What's the craic?!

Manchester folk give the Irish a run for their money when it comes to the annual Irish festival. At last years event Mancunians downed a staggering 147,576 pints of Guinness! Best get lining our stomachs then, because the 16 day festival is here once again.

The festivities kick off with the much–loved Irish Market making a welcome return to Albert Square from 9th to 11th of March. Expect the most authentic Irish art, crafts and foods as well as the festival tent which will provide live Irish bands, lunchtime tipples and early evening frivolities!

Around 250,000 spectators will be gathered at the Irish World Heritage Centre at 12 noon on Sunday 11th March for the mile long Irish Festival Parade. The 40 float ‘green army’ will move along Cheetham Hill Rd, Corporation Street, onto Cross St and around Albert Square, before returning to the Irish World Heritage Centre by the same route.

A number of events are planned for St Patrick's Day itself – March 17 – while celebrations end with a funfair and outdoor festival in Errwood Park, in Levenshulme, home to the country's biggest Irish population outside London, on March 18.

March 9 – the Irish market in Albert Square.

March 9 – Music day at Manchester Town Hall.

March 11 – The festival parade (from the Irish World Heritage Centre).

March 15 – Irish musician session at Irish World Heritage Centre at 8.30pm

March 16 – Irish heartthrobs Westlife will return to the M.E.N Arena. For tickets call 0870 190 8000

March 17 – St Patrick's Day! A full day of entertainment at the home of the Manchester Irish community, Irish World Heritage Centre.

March 18 – St Patrick's weekend family funfair and outdoor Irish festival, Levenshulme Village.

March 19 – Manchester Irish Festival Comedian of the Year Final at The Pack Horse, 861 Stockport Road, Levenshulme.

Lynda Moyo