Latest news with #PatKarney
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
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."
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Yahoo
Van driver hunt continues after fatal tram crash
Police are continuing to search for a driver who fled the scene after a three-year-old girl was killed in a crash between a van and a tram in Manchester city centre. Officers are understood to know who the offender is and are actively looking to bring him into custody. After colliding with the tram on Saturday morning, the van ended up on the pavement where it hit the girl, officers said. She was given emergency treatment by first responders and taken to hospital, where she died from her injuries. Two air ambulance crews also rushed to the scene after the crash, which happened just before 10:00 GMT. GMP said the crash was being treated as an isolated incident with no wider threat to the community. Roads were temporarily closed around the scene near Manchester Art Gallery, while tram services also experienced major disruption. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said it was supporting the police with the investigation. Manchester City Council added it would make sure the family had its "full support". Councillor Pat Karney told BBC North West Tonight: "I can't imagine the pain and grief that this family's going through." Following public remarks on the safety of the junction, he said "it would be totally inappropriate to have a debate about it at this stage - we're actually thinking about the family". "We are in a legal process so the police will make their investigation and then in the course of time, there will be a coroner's report and any recommendations about the future of that junction will come to the council," he said. "Obviously we'll take that very seriously." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. Police hunt van driver as girl dies in tram crash
