen Vickers, died the following year from her injuries.
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