This year County Kerry leads the Parade and Donal Murphy (a Kerryman who now resides in Nottingham) is the Chief Marshall who will proudly wear the county sash at the head of the Parade. Kerry's most famous and international Festival is The Rose of Tralee which is now one of Ireland's largest and longest running festivals, celebrating 54 years this year in 2013. The heart of the Festival is the selection of the Rose of Tralee which brings young women of Irish descent from around the world (including Nottingham) to County Kerry, Ireland for a global celebration of Irish culture.

Several Nottingham Primary schools have been working with the schools project team of Julie Turner and Deidre O'Byrne to prepare for their participation in the colourful Parade. So the pupils, teachers and parents of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour RC School,, St Mary's RC School and Good Shepherd RC School will display their artistic talents in the Parade.  The yound people will be wearing costumes based on the story of The King with Horse's Ears.

For this year's parade we are delighted and honoured to welcome our guests, Cllr PJ Donovan - Deputy Mayor of Kerry, Cllr Unczur - The Lord Mayor of Nottingham, The First Secretary of the Irish Embassy - Tony McCullagh and his wife Jo, and the Bishop of Nottingham - Bishop McMahon, who will greet the parade as it makes its way into Nottingham's Old Market Square.

• St Patrick's Day Events
• St Patrick's Festival Programme – 8th to 22nd March 2013
• St Patrick's Festival Brochure (PDF, 5.3Mb)
  

Calling all budding photographers

We have lost our usual photographer Grainne McAndrew to warmer climates. Are there any budding photographers out there that would like to take photos of the event for the website, facebook, twitter page and next year's brochure? We look forward to hearing from you.

Events at the City Gallery 

14a Long Row, Oriel Chanbers Courtyard, Nottingham, NG1 9DH.  
(Up the walkway next to the Works, opposite The Tourist Information Centre - website)

March 11th – 7pm until late film: Strumpet City.  Admission free.

March 12th – 7pm Ceoltóirí Seisiún.  Admission free.

March 13th – 8.00pm, An Evening of Song, Poems, Dance & Set Dancing with Tony & Pauline Gordon.  Admission free.

March 14th – Comedy Evening (licenced bar) £3.00 entrance fee

March 15th – 7-9pm The Corrig Ceilidh Band, Traditional Irish Music & Song.  Admission free.

March 16th – Story Telling for Children, with  Deirdre O’Byrne from 2 till 2:45 pm.  Admission free. [Nottingham Irish Studies Group]

March 16th – Songs, Stories and Poems of Diaspora from 3-4 pm. (Discussion suitable for adults.)  Admission free. [Nottingham Irish Studies Group]

March 16th – Opening of the Forty Shades of Green Art exhibition. Guest of Honour: Professor Conor Duggan BSc PhD OBE. 7 pm till late. Open to all.  Bella Diva Singers, Fionnuala singing Sean-nós and various other singers and music. Licenced bar.  Admission free.

March 17th – Forty Shades of Green Exhibition open all day, Bella Diva singing.  Admission free.

March 17th –  Story telling for children by Deirdre O’Byrne 2.00 -2.45 pm  Admission free.

March 17th – 3-4pm, Have a Go at Gaeilge, learn the Irish language. Admission free. 

March 18th – 7pm, The Wind that shakes the Barley (Film).  Admission free.

March 19th – Afternoon: Transatlantic Sessions (tapes)  Admission free.

March 20th – President Kennedy visit to Ireland (film), plus Transatlantic Sessions.  Admission free.

March 21st – Comedy Sessions. Entrance fee £3.00

March 22nd – "1916 - Celtic Tiger". History talk by Pat Murphy at 7.30 pm.  Admission free.

Events at various venues across Nottingham City and County

March 8th – Irish Cinema: Narrating Childhood Trauma  - A talk by Professor Ruth Barton

March 10th – Eugene Murphy will be instructing the Nottingham Irish Set Dancing group at the Irish Centre (new members welcome) 

March 12th – The Golden Shamrock Group will meet on Tuesday afternoon at the Irish Centre (new members welcome)

March 12th – Comhaltas will meet in the evening at the Irish Centre (new members welcome) 

March 13th – The Irish House Party will be at the Mansfield Palace Theatre and a great night of family entertainment will be provided.

March 14th – Bell Inn: Live Irish Session Music from 8.30pm 

March 15th – Bell Inn: Comic Relief and live music from The Money

March 15th – Keogh's Irish Bar  Kezia Gill 9pm

March 15th – Nottingham Irish Golf Society holds it annual St Patrick's Day Golf tournament and guest are welcome at the Ruddington Grange Golf Club.

March 16th – St. Patrick's Night Dance at the Britannia Hotel Postponed! To take place on Saturday 11th May 2013

March 16th – Bell Inn: The last day of the 6 Nations and live music from The Establishment

March 16th – Greyfriars host Noasis.

March 16th – Keogh's Irish Bar  DJ GED Dowling 8:30pm 

Celebration Mass

Parade 

Leading the parade this year will be Donal Murphy, representing County Kerry. 

Old Market Square Nottingham

City Gallery 

• Forty Shades of Green Exhibition open all day, Bella Diva singing.  Admission free.
• Story telling for children by Deirdre O’Byrne from 2.00-2.45 pm.  Admission free.
• 3-4pm, Have a Go at Gaeilge, learn the Irish language. Admission free. 

Other Entertainment

Bell Inn

• Music all day from Ged Dowling 
• Live Irish Session music in the Tudor Bar all afternoon.

Greyfriars 

• Big Green Fry Up from 10 am
• Music all day from Three's a Crowd
• Eamon McCann & his Band (Doors open 8 pm; Entrance £10)

Keogh's Irish Bar 

• Irish Music all day
• Na Fianna playing at 8pm
• BBQ and food served all day on our roof garden. 

The Nottingham Irish Centre

• Irish music all day
• Bar opens at 12 Noon - Drinks specials all day
• Food served all day - Irish stew, bacon, cabbage & spuds, soda bread. Cupcake & chocolate stands.
• Celtic vs Inter Milan 3pm - ‘Live’ 1967 European Cup Final
• Durty Linen live at 8pm