City gets ready to shamrock and roll
Tuesday, 12 March 2013
THE St Patrick’s Day Parade in Newry was flaming great last year.
NEWRY is gearing up for the biggest and best St Patrick's Day yet.
A week of events celebrating Irish and international heritage and culture are planned across the city, culminating in the annual parade on Sunday, March 16.
Of course it's only right that the city which takes its name from the man himself should pull out all the stops for his feast day and the area has outdone itself for the 2013 celebrations.
Free Irish language events have been running across the district since the beginning of the month as part of Sheachtain na Gaeilge but if you've missed out there are still a few on in the run up to St Patrick's Day.
On Tuesday, March 12 Nollaig Mag Aoidh of the Aisling Ghéar Theatre Company will give a performance of his one man show on the life and times of Robert Macadam.
The 19th century Belfast Presbyterian, industrialist and scholar laid the foundations of the Irish language revival in Ulster.
Seo Robert/Here's Robert - the search for Robert McAdam will take place at 7.30pm in the new Gaeláras Mhic Ardghail Irish language centre.
On Thursday in the centre you can catch Séan Mac Labhraí of St Mary's University College as he retraces a journey through Wales by one of the most celebrated writers of the 20th century.
My Own Way: Seosamh Mac Grianna and the Wanderlust starts at 7.30pm and like Seo Robert is a free bilingual event.
For more information on Irish language events email gaeilge@newryandmourne.gov.uk or call the council's Irish Language Unit on 028 3031 3258.
Screams of delight are pretty much the same in English or as Gaeilge so expect to hear both coming from the direction of St Christopher's Park where Cullen's Fun Fair will be spinning, tossing and turning revellers to their own demented delight.
The fair features something for everyone, from tiny tots and families to the more adventurous thrill seekers among us and is open until Monday, March 18.
With all the festivities going on it can be easy to forget the man behind the moment so on Friday, March 15, the Cathedral on Hill Street will hold an interdenominational ecumenical service in honour of our patron saint.
Celebrating the Life of Saint Patrick takes place in the Cathedral at 11am and is open to people of all faiths and none.
The main event takes place on Saturday, March 16 when the annual parade kicks off at noon.
A river of vibrant colour and sound celebrating Irish and international heritage will make its way from the Albert Basin, through the city to Hill Street.
Margaret Square will ring to the sounds of Derek Ryan, The Nooks, Cold Porter and Raglan while Marcus Square will host a huge Ceili.
Elsewhere in the city John Mitchel Place will hold a huge variety of stalls and at 2pm will vibrate to rhythmic drumming of the belfast Samba Band.
For something a little less explosive Bagenal's Castle will host a series of storytelling sessions throughout the day with Fra Gunn and there will be traditional music and children's entertainment in the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre.
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