Huddersfield’s St Patrick’s Day celebration will be held in St George’s Square on Sunday March 12.
Like last year, there won’t be the traditional parade around the town centre. Instead, it’ll be the world’s second shortest parade – which won’t leave the square!
The parade will start at the steps to Huddersfield Railway Station and finish at Harold Wilson’s statue, just 32 metres away. With the train station steps being the first experience of Huddersfield for many Irish (and so many others) arriving in Huddersfield – this making the parade of 32 metres from the station steps to the Harold Wilson Statue so significant.
There will be music and dance in the square along with a bar and food stalls.
The theme of the Huddersfield High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) Cultural Programme this year is ‘music’ – tying in with Kirklees Year of Music
The 2023 parade itinerary will be as follows, with a specific focus on celebrating Irish music and dancing:
- 11am Mass – St. Patrick’s Church (Irish Dancers and Brother’s Pearse GAA Youth Section)
- 12 noon Parade Celebration Starts, St George’s Square with MC ‘DJ Chris’ hosting
- 12.00 -1.00pm: Traditional Irish Music Session (Aidan Kilroy and Musicians)
- 12.30 – 12.45pm Irish Centre Set Dancers
- 1.00pm – Parade Welcome
- Welcome – (John Lambe – Parade Secretary)
- Parade Blessing (Father Martin – Holy Redeemer Parish Priest)
- Town Crier announces start of the Parade
The Parade (from the Station Steps down to the Main Stage at the bottom of The Square)
1.35pm Speeches from the Mayor of Kirklees Clr Masood Ahmed and Irish Embassy North of England Vice Consul General – Carina O’Brien
1.45 – 2.15pm Frances Cassidy School of Irish Dancers
2.15 – 2.45pm – Reach Performing Arts – ‘Windrush’ Carnival Performance
2.00-2.30pm – Brothers Pearse Youth Section Gaelic football display (in front of Station Steps)
2.45 – 3.15pm – Across the Moone – modern Irish Duo
3.15 to 4pm – Giants Causeway – Irish Rock Band
4.00pm Event Finish!
St. Patrick’s Centre – Michael Bracken at 4.00 pm
Irish Centre – DJ playing Irish and chart tunes 6pm – 10.30pm
The 21st Parade – 1pm – 1.45pm from the station steps to the bottom of the square. Parade line up includes:
The Austonley Irish Wolfhounds
The Main Banner
Flag Party: Irish Tricolour, Erin Go Bragh and Yorkshire Rose, 4 Province flags
Brothers Pearse GAA: Youth Section, Ladies, Men
Francis Cassidy School of Irish Dancing
Irish Centre Set Dancers
Irish Centre Banner
St Patrick’s Catholic Centre
Molly Malone & The Turfman
Terrier the Terrier and Big G mascots (tbc)
Frumptarn GuggenBand
Brothers Pearse GAA (32 County Flags)
