A celebration of all things Irish returns to York in time for a certain saint’s day.
St Sampson’s Square
Fri Mar 16 @ 5pm-10.30pm, Sat Mar 17 @ 11am-10.30pm
Free
The annual York Irish St Patrick’s Weekend Festival takes place in a marquee in St Sampson’s Square in the city centre on Friday and Saturday – St Patrick’s Day.
The activities are all about celebrating and continuing to bring an understanding of Irish tradition and culture to York, bringing fun and enjoyment to the city for people of all ages who have an interest in Irish culture and celebrating the unique connections between York and Ireland.
Organised by the York Irish Association, the festival kicks off on Friday evening with a music performance by Gaelstrom followed by a display by St Aelred’s School of Irish Dance.
Throughout the evening there will be Irish music performances from the likes of Damien Fynes and the Friday night will finish with a ceilidh with Fiddlers Wreck.
Food, facepainting and folk
[arve url=”https://youtu.be/Z_nshVGkBf0″ title=”York Irish St. Patrick’s Festival 2017″ /]
On the Saturday the entertainment continues at 11am with a performance from young folk group Folkestra more music from Roisin Ban, Gemma Irving and 2 Bob, an Irish dancing performance with the O’Connor Academy of Irish Dance and a ceilidh with Gaelstrom.
It finishes on Saturday night with a performance from Dublin duo, the Flying Donkeys.
There will also be a history of the Irish in York display, a gaelic football demonstrations and traditional Irish food and drink. The whole event is free to attend, there will be children’s facepainting and a raffle.
Chair of the York Irish Association Brendan Tannam said: “We are really excited to be hosting what is now our fourth York Irish St Patrick’s Festival.
“It should be a great atmosphere especially with St Patrick’s day itself falling on the Saturday this year. We look forward to giving the famous Irish welcome to the crowds again this year.”
About York Irish Association
The York Irish Association is a community group which was set up in May 2014.
It runs regular events and activities such as Irish music nights and culture nights, talks, Irish language lessons and Gaelic football sessions. They have over 600 members on their books.
According to official statistics there were 1,300 Irish born people living in York in 2011 and in the past the Irish population made up nearly eight per cent of the population of the city.
This all means that there is a substantial community of Irish born and descendants of Irish in the city today.
York Irish has brought together an often isolated community in York to express its social and cultural identity while celebrating the unique connections between Ireland and the city and they look forward to continuing this in this year’s St. Patrick’s Festival.