Join the St Patrick’s Day Parade in London - Enjoy ‘the Craic’ - Sunday 16th March, 2014

Each year  tries to be more flamboyant than the last! In 2013 there was a huge, giant inflatable dragon - known as a puca.  It was an  incredible sight at over 36 metres long and 8 metres high.

At noon the dragon, along with lots of singing, dancing, fifes, drums  and general mayhem,  left  the appropriately named 'Green Park'.  Making our way down Oxford Street we marched on to Piccadilly Circus where Eros will wave us through. 

Then  we made our noisy way down Lower Regent Street. 

 From here we moved down posh Pall Mall, once home to numerous gentlemen's clubs.

Just round the corner from Pall Mall  is Fox of St James, the tobacconist where the great Irish writer, Oscar Wilde, used to buy his tailor-made cigarettes. (Apparently he smoked one hundred a day!).

But we didn't stop to look - we had to get to Trafalgar Square where the party really begins.

          c. K Duffy

Once in Trafalgar Square the entertainment begins and it follows roughly the same pattern each year. From 12 until 6pm there is a free afternoon of Irish cultural events.

You can expect to enjoy:

• Top Irish comedy in the London Irish Comedy Festival Marquee
• Traditional and contemporary music.
• The house band from RTE's Late Late Show
• DJs
• Massive outdoor ceili
• Irish food market
• Children's area, including a chance to learn Irish dancing, meet Irish sports stars, and create arts and crafts.

 There may be variations year by year, but basically these are the usual forms of terrific entertainment.

And of course, the people!  Thousands of them - from all over London and beyond, coming together to celebrate 'Irishness' in all its creative forms.

The London irish Centre really gets into the swing of things over the St Patrick's Day weekend.  If you fancied getting a good start to your Parade experience, why not pop in for Mass followed by a full Irish breakfast.  In 2012 over 1,500 people went along to the London Irish Centre to join in the celebrations.

For just £10 you can get a weekend pass. Here's what's going on over that weekend - from their website:

"This £10 donation gets you:

• Top quality trad sessions through the day.
• Big Party concert with The Late Late Show House Band
• A specially-selected programm of Irish short films
• Ireland v Italy Six Nations Rugby (Big Screen)
• Delicious Irish food stalls (purchase food at stall)
• The feel-good factor of helping those in need."

Here's a link to their webiste. 

So, if you have a great time at the St Patrick's Day Parade, you can carry on your love affair with all things Irish at the London Irish Centre.

Happy St Patrick's Day!