St. Patrick’s Day in London!

The shamrock - the quintessential symbol of Ireland. Photo credit: Zvents.com

Celebrated the world over, St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th) is an opportunity for peoples of all breeds and all creeds to revel in the great virtues of Irishness; merrymaking in music, song and banter (preferably under the influence of intoxicating beverages), an insatiable need to get into wild shenanigans, and the ability to find good humour in almost any occasion!

Here’s The First Pint’s guide to how London will celebrate this truly unique festival.

Sunday, 14th March

St Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival

Head down to central London this Sunday for the city’s official St Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival – a day packed with funfair frolics, joyful insobriety and just pure, unadulterated ‘craic’!

Parade

Start your day by finding your place on the parade route to see the colourful spectacle of marching bands from the UK and Ireland, floats, costume characters, stilt walkers and street theatre form both Ireland and the UK.

The parade starts at Piccadilly at 12 noon and moves off along Lower Regent Street, Pall Mall East, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall before dispersing on Whitehall Place.

This year the parade will feature a giant St Patrick and the Snake pageant and a stunning Emerald Queen. A new addition will be our new eco-friendly rickshaw floats – keep an eye out to see who is riding in them!

Here is the route for the parade.

Festival

Trafalgar Square will host a main performance stage showcasing the best of Irish music and dance from traditional to contemporary from 11.30am until 6pm. Featured acts include rising rock-pop sensation the Coronas, singer-songwriter Mundy (first hit the radar for soundtrack of Baz Luhrmann’s Shakespeare adaptation Romeo and Juliet), and famed Irish folk/world music group Kila. Admission is free!

Check out here who’s rocking it out and when.

St. Patrick’s Parade After-Party
Festivities will keep on going with live music from 6pm at one of London’s famous Irish pubs, the Porterhouse
Venue: The Porterhouse Covent Garden, 21-22 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, London WC2 E7NA
tel: 0207 379 7917
Admission: Free

St Patrick’s Festival Official Aftershow Party
Head down to Camden Town after Trafalgar Square for the Festival’s Afterparty at 8 p.m., featuring live music from London-based celtic rock band The BibleCode Sundays. Booking strongly advised!
Venue: The London Irish Centre, 50-52 Camden Square, London NW1 9XB
tel: 020 7916 2222
Admission: £10
www.irishcentre.org

Lest we forget, the most important symbol of Ireland! Photo credit: Communications.kiev.ua

Wednesday, 17th March

Catholic Mass, Bacon & Cabbage Lunch + Live Music
Start your day with the full Irish St. Patrick’s Day experience (including mass!), from 11am at the London Irish Centre
Special performance from Kathy Walton’s St. Patrick’s Day Troupe @ 4.30pm
Venue: McNamara Hall, The London Irish Centre
Cost: £10 (incl. lunch & bunch of shamrock)
Tickets: www.wegottickets.com/event/72713

A Two-hour Walking Tour of Irish Camden Town
Exploring the links and places associated with the Irish in this iconic London location.
Time: 2pm
Venue: Meet in the foyer of The London Irish Centre at 1:45pm
Cost: £5
Tickets: www.wegottickets.com/event/72717

Brent St Patrick’s Day Parade
Apparently, the only Paddy’s Day parade in London actually taking place on Paddy’s Day! 4 p.m. in Willesden High Road, London NW10
followed by a concert at Willesden Library at 4.30 p.m.
www.brent.gov.uk/festivals

Bacon & Cabbage Dinner + Live Music, from 8pm
Cost: £10 (incl. dinner)
Venue: McNamara Hall, The London Irish Centre, NW1 9XB
Tickets: www.wegottickets.com/event/72714

Paddy’s Day ‘Big Shindig’ @ O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
A night of celtic vibes, banging traditional folk rock and rhythmic tunes with the BibleCodeSundays, Honey Ryder, and Folk In Hell featuring All-Ireland flute champion Joe Moran (previously of Slainte). Also Galway man Tony Lundon of Liberty X fame will perform a DJ set.
Doors: 8 p.m.-1 a.m.
Cost: £12 and booking fee in advance or £15 on door.
Venue: O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, Shepherd’s Bush Green, London W12 8TT
tel: 0844 477 2000
www.ticketweb.co.uk

Thursday, 18th March

Irish trad music session
Time: 8 p.m.
Admission: Free
Venue: Irish Cultural Centre Hammersmith, Blacks Road, Hammersmith, London W6 9DT
tel: 020 8563 8232
www.irishculturalcentre.co.uk

Damien Dempsey @ The St Patrick’s Day Hangover Show
Labelled as the ‘voice of the Northside Dubliner underclass’ and ‘the Bob Marley of Ireland’, acclaimed songwriter Damien Dempsey brings energy, intrigue and musical spirit through his powerfully infectious lyrics!
Doors:7.30 p.m.
Cost: £15
Venue: The Luminaire, 311 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 7JR
Tickets: www.wegottickets.com
www.theluminaire.co.uk

Friday, 19th March

A final night of Irish merriment @ the Vinopolis, London Bridge
End the week with another night of high-paced Celtic dancing, hearty Irish food and plenty of Guinness! The food comes as lamb stew and colcannon mash, the drink Irish whisky, beer and Guinness, and the mayhem – a traditional Irish Céilí mass dance with Irish traditional music!
Venue: Vinopolis, 1 Bank End, London, SE1 9BU.
tel: 020 7940 8322
Price: £25
Time: 6.30 p.m. – 11p.m.
Check out Vinopolis to reserve your place!