CityLife

Must see: Manchester Irish Festival 2010

Believe it or not, there are more than 60 free St Patrick’s Day events happening this year across Manchester.

Astonishing, we know, but CityLife has it on good authority that this year’s Irish festival (March 5 to 17) can now proudly call itself Europe’s biggest celebration of all things Irish.

Before we get to that particularly momentous day on March 17, though, there’s a full two week build-up, with a launch event at the town hall today (March 5).

Of course, much of the entertainment has a distinctly boozy feel and bars in Levenshulme boast many of the forthcoming events in the fortnight ahead.

While M19 gets things started tonight with an Irish Blues Night from 7pm (£3), the Union Inn hosts Ireland’s Got The X Factor from 8pm (free) in front of a live studio audience with a panel of expert judges.

On Saturday, the Young, Gifted & Green Concert in aid of Christie’s hospital (Town Hall, 7.30pm, £15/£20) is likely to be the biggest draw with St Bede’s College’s 100-strong troupe performing and Irish dancing demos planned, plus star turns from DJs Alan Keegan (a regular Manchester United commentator) and Joe Casserley.

The Scottish (yes, Scottish) Fiddle Orchestra, at the Bridgewater Hall, is likely to be Saturday’s other crowd pleaser.

But it’s not all music. On Sunday, The Victoria Inn goes in for a spot of Play Your Cards Right (8pm) and there are step dancing and language classes all over the schedule for all ages and abilities (the most interesting being the Irish World Heritage Centre’s Conradh Na Gaelige Irish Language Class on Wednesday, with singing, poetry and talks from 8pm).

By Thursday, theatre and comedy get a look in as the Heritage Centre hosts Dreams Unto An Exile, a blend of storytelling, dance, music and song that follows the experiences of Irish migrants since the 1940s.

The Magners Irish festival Comedy Night rounds off the first week of fun with turns from Caimh McDonnell and Empire New Act Of The Year 2010 finalist Andrew Ryan (8.30pm, £5/£7).

For a full schedule, visit www.manchesteririshfestival.co.uk.