Date published: 02/03/2010

A Guinness in one hand, bowl of Irish stew in the other, a lively band and everyone taking to the dance floor for a jig; I can only be in one place, the start of the Manchester Irish Festival.

The festival, which is the biggest one of its kind across the UK, was launched  at Mulligan’s Irish Bar in Deansgate. Visitors and VIPS including Manchester United & Celtic midfield legend Paddy Crerand, were treated to traditional entertainment from new Coronation Street star Kieran Cunningham and his band Quare Craic, and world champion accordion player Sean Scally and brother Donal who live in Reddish.
Stockport dancers, Grace Kennedy, Rachel Partakis from Cheadle and Lola Shields from Heaton Moor also performed customary Irish dancing on the night.
Gena Rose, the manager of Mulligan’s said “Everyone got a real taste of the Emerald Isle and the award winning Irish musicians and dancers brought the house down with their show stopping performances.”
The electric atmosphere sets the pace for the upcoming festival has more than 250 events in 50 venues across Greater Manchester from March 5- 21, including the UK’s biggest St Patrick’s Day parade through the City Centre on Sunday March 14.
There will be dance workshops, Irish language courses, music lessons, traditional live entertainment and even tin-whistle classes.

Highlights include the Scottish Fiddle orchestra at Bridgewater Hall, the Ireland’s Got the X-factor at the Union Inn, and the Magners Irish Festival Comedy Night which has previously been host to jokers Peter Kay and Ed Byrne.
Festival co-chair Kevin Fitzpatrick, who lives in Heaton Chapel, said “It is not just an Irish festival for the Irish community, the party is open to everyone and we want the whole