(Sorry to St George, St Andrew and St David but) The best patron saint of the British Isles is, and always will be, St Patrick. Not only did he drive all the snakes from Ireland – which sounds a lot harder than killing a single dragon, if you ask us – but he also has the best holiday. And St Patrick’s Day this year looks to bring another belter of a parade to Bristol.
Building on last year’s success, the procession will extend to include some of Bristol’s most iconic institutions. Travelling from M Shed to St Nicks Market, W.E. Irish – the West of England’s Irish community group – invites all of Bristol to join the city’s largest St Patrick’s Day parade to date on Sunday, March 17. Followed by an afterparty the Glass Arcade and Revolution Bar
Starting outside M Shed at 1pm, those joining the parade are invited to arrive in their “shamrocked best” by 12pm. The parade will travel through the city, filling the streets with Irish floats, caricatures, decorated cars and bicycles, along with music, dancing and everything. This year, the theme for the Parade is ‘Sea of Migration’.
A quick pause at Queen Square will see a short performance of music and dance before heading onto St Nicks. Here, an after-party will run until 8pm, hosted at the Glass Arcade and Revolution Bar on St Stephen’s Street. Family-friendly festivities will continue with Irish dancing from local schools, as well as Irish musicians and folk singers. Plus, two dedicated bars serving Guinness and Whisky!
“With a belief that celebrating culture is transformative within communities, we are looking forward to bringing everyone, Irish or not, together for a big celebration and appreciation of what Irish people, past and present, have contributed to the West of England,” said Bristol Deputy Lord Mayor and W.E. Irish parade organiser, Paula O’Rourke. “Beyond the stereotypes, we’re extremely proud of our Irish heritage, culture and tradition and can’t wait to showcase the diversity in the city and to share learnings from the stories of Irish families in Bristol.”
The parade will end a stint of festivities running from March 8 – 17, with Irish comedy from Keith Farnan, Irish Folk music from Damien Dempsey and The Mary Wallopers, and historical walks with Clare Reddaway about Irish Bristol – all taking place in and around the city. The parade is free to all, however the afterparty will be a ticketed event, with tickets available to purchase here.
Tá fáilte roimh gach duine.
To learn more about the St Patrick’s Day events in Bristol head here.