Festival Fun at Albert Square

If you go down to Albert Square this weekend you're in for a treat, as Manchester Irish Festival shows its true colours (green, mostly) with a traditional Irish market and, most importantly, a big festival tent to help the weary shopper out with a lovely cold pint of Guinness.

As we find ourselves now at the mid point of 2006's Irish Festivities which kicked off last weekend, Albert Square is giving itself over to all things Gaelic, and even the town hall clock has turned bright green! Man Con's Tristan assures me that it's been this way for ages, but I like to think that it's just for the festival. Whether it is or not, it certainly put a smile on my face last night when I trudged out of the office in the dark.

Building up to the annual St Patrick's parade on Sunday, Albert Square will become alive this weekend with a bustling Irish market, selling the very best in Irish art and crafts, and traditional foods to bring you a real taste of Ireland. Then of course there's the Heineken Festival Tent - fast becoming one of the most popular parts of the festival (I wonder why…?).

The tent, which as of today takes up a large part of Albert Square, will serve Guinness imported fresh from Dublin, poured with Irish know-how. Perhaps a strong contender there in our hunt for the perfect Guinness? The tent will play host to a range of entertainment, with live Irish music and even face painting for the kids (and big kids!). All profits from the Festival tent will be plunged straight back into the festival, so any money that you hand over at the bar will go to ensuring an even better Irish Festival in 2007.

The tent will provide a great staging post for a night out around some of the many festival venues around the city, or simply as a great place to immerse yourself into the festival for an hour or so while out shopping. I know where I'm heading on my lunch break today anyway…

Manchester Festival Markets, Albert Square 10th - 12th March
10am - 5pm (4pm Sunday)
Heineken Festival Tent, Albert Square, 10th - 12th March
11am - 8pm (5pm Sunday)

For more information on the Manchester Irish Festival 2006, click here.

Jayne Robinson
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