Manchester St Patrick’s Day Parade: Route and start time revealed

Manchester’s St Patrick’s Day parade is set to make its long-awaited return to the city centre this year.

For the first time since 2021, and in its 35th year since its inaugural edition, the parade will take place on Sun 16 Mar, the day before St Patrick’s Day.

Setting off at 12pm from the Irish World Heritage Centre in Cheetham Hill, the parade will follow a route into the city centre along Bury Old Road, making its way onto Deansgate, before ending at the junction of King Street – where a finish line podium will welcome the parade as it comes to an end.

The parade, which will feature representatives from all 32 counties of Ireland, is expected to attract thousands into the city centre and organisers promise ‘lots of live (and loud!)’ Irish music played by marching, pipe, and accordion bands direct from Ireland alongside toe-tapping troupes of traditional Irish dancers of all ages.

On the return of the event, organisers say: “This year’s parade will be an incredible celebration of our proud and thriving Irish community in Manchester. It will showcase and champion local groups and organisations such as GAA clubs, Irish dance classes, marching bands, and pipe bands, along with a strong representation of the 32 counties in Ireland.

“As one of the longest-running St. Patrick’s Day parades in Europe, we would like to invite not just those from the Irish community but all communities across Greater Manchester and beyond to join the big celebration and line the route with support.”

Leading the parade and weekend celebrations will be Dublin-born city centre lead for the council, Councillor Pat Karney – who has this year been appointed Chair of the Irish Festival Committee, a role that sees him return to the organisation after a 7-year absence.

Councillor Karney said: “I make no secret of my Irish roots and you won’t find a prouder Irishman than me.  Celebrating St Patrick‘s Day here in Manchester – a city that has a long history of welcoming Irish people in and taking them to their hearts – is always amazing there’s literally nowhere else I’d rather be.

“I’ll always be eternally grateful to Manchester for letting me and so many others from Ireland grow up here.  At the same time I’m also really proud, as we all should be, of the many contributions we Irish people have in turn made to this fabulous city.

“Despite my green Irish heart though, after living here for decades now I’m also fiercely Mancunian.  Which is why it’s doubly brilliant to be back chairing the Irish Festival and helping make sure that everyone in Manchester has a good time and enjoys these celebrations.

“As one of Europe’s longest-running and best St. Patrick’s Day parades, you definitely won’t want to miss it. Everyone’s invited, so come along, grab a shamrock, get involved, and join in the craic!”

The St Patrick’s Day parade forms a focal point of the wider Manchester Irish Festival, which runs from Sat 8 Mar – Mon 17 Mar. Hundreds of events will be taking place at various venues across the city as part of the festival, including the Irish Village which takes over St Ann’s Square.