London's St Patricks Day Celebrations

11.03.05

London's will celebrate St Patrick's Day this weekend. The festivities will be based around Trafalgar Square, with other events in Leicester Square and Covent Garden and a parade from Hyde Park.

London's 2005 St Patricks Day Celebrations include:

A London St Patricks Day Parade: groups and floats representing the Irish Counties, bands from Ireland and the UK, street theatre groups, the London Fire Brigade, the Metropolitan Police, sports clubs and London schools will parade from Hyde Park via Piccadilly, Regent Street and Trafalgar Square to Whitehall Place.

A main stage at Trafalgar Square will have contemporary and traditional Irish music.

There will be Irish dance and music workshops, a children's play area, plus Irish arts and crafts and exhibitions.

An Irish artisan food market will be set up at Covent Garden on Saturday March 12 and Sunday March 13 from 11:00 to 18:00. It will feature some of Ireland's finest food and drink producers with a range of foods from Irish cheeses to smoked fish

Other events to celebrate this years St Patricks Day around London include:

A classical concert in St James' Piccadilly on Friday March 11. Two of Ireland's leading musicians, Catherine Leonard (violin) and Finghin Collins (piano) will be joined by French cellist Pierre Doumenge.

An Irish art exhibition at Jury's Hotel, South Kensington from March 9 to 24 featuring some of Ireland's leading and emerging artists

A 'Conquering England - Ireland in Victorian London' exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from March 9 to June 26

Irish Luminaries in London - a guided walk will take place on March 12.

Plus there will be a Brendan Shine concert 'Celtic Strands', 'A Bit Of A Do' at Arts depot North Finchely, St Patrick's Day church services, London Irish Centre celebrations and an 'Echoes of Erin' Comhaltas concert.

Of the celebrations, Mayor Ken said: 'I want to see London's St Patricks Day celebrations to grow each year to stand alongside those seen in cities like New York, Boston and Chicago,' which is quite a target.

For more information and things to do in London visit this London Guide and for london hotels see our London Hotel home page.

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