16-03-2025
Thousands pack Manchester city centre as St Patrick's day parade returns after four-year absence
Thousands of people lined the streets this afternoon to welcome the St Patrick's Day parade back into the city centre after a four year hiatus. The city was a sea of green, white and orange as members of the Irish community came out to commemorate the national holiday of Ireland's patron saint.
This year was the 35th anniversary of the parade in the city and featured over 30 floats made up of charities, sports groups, businesses, Irish pipe and drum bands and even farm animals like goats, horses and ponies walked along the procession.
The two mile long parade began at the Irish World Heritage Centre in Cheetham Hill at midday, before making its way down Cheetham Hill Road where some members of the public had gathered to be among the first to witness the event.
READ MORE: PHOTOS: Manchester explodes with colour as St Patrick's Day parade returns to city
After passing the AO Arena, the procession made it's way into town which was drastically busier with thousands waiting awaiting its arrival on a packed Deansgate.
A finishing podium was set up on the junction of King Street where speeches were heard from local councillors, dignitaries and Manchester United announcer Alan Keegan, who entertained the crowd as the floats completed the final stretch of the crawl.
Previously, the parade had only gone as far as the Irish World Heritage Centre to the end of Cheetham Hill Road but this year it made its way onto Deansgate where it was met by hordes of excited spectators.
This year, St Patrick's Day falls on Monday, March 17, with lots of events going on across Greater Manchester to celebrate the occasion. Last week, the 11-day Irish Festival kicked off proceedings over at St Ann's Square, and this weekend the parade will take over the city streets.
One of the organisers of the event was local councillor, Pat Karney, speaking after the celebrations, he told the M.E.N: "It was a brilliant day. After a gap of four years we were a bit nervous about coming back into the centre, but it was a spectacular return.
"We estimate that over 30,000 people have come out to watch the parade. A stunning success for its return and it will only get bigger and better over the future years.
"We hope to come into Albert Square next year as well, so it's gonna establish itself as one of Manchester's major events."
