St Patrick's Day 2019: Best events in London, Manchester and Liverpool to celebrate
ST PATRICK’S Day is celebrated every year on March 17. Here are the best events in London, Manchester and Liverpool this year.
Prince William offers hand of support to Kate on St. Patrick's Day
St Patrick’s Day marks the death of Saint Patrick who travelled to Ireland in the fifth century to convert Irish pagans to Christianity. Legend has it he used the three-leaved clover to explain the Holy Trinity to people who did not believe. But you don’t need to go to Ireland to appreciate St Patrick’s Day as there are other places to celebrate around the UK.
London
More than 125,00 people are expected to head to Trafalgar Square this weekend to watch a huge parade of music and ceilidh dancing.
The parade goes from Piccadilly to Trafalgar Square and features leprechaun floats and Irish dancers.
There will also be an Irish Street Food Market for when you start to get peckish.
The Royal Family also joins in with St Patrick’s Day celebrations every year.
In 1901 Queen Alexandra introduced a tradition of presenting bowls of shamrock to members of the Irish Guards.
The Duchess of Cambridge has been continuing this tradition since 2012.
Every year fresh shamrocks are given to the Irish Guards and are flown in from Ireland.
Manchester
The northern city hosts a two-week festival in the run up to St Patrick’s Day.
The festival always has an Irish Market in the city’s town hall with the Irish tricolour presented next to the Union Flag.
There is usually a large parade and different cultural and learning events during the two week celebrations.
Liverpool
Liverpool has the highest number of people with Irish ancestry in any English city, so there are many St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
This includes a parade and live music through the city centre on Sunday.
Many Irish pubs will be hosting cheap food and drinks to celebrate the big day, including the Camp and Furnace, in the Baltic Triangle.