London’s St Patrick’s Day parade returns

LONDON's St Patrick’s Day parade and Trafalgar Square celebrations will take place on 16 March, bringing together residents and visitors to celebrate Irish culture. The event will feature a parade through central London and an afternoon of entertainment at Trafalgar Square, a statement said.

Paralympic gold medal-winning cyclist Katie-George Dunlevy and Olympic gold medal-winning boxer Kellie Harrington will be this year’s Grand Marshals. They will lead a parade of more than 50,000 people, featuring floats, marching bands, and dance groups. The procession will start at Hyde Park Corner and move through Piccadilly and Trafalgar Square before concluding at Whitehall.

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Trafalgar Square will host a free afternoon of performances, presented by DJ and broadcaster Tara Kumar. The stage will feature acts such as Kíla, Irish Women in Harmony, and Ragz-CV. Chef Anna Haugh will demonstrate Irish cooking, and food stalls will offer a range of options.

The festival will include the Peace Heroines exhibition, which highlights the role of women in the Good Friday Agreement. The Irish Creative Collective Sessions will showcase comedy, music, and short films. Visitors can learn traditional Irish dancing in the Irish Dance Zone, while Artburst will run free creative workshops for children using recycled materials.

Clips from The Song Cycle, a film about Nick Kelly and his band Dogs cycling from Dublin to Glastonbury, will be shown on the big screen. The band will cycle from Dublin to London to join the parade and perform on the main stage.

London mayor Sadiq Khan, said: “London’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations are a key part of our capital’s cultural calendar and I’m delighted that each year the festival gets bigger and better. I’m proud that we host this major event to honour and celebrate Irish culture and the immense contributions of our capital’s Irish community. From business and public service to the arts and culture, Irish Londoners have played – and continue to play – a vital role in shaping the very fabric of our city, making London a better, brighter and more prosperous place for everyone."

Ireland’s Ambassador to the UK, Martin Fraser, said: ““The Embassy of Ireland is delighted to support and be part of this event once again. It is a joyful and diverse celebration of Irish arts and culture, with a fantastic programme devised by our friends at the London Irish Centre.

“St Patrick’s Day in London is truly special, bringing together not only our Irish community but all friends of Ireland here in Britain, and people from around the world who feel a connection to Ireland. It is also a wonderful way to recognise the contribution of the Irish diaspora to London over so many years."