Morning:
14°c
New Moon is nothing if not an international advertisement for the hungry virtues of virginity and young people can’t get enough of it
Some fares could fall by more than a third when Oyster is extended to every national rail station in London, it has emerged
More...
Celebrate St Patrick's Day
Metro 14.03.08The St Patrick's Day festival and parade, which celebrates the Irish contribution to life in the city, will take place on 16 March between 12pm and 6pm in central London.
Large crowds are expected to see marching bands, floats, costume characters, stilt walkers and street theatre. Also this year, the organisers are aiming to have all 32 Irish counties represented.
The parade will start on Park Lane at noon and finish on Whitehall Place, passing through Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square.
The best of Irish music and dance will also be showcased in Trafalgar Square, including a performance from Moloko singer Roisin Murphy, guitar legend Joe Brown, singer/songwriter Luka Bloom, Ann Scott, Irish chart-toppers Aslan and the Celtic Masters.
Celebrations continue at Covent Garden, where there will be a chance to sample Irish food and drink, while at Leicester Square there will be a céilidh.
The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, said: "The St Patrick's Day parade and festival make an excellent day out for families and are a great chance for all Londoners, as well as visitors, to celebrate the contribution that London's Irish community make to the capital."
Other events taking place as part of the celebrations include a performance by the London Irish Symphony Orchestra (March 13); an exhibition by Bernard Canavan (until March 20); and Culture Bites (tomorrow, March 12).
Find out more at www.london.gov.uk/stpatricksday and plan your journey at tfl.gov.uk/journeyplanner
IRISH CINEMA AT ITS FINEST
As part of the St Patrick's Day celebrations, the 2008 London Irish Film Festival will be taking place between March 13 and 16.
Screenings include the British premiere of Kings, the first Irish language film to be nominated for an Oscar, which will take place on 14 March at the Tricycle Theatre in Kilburn.
Four London venues including the Barbican and the Prince Charles Cinema off Leicester Square will be hosting new popular features, classic titles, Irish language short films and documentaries about life in Ireland.
The film festival is supported by the Mayor of London, Culture Ireland and the Irish Film Institute.
Reader views (9)
It is exactly because of the attitude of Roy, that Belfast in Northern Ireland under British rule, has not been allowed to have a proper St. Patrick’s Day parade until recently. The parade is fantastic and a celebration for all the people of Irelend with every County being represented.
The Northern Ireland protestant/unionist culture is somewhat harder to portray in a positive way these days, as the fundamentals of the antiquated culture is triumphalism, a hatred of Catholicism and a mistrust of Catholics. It is not an attitude that sits well with modern day cultures that embrace tolerance, understanding and an appreciation of all people and their cultures.
The parade celebrates all the cultures within Ireland, in fact when it comes to the Irish flag, the green is representative of the Catholic community while the orange represents the Protestant Community. The white in the centre represents the peace between the two groups.
The parade tomorrow and St. Patrick’s day will be celebrated by not only the Irish but people of many cultures as will be plain to see.
- Thomas, St. Albans
I was born in Ireland and am proud to be Irish. The St Patrick's parade is an opportunity for all of us to celebrate. I have lived in England for a long time and I would love to see the English celebrate St George's day. I understand the the 'English community' are given as much money as the 'Irish Community' to celebrate their national day, the trouble is that they don't seem to be so good at organising a party. Still they are always welcome to join ours. Or maybe Darren and Akay you could lend hand with your celebrations next year rather than have a moan at Ken.
Shona Feile Phadraic everyone.
- Anne C, Brixton
It is a shame and really unbelievable that St Georges day is not celebrated in the capital, come on Londoners, with the mayoral elections coming up, please bring this up, April 23rd should be celebrated.
- Ashburton, Ireland
St. Patrick's Day Parade / Festival - I don't think so. This festival is a celebration of everything that Republican / Gael Ireland has to offer. No-where is there any representation of Northern Ireland or Unionist culture. Northern Ireland where St Patrick first preached, built his first church & Cathederal, where St Patrick is buried, Has been ignored once again. The Repubic of Ireland pretends that it is multi-cultural, but looking at this parade it is definitely monocultural.
- Roy, Edgware, UK
Yes, everything except for England. I'm surprised there's not a "Ken Livingstone" Day. Oops, mustn't give them ideas.
- Akay, London
I hear that Irish businesses fund the majority of the costs associated with these parades.
- Sheila, London
St Georges day should be given priority over this day why cant we have a day of celebration, yet again Ken trying to suck up to anyone apart from his own.
Roll on April 24th and a Pint of Porter if that's ok with you Ken!!
- Darren C, Enfield
Livingstone doesn't miss a trick, does he? I wonder what that's costing Council Tax payers. Sorry to seem so Scrooge-like but there is a parade put on in London for all the "days" now, in what are blatant vote-catching exercises - and beanos for the Mayor and cohorts. A parade probably makes some extra business for food and souvenir sellers but no-one can ever be sure. Against that there is the disruption of "normal" life in the capital. As a Londoner struggling to pay Council Tax I do get steamed up about the existence of these parades.
Whatever happened to friends of like nationalities having a few jars in the pub to celebrate whatever day it is?
- June Gibson, London, UK
Sounds great, but why don't we do the same thing for St Georges Day and be patriotic for once?
- Graham B, Essex
